Features of crossing the Latvian border with your own car

Checkpoints

Residents of countries outside the European Union can only cross the border into Latvia through checkpoints. There are four such points on the border with Russia:

• Brunishevo-Pededze is suitable for travelers traveling from St. Petersburg.
• Burachki-Terekhovo is the busiest point, located on the Moscow-Riga highway.
• Ubylinka-Grebneva - Russians who travel from Pskov along the M9 highway pass through customs control.
• Ludonka-Vientuli - for those coming from Nosovo.

Queues on the border with Lithuania at the Kamenny Log checkpoint online

22.12.2020 19:55

The camera updates approximately every 3-5 minutes. Refresh the page in your browser, or click here

.

The meeting point on the territory of Lithuania is Medininkai.

The Kamenny Log checkpoint on the border with Lithuania is quite often overloaded with cars.

Knowing this in advance, you can see in real time how many cars are parked at the border right now. And if you find yourself in a huge queue, you can meet and chat with people from the queue in the comments at the bottom of this page.

By the way, you can see the cities and sights of Lithuania here.

You can also add your own interesting places.

Waiting time

The minimum waiting time at customs is 40 minutes . But sometimes travelers wait in line for 12 hours. The passage of the border also depends on the choice of checkpoint.

For example, the longest queues are at the Burachki-Terekhovo point. All cars traveling from Russia to Europe pass through it. At other points, queues are observed less frequently.

It is quite difficult to predict exactly how much time you will spend going through customs. Therefore, it is recommended to keep track of what days and times the border is busiest.

a special service on the customs website where the number of trucks and cars that are in line and have already crossed the border in the last 24 hours is displayed online . The approximate waiting time is also indicated in a separate column.

Note: "-" information is missing.

Total items in the database: 146

Source: ASMAP

Passing customs control by car

The main task of customs officers is to check whether you are importing prohibited goods from Russia to Latvia.
Also, your luggage should not contain perishable products. The amount of medicines, tobacco, alcohol and perfumes is strictly within acceptable limits.

To speed up the process of crossing the border by car, each checkpoint has two corridors :

• green – for vehicles not carrying cargo subject to mandatory declaration;
• red - for those who transport large sums of money, as well as goods and valuables that need to be declared.

Important! You may also find this article useful: “What does someone who crosses the Latvian border with Russia need to know?”

EU, why are we standing? Report from a border checkpoint where trucks wait in line for days

Truck drivers traveling to European Union countries find themselves in kilometer-long queues in front of border checkpoints. At peak times the number of trucks is in the hundreds! Drivers have to spend several days in such traffic jams. Why do EU countries arrange these endless queues at the borders, how does this affect the work of truckers and why truck drivers do everything possible to avoid ending up at checkpoints on weekends.

Flights are delayed

Queues at border checkpoints have been a problem for more than a month. Its peak occurred on October 10, when approximately 2,700 heavy trucks were waiting to cross the border towards the EU and Ukraine. The most difficult situation traditionally developed in the Lithuanian direction: about 1,400 trucks tried to get into this country that day. The tense situation among truckers was softened then only by the conditions that the Belarusian border guards tried to make as comfortable as possible: this year they created an electronic queue site on the most difficult Vilnius direction “Kamenny Log - Medininkai”. Drivers can rest there while they wait their turn to cross the border. They plan to create the same site at the Benyakoni checkpoint. And even though recently the overall number of trucks near checkpoints has decreased to the statistical average, at some of them the situation still remains very difficult. One is “Berestovitsa” (from the Polish side - “Bobrovniki”). It now accounts for the lowest rate of fulfillment of capacity agreements - only 47.6%. We go there to hear what truckers have to say about the current situation.

The path to the border crossing “Berestovitsa” in the district of the same name in the Grodno region is familiar to many Belarusians. This is the shortest road to Bialystok, where our compatriots went shopping. Now, due to current restrictions, there are almost no cars parked at the border. But there are more than enough trucks. About 90% of road traffic, especially after Vaukavysk, consists of heavy trucks.

On the day of our trip, about 150 trucks were waiting in Berestovitsa to cross the border. Having barely passed the village of Pogranichny, which is 4 kilometers from the checkpoint, we came up against the tail of the railway track - that’s what truckers call the accumulated queue. The driver Oleg, who was the last one there, estimates from experience that he was stuck here for about a day.

- Or maybe more. “Everything depends on the work of the border guards, mostly Polish,” the man clarifies. — If Poland doesn’t let you in, what can our people do?

Oleg admits: now sitting for hours in a car is a common thing for truck drivers. None of them can say exactly how long the flight will take, so they take food for the trip with a large supply.

— I cook on my stove. As a last resort, if you have to wait a long time for your turn and the food runs out, you can go to a gas station. They even sell ready-made food, but buying it is not profitable at all,” says Oleg.

Truckers often have their flights delayed due to queues at border crossings. After all, to the problems with the ruts are added the subtleties of observing the work and rest regime that regulate the work of drivers.

— Working week — 6 days, shift — no more than 13 hours. Three times a week you can increase it to 15. The driver is allowed to spend only 9 hours behind the wheel, and twice a week - 10. Rest between working days - at least 11 hours, between weeks - at least 46. If the working day is 10 hours, then rest sometimes you can reduce it to 9,” Oleg explains, a complex scheme for the average person.

If the working day falls on a queue, the schedule does not change.

— Even if I got into a rut, after 15 hours I still have to stop to rest. Other trucks, of course, will overtake me, I will lose even more time in this traffic jam, but these are the rules: compliance with the work schedule is monitored very strictly. If you break it, you’ll lose your job,” the truck driver says goodbye.

“We’ve been standing here for three days now.”

A light drizzle begins to fall, so most drivers warm up in their cabs. Occasionally someone comes out to warm up. Everyone brightens up the waiting time in approximately the same way: watching movies, reading books, talking on the phone with family.

Andrey and Alexey's truck is standing approximately in the middle of the line. The guys are now traveling from Russia to Poland to unload.

“We’ve been standing since last night, it’s not that long yet,” says Alexey. “The worst thing is for long-distance drivers who get here at the end of the week. On Saturday and Sunday there are several hundred cars here. Although there are more on the Lithuanian side.

Truckers Yuri and Alexander have been spending the day and night near Berestovitsa for the third day now. They are separated from the checkpoint by about a kilometer. Both work for a large foreign transport company; its trucks are often seen in the queue. Men travel huge distances in a truck with Kazakh license plates, although they themselves are Belarusians. We have already traveled a long way: in just 5 days we got from China to Belarus! We drove about a thousand kilometers a day.

“And here we are stuck at the border...” Yuri throws up his hands. — It’s good that the service is not bad now, not like 20 years ago: you can go to the shower and toilet at a gas station, there is a cafe in Berestovitsa.

After talking about life, Yuri shares his observation that the truck driver profession is rapidly getting younger and losing its uniqueness. Nowadays, many guys from other professions come to international cargo transportation. You can meet a former doctor, builder, or teacher behind the wheel of a truck.

— Guys can be understood - everyone wants to make money, albeit at the expense of some other things. Would you like me to show you what mountains are in China? - Yuri abruptly changes the topic of conversation.

They didn't refuse. Indeed, the picture on the smartphone screen is mesmerizing. True, drivers, as a rule, do not have time to stop and enjoy these beauties to the fullest - they are running out of time.

“This is how we watch life, sitting behind the wheel,” Yuri grins goodbye, starting the truck’s engine.

The queue moves 100 meters, as well as every 10-15 minutes.

While we were photographing the line from the side of the gas station, its director approached us. Having learned that today there is a rut in the camera lens, he advises:

— Come in the evening or on the weekend. You will see a queue that starts from the previous Belorusneft gas station, and this, for a minute, is 8 kilometers!

Analyst at the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies Alexey Avdonin:

— The situation that is now developing on the borders of the Republic of Belarus with our western neighbors is artificial. Kilometer-long queues of trucks were created purposefully. To do this, you do not need to stop the operation of checkpoints, but just check cars more slowly and prepare permits for entry into the territory of the European Union. All this leads to the fact that goods are not delivered on time and someone suffers losses. Why is this done? In the European Union, the effect of lockdowns turned out to be significant, and the survival of European producers became possible only by limiting their domestic market. Therefore, the measures that are used to curb the flow of goods are a kind of support, protectionism of their producers so that the goods of foreign countries do not enter the EU market.

The economic goals and priorities of our western neighbors should be seen behind the news about queues of trucks at the border. Most likely, they do not act independently, but on instructions from the EU and carry out the task of limiting any supplies of goods to the European market. Moreover, to the detriment of legal entities and companies located not only in Belarus, but also in other countries of the Eurasian space.

According to the State Border Committee, on the morning of October 20, more than 1.2 thousand heavy trucks were waiting to leave for EU countries.

Alexander NOVOKHROST,

Angelina SVETLOVA,

newspaper "7 Days". -0-

Follow us on

Yandex.Zen, Telegram and Viber!

Tags
border reportage

Technical requirements for the car

The car you are going on a trip with must be prepared in advance. To do this, you need to take into account several important points:

1. On the windshield, tinting should not exceed 25% , on the front and side - no more than 30% .
2. Seat belts are functional in both the front and rear seats.
3. The trunk should contain a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, a warning triangle and a reflective vest.
4. If you are traveling with children, they must be in special restraints, selected according to the age of the child.

Important! Also note that crossing the border with Lithuania in a car with a radar detector installed is prohibited.

Pay attention to the tires that are installed on the wheels of the car. Entry into Latvia on spikes is allowed only from October 1 to May 1 . At other times, you may be asked to remove the spikes at the border or be sent back altogether.

Package of necessary documentation for crossing

Before entering the customs point, the driver must prepare and keep in an accessible place the following required documents:

• A foreign passport with a Schengen visa (if you do not have a visa, we recommend reading how to apply for one yourself).
• Birth certificates for each of the children.
• Driver's license (international or Russian license).
• Vehicle registration certificate.
• Green card (analogous to the Russian MTPL, but valid abroad).
• Medical insurance.

Important! For cars older than 3 years, you must prepare a diagnostic card. Without this document, you will not be able to cross the border.

What and in what quantities can I transport?

In order to find out the current list of items and products allowed for import into Latvia, you need to go to the official website of the Latvian Embassy. Complete information is always posted here.

The permitted list includes:

• tobacco products (no more than 40 cigarettes, 20 cigarillos, 10 cigars, 50 grams of smoking tobacco);
• coffee and dry soft drinks - up to 10 kg;
• honey, propolis, live snails, oysters, clams, milk powder, baby food, animal food without meat - no more than 2 kg;
• fresh processed fish, crustaceans, canned food – no more than 20 kg;
• pasta, sweets, seasonings, packaged broths, olives and other food products that are not prohibited for import and contain no more than 50% fish products or processed eggs - no more than 10 kg.

Important! When leaving Russia, you have the right to fill up a full tank of gasoline, and also have an additional canister of fuel with a capacity of no more than 10 liters in the trunk.

What is prohibited?

Immediately before departure to Latvia, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the list of prohibited items and products for import, published on the website of the Federal Customs Service.
The lists may be adjusted and supplemented from time to time, so it is important to have accurate information.

Currently the following items are prohibited :

• explosives and toxic substances and gases in cylinders, weapons, narcotic substances;
• various meat products, as well as fish, lard, culinary products and baked goods containing these products, canned food;
• raw, condensed and processed milk, dairy products and desserts;
• animal feed containing meat or milk;
• any fruit;
• Natural flowers;
• parrots

Important! If, when crossing the border with Latvia, you have on hand an amount of money exceeding 10 thousand euros, the funds must be declared.

Traffic rules

Immediately after passing through customs, you will find yourself in Latvia, where its own traffic rules apply.

On the territory of this state it is necessary:

• drive a car only with the low beams on;
• do not exceed the speed limit: in populated areas - no more than 50 km/h, on the highway - no more than 80 km/h . The maximum permitted excess of these values ​​is up to plus 10 km/h;
• do not park the car closer than 25 meters from a public transport stop or pedestrian crossing; closer than 100 meters from the intersection; closer than 50 meters from the railway crossing.

How to get there

by car: from Minsk take the M6 ​​Minsk-Grodno highway to the junction outside the village of Sharai, from the junction outside the village of Sharai along the M7 Minsk-Oshmyany highway to Oshmyany, from Oshmyany along the M7 highway to the Kamenny Log checkpoint.

GPS coordinates: 54.542243, 25.707588

Kotlovka
More details
Benyakoni
More
Privalka
More
Losha
More details
Lavorishkes
More details
Medininkai
More
Šalcininkai
More
Raigardas
More details

Shumskas
Read more

Kibartai
Read more

Ramoniskiai
More details

Panemune
Read more

Nida
More details
See all borders with Lithuania

Share:

Popular routes

The most popular routes among Russian tourists are trips to Jurmala and Riga.
Jurmala is a popular resort with a mild climate and good infrastructure for a beach holiday. From April until mid-autumn, tourists using personal transport are allowed into the city only if they pay for a pass . One day in Jurmala by car will cost about 2 euros. The whole month will cost less - 31 euros, and the whole season - 107 euros. When traveling to Riga, payment of the fee is not required.

How to get from Moscow

The most convenient way from the Russian capital to the border with Latvia is through Volokalamsk and Velikiye Luki to Rzhev. Further, the M9 highway will lead travelers to the border. True, you need to be prepared for the fact that the road will not be ideal everywhere.

To avoid areas in need of major repairs, you can choose to travel along the Minsk Highway. Before reaching Smolensk, you need to turn towards Velizh-Nevel.

All possible routes were described in great detail in this article. In the article you will find the distance and which route is best to choose.

How to get from St. Petersburg

A convenient option would be to travel through Estonia. To do this, you need to travel along the Kyiv highway towards Pskov and turn towards Izborsk. Next - to the customs point "Shumilkino" on the border with Estonia (approximate time to clear customs - 30-40 minutes).

30 km after entering Estonia you will see a sign “Welcome to Latvia”. There is no need to go through customs checkpoints here.

You will find more information about the route St. Petersburg - Riga here.

Queues on the border with Poland at the Bobrowniki checkpoint online

15.12.2021 11:20

The camera updates approximately every 3-5 minutes. Refresh the page in your browser, or click here

.

The meeting point on the territory of Belarus is Berestovitsa.

The Bobrowniki checkpoint on the border with Poland is quite often overloaded with cars.

Knowing this in advance, you can see in real time how many cars are parked at the border right now. And if you find yourself in a huge queue, you can meet and chat with people from the queue in the comments at the bottom of this page.

When crossing the border of Poland, first familiarize yourself with the customs rules of Poland and what can be transported across the border.