- You are here:
- Home
- Expat living
- Country and city guides
- Russia
Expat guide: Russia
This expat guide offers information and advice if you are moving to Russia. Click on the different tabs to find out about anything from tax rules and banking to education and culture shock.
You can also read our city guide to Moscow.
Download this guide as a pdfMoving to Russia
Russia is a vast country with mysterious allure for many expats. Although the country has opened up significantly to the West since the fall of communism in 1992, it has managed to retain its allure and unique flavour. Moving to Russia could give you many business opportunities you might not be able to have in your own country and will definitely expose you to a rich, interesting and complex culture. Moscow is the capital, the main commercial city and the home to more than 15 million people. St Petersburg, on the other hand, is known as the cultural capital of the country and has a more relaxed approach to life. Most expats tend to move to one of these cities as they are the largest economic centres in the country.
Russia is famed (often rightfully) for its cold, dark and long winters. However, summers can also be very hot and pleasant, with plants and other wildlife going through impressive growth spurts in the summer months. The flip side to the very short days in mid-winter are the White Nights of summer, when the sun hardly sets before it starts to rise again. The further north you go, the colder the weather and the longer the winter, whereas southern Russia, like the resort city of Sochi, have much more temperate climates.
Shipping and removals
The best and safest method to move your belongings to Russia is with the help of an international removals company. While it is possible to ship crates or containers privately, you will have to be prepared for a long wait at customs and some intricate bureaucracy to release your shipment.
As of 13 July 2010 a recent union between Customs of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan has confirmed that a new code will now charge on all household goods imported to Russia. Thus, all shipments (except diplomatic) will have fees levied at 4€ per 1 kg gross. As a result large shipments easily become quite expensive; a cost-effective alternative is to purchase household goods once within Russian borders.
The Russian postal service is not overly reliable and more important documents or parcels are sent via courier services like DHL.
Links
- Russian moving company: www.moving2russia.com
-
Russian shipping company: www.russia.shipping-international.com
This content is provided by www.expatarrivals.com, copyright © 2011 Globe Media Ltd. All rights reserved. By its very nature much of the information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. Neither Globe Media nor Bupa International can be held liable for any errors or omissions, or any loss, damage, illness and/or injury that may occur as a result of this information.
Bupa International is not responsible for the content of external websites.
Contact us
-
To discuss your needs, please call us on:
+44 (0) 1273 718 306
-
Find out more about health insurance for expats:
+44 (0) 1273 718 306
