The procedure for the import and export of goods by citizens for non-commercial purposes

The procedure for the import and export of goods by individuals for their own needs is determined by the Customs Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, approved by the law of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. ЗРУ-400 dated 20.01.2016 (in Russian)

1. Goods moved by individuals for non-commercial purposes are goods imported or exported by individuals for their own needs and not intended for entrepreneurial activity. (Article 155 of the Customs Code)

When determining the purpose of goods transported by citizens across the customs border, the following are taken into account:

• The quantity of goods where similar goods, the quantity of which exceeds the need of an individual moving goods and his family members, are considered as goods imported for use in business, unless the person moving the goods proves otherwise
• The frequency of movement of goods, where the repeated import by the same person of similar goods is considered as the import of goods for use in entrepreneurial activity, unless the person moving the goods proves otherwise
• The circumstances of the trip, including the purpose and duration of the trip

Goods moved for non-commercial purposes are moved across the customs border in a simplified manner and with the use of benefits:

• Non-application of economic policy measures to goods, including mandatory confirmation of compliance with standards and requirements for the safety of goods, with the exception of a vehicle as a product placed under the customs regimes of release for free circulation (import) or export
• The procedure for customs clearance of goods, in which the cargo customs declaration is not completed, with the exception of a vehicle as a product placed under the customs regime of release for free circulation (import) or export

Customs payments do not apply to:

• Goods sent by individuals for non-commercial purposes in international postal and courier shipments, within the limits of the duty-free import rate and the import rate of goods not subject to excise tax established by law
• Goods transported by individuals for non-commercial purposes, within the limits of duty-free importation and import standards for goods not subject to excise tax established by law, with the exception of goods arriving at the address of an individual
• Personal property moved by individuals across the customs border in connection with a change of permanent residence, with the exception of vehicles

2. Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan have the right to temporarily export goods they need for non-commercial purposes outside the customs territory, for the period of their temporary stay in a foreign state. These goods are exempted from customs duties upon their temporary export and re-import into the customs territory. At the request of an individual of the Republic of Uzbekistan, customs authorities can identify temporarily exported goods if the identification of goods will facilitate their re-import into the customs territory with exemption from customs payments. (Article 160 of the Customs Code)

Temporary import of goods into the customs territory by foreign citizens with exemption from customs payments is allowed provided that the goods are imported for non-commercial purposes by this person during his stay in the customs territory. After the expiration of the period, the goods are subject to re-export from the customs territory in an unchanged state or to be placed under the appropriate customs regime.

Temporarily imported goods can be taken back out of the customs territory through any customs authority. When re-exporting temporarily imported goods, customs payments are not paid and economic policy measures are not applied.

The re-exportation of temporarily imported goods from the customs territory may not be carried out if the said goods were seriously damaged as a result of an accident or force majeure, which must be confirmed by the authorized body.

3. Individuals crossing the customs border by rail are given the opportunity to go through customs operations without leaving the vehicle, subject to the provisions of customs control.

If immediate customs clearance or payment of customs payments is not possible, then the transported goods are subject to placement under the customs regime of temporary storage.

4. Declaration of goods transported by individuals for non-commercial purposes in carry-on baggage and accompanied baggage is carried out when they move across the customs border simultaneously with the presentation of goods. (Article 162 of the Customs Code)

Goods of an individual for non-commercial purposes transported in separate next baggage may be declared by the person moving the goods or by any other person acting under a power of attorney. The person declaring the goods is responsible for the accuracy of the information declared to the customs authority.

Goods transported in carry-on baggage and accompanied baggage, as well as in the separately following baggage of a person under the age of sixteen, must be declared by his parents, guardians or trustees, or by persons acting under the power of attorney of parents, guardians or custodians.

5. In places of arrival at the customs territory or departure from this territory for the purpose of declaring goods transported by individuals, a double corridor system may be applied.

The use of the double corridor system provides for the individual choice of a "green" or "red" corridor for customs operations as a form of declaring goods for non-commercial purposes by an individual traveling across the customs border.

The "green" corridor is a specially marked place at the points of arrival or departure, intended for the movement of goods by individuals across the customs border for non-commercial purposes in hand luggage and accompanied baggage. These goods are declared orally, with the exception of goods, the import or export of which is prohibited or limited in accordance with the law, as well as goods, the value and / or quantity of which exceeds the norms of duty-free import and norms for the import of goods that are not subject to excise tax established by law.

The passage of an individual through the "green" corridor is considered for customs purposes as a statement to the customs authority that the specified person does not have goods subject to written declaration.

The "red" corridor is a specially marked place at the places of arrival or departure, intended for the movement by individuals across the customs border of goods subject to declaration in writing, as well as goods for which declaration is carried out at the request of an individual, in carry-on baggage and accompanied baggage.

Attention! Non-application of certain forms of customs control in the "green" corridor does not mean that individuals are exempt from the obligation to comply with the requirements of customs legislation.

The requirements and procedure for applying the double corridor system at checkpoints across the customs border are determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

6. Goods for non-commercial purposes, transported by citizens in carry-on baggage and accompanied baggage, as well as sent in international postal and courier items, the value and / or quantity of which exceeds the norms of duty-free import and norms for the import of goods that are not subject to excise tax, established by law, are subject to customs duties in terms of such an excess.

When goods arrive at the address of an individual, with the exception of international postal and courier shipments, customs payments are levied on the entire amount of imported goods without applying the duty-free import rate and the import rate of goods that are not subject to excise tax.

Customs payments are paid by individuals when declaring goods for non-commercial purposes on the basis of a customs receipt order, the form and procedure for filling out which are determined by the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

One copy of the customs receipt note is handed over (sent) to an individual who has paid customs payments.

Filling in the customs receipt order and calculating customs payments in respect of goods for non-commercial purposes, transported by individuals across the customs border, is carried out by an official of the customs authority.

7. The customs value of goods transported by individuals for non-commercial purposes is declared when declaring them. It is determined based on the declared value, confirmed by checks, receipts and (or) other commercial documents. (Article 164 of the Customs Code)

In the absence of documents and information confirming the correctness of the determination of the customs value of goods declared by the person, the customs authority can independently determine the customs value of goods. (in accordance with Chapter 44 of the Customs Code)

When goods are imported into the customs territory in the next separate baggage, as well as when goods are sent in international postal and courier shipments, the customs value includes the costs of delivering goods to the airport, river port or other place of import of goods into the customs territory.

Also, according to the customs legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan:

• To goods imported by individuals for entrepreneurial activities, the general rules of customs clearance established by legislation in relation to the entire amount of imported goods are applied
• Citizens have the right to export outside the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan measured ingots made of precious metals and coins of the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan made of precious metals without restrictions if they have their certificates and with the obligatory filling in of the passenger customs declaration in case of exceeding the limit established by the legislation export of goods
• Goods that are the personal property of a citizen, when he changes his place of residence (with clarification of the mark on deregistration from the previous place of residence), exported personal property of citizens leaving on long business trips, as well as exported personal property of citizens of other states, previously imported by them to the territory of Uzbekistan, exported by filling out a passenger customs declaration
• It is necessary to indicate all valuable items in the customs declaration upon arrival in Uzbekistan (if the customs declaration is lost, it is necessary to report this to the law enforcement agencies and obtain a certificate for presentation to customs officers upon departure from the country)

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There is also a fairly large list of goods that cannot be exported from the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is better to familiarize yourself with it in advance. Such goods and means include:

• Silkworm cocoons and silk waste
• Cereals: buckwheat, corn, oats and some other crops, buckwheat
• Ethanol
• Products that contain natural pearls or precious stones
• Fur and leather raw materials
• Meat products and offal (this restriction also applies to poultry)
• Military equipment, ammunition, weapons, explosives, special equipment and other similar products
• Non-ferrous scrap
• Saiga antlers, sika deer skins, marals
• Plants listed in the Red Book and rare animals

If the law is violated, you will have to pay a fine, and in especially serious cases, the case may end with deportation or imprisonment.

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Many tourists export dried fruits from Uzbekistan, in connection with which the question often arises: are there any restrictions on this? Local legislation did not establish them. When exporting dried apricots, apricots or other fruits for personal use, no sanctions will follow. In small quantities, dried fruits are allowed to be transported across the border. Problems can arise only in cases where the goods are exported by trucks.

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As for souvenirs, ordinary inexpensive goods can be exported without any restrictions. But to take out products that are antiques or of cultural value, it just won't work. You will need:

• Present a document that allows the export of valuable items
• Availability of receipts for all valuable items purchased in Uzbekistan

For tangible cultural objects, for example, icons, samovars, carpets and antiques, you must have a certificate that these items have no historical value (a certificate can be obtained from the store where these items were purchased, or from the Ministry of Culture).

For those who have already arrived at customs control, but were not aware of these requirements, there is still a way out. A specialist from the Ministry of Culture always works at the Tashkent airport, who will conduct an expert check. The state duty for this service will have to be paid immediately.