CUSTOMS:

We are going to go on about this a bit, since so many travelers have so many questions about the Customs process, and what they can and cannot take out of Armenia.

Customs is not a big hairy beast stalking the tourist. We have heard many tales of customs agents "on the take" against unsuspecting visitors, but absolutely most of them are due to misunderstandings by the visitor on what can or cannot be taken out of teh country. Customs officials want to make as few waves as possible while executing their jobs. The difficulty of their work is compounded by the situation Armenia has faced in recent years; some very good, and very rare cultural items have been sold on the streets and open market, in order that the population can make ends meet. Sometimes the international value for the items sold are much higher than the price actually paid. Increasingly rare as the economy slowly improves, there is the possibility that the tourist might just bump into an icon, antique carpet or a painting by a famous artist that is worth much more than he or she realizes. Another problem has been the export of millions (some say billions) of dollars of raw minerals and materials, even cash in the worst years of the recent economic turmoil. The loss of these items and currencies through export has seriously hampered Armenia’s economic recovery.

In an effort to preserve the national heritage and to prevent the illegal export of priceless or rare treasures, two security systems have been established: that conducted by the Customs, and that by the Ministry of Culture.

As you read the following, understand that many export regulations will not apply to you as a traveler, but if you want to be sure, and you want to have minimal hassles at customs when you leave, read on:

CUSTOM POINTS, PROCESS AND DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
WHEN YOU ENTER ARMENIA:

At Zvartnotz, Erebuni, Giumri and Stepanavan Airports: You are required to fill out two customs declaration forms. They are provided at the baggage waiting area. There should be forms in both Armenian and English, but the English forms seem to go fast (maybe that is why everyone tries to get there first) and you may have to use an Armenian copy.

The airplanes do not issue customs forms before you land at the airport. Considering how long in line you will spend waiting to clear immigration and wait for your luggage, perhaps they know best. No matter how organized you are, this will be perhaps the most trying time you will spend in Armenia. All checked-in luggage must be unloaded and carted to the terminal, where it is first scanned for suspicious looking items. It is then sent up to the waiting area, collected, and then passed through a second check, at the customs desks located just before the exit door. The entire process from leaving the airplane until you leave the International terminal can take up to 3 hours. If you have only carry on luggage, you can bypass the luggage waiting period, though the customs officials tend to feel cheated by having so little to ask you about.

Road: Bavra, Tashir, Airum and Meghri: (See Immigration Points, Process and Documents above) At all border points there will be customs documents for you to complete and turn in to the customs officers. Between Iran and Armenia, you almost certainly will be asked to open your bags for a thorough check (OVIR informs us that it is on a frequently used route for the exporting of drugs into the CIS). At other points the check can be either peripheral or thorough, and there are no hard and fast rules for detecting which you will have. Just be prepared.

CUSTOMS: WHEN YOU EXIT ARMENIA:

You will be required to fill out one declaration form, showing the amount of currency you have, and any declarable items (see below). Give both the declaration you received when Entering and this new one to the customs official.

Customs Officials primarily check for two things:

For the first, if you have obtained additional cash through credit cards, wire transfer, or travelers checks, have the receipts for those transactions ready to show the customs official. If you don’t have any receipts from a bank or licensed money office showing how you obtained the extra cash, it can be confiscated. Save these receipts!

For the second, the section below explains what can and cannot be brought in and out of the country, plus what kind of duty you may be charged when you leave the country.

If you have to pay duty on any items, you will do so at this point. The customs official will then stamp and retain both declaration forms. You then proceed to immigration.

If you pass through the VIP sector or business class hall at the main terminal, you check your bags in first before passing customs. If when it is scanned it shows any suspicious items (i.e. carpets or paintings), you will be asked to go to the luggage area and open your bags.

You can be asked to open your bags at any time from when you enter customs until you leave Armenia. Have keys handy.

(Sample Form: Armenian and English)


CUSTOMS FORM USED FOR ENTERING AND LEAVING ARMENIA

Above are examples of an Armenian Language and English Language Customs Declaration Form. Both ask for identical information.

The questions asked-- exactly as printed on the declaration forms (grammatical errors and all)-- and a short description of meaning:

1. Name:
(in order) Last or Family Name, First Name

2. Nationality:
Your passport issuing Country (i.e. USA, France, etc.)

3. From what country has arrived:
If by air, list the immediate country your direct, non-stop flight originated from (i.e. France, Holland, USA, Greece). If by road or train, list the country you are coming from (i.e. Georgia, Iran)

4. To What Country is Leaving:
If NOT in transit, list Armenia. If IN transit, list where your next destination is.

5. My baggage consists of ______ pieces
List the number of pieces of luggage (including ALL carry-on) you are bringing into the country with you. Boxes and large bags are considered luggage, and must be included. Duty Free shopping bags not.

6. With me and my baggage there is ________________

You should be able to positively write NO to all points regarding weapons, ammunition, explosives, drugs and narcotic substances, and state secrets.

If you are carrying a video camera, audio recorder or computer, and stamp collections, or stamps for collectors, place a YES here and declare it under "3. RA currency, etc.". Also declare computer discs with files on them (they are "information carriers").

7. RA currency, foreign currency, precious metals and stones, property documentation:
If you have brought anything of value into Armenia (jewelry, gold, antiques, paintings, carpets, video camera, computer, etc.), you must declare it when you come in, in order to be allowed to take it out with you.

Likewise, list all currency you bring in with you. This is important if you want to take it back out.

There is no restriction for how much money you bring in, and as long as you take out the same amount or less, there will be no problems either. If you have money wired in or use credit cards for cash advances, and the amount you take out is larger than what you declared on entering, don’t worry: simply produce the receipts for transactions when you leave, and customs will allow you to pass.

List all currencies you have with you, as follows:

Likewise, list all items of value you are bringing in with you. Note there isn’t much space. If necessary, take more than one copy, and be sure the customs official is aware of what you are carrying.

8. ATTENTION Declaring inexact data and misleading a customs officer will be prosecuted according to RA legislation:
Leave Kafka out of your thoughts: this is straightforward and simple: you are a guest of Armenia, and you are bound by her laws. The penalties for misleading customs can range from having undeclared valuables and currency confiscated to expulsion or jail for carrying weapons, drugs, etc. Armenia does prosecute for serious infringements, so don’t risk it.

You will have nothing to worry about as long as you declare valuables and currency on entering the country.

9. Passenger’s Signature:

10. Date: <Day> Month 19-- Year

Reverse side of Customs Declaration Form: CUSTOMS USE NOTES




1. a) Customs Official will list all released through RA border-importation, exportation: This includes video cameras, lap-top computers, expensive or Soviet made photo cameras, rare books, jewelry, antiques, paintings, carpets, etc.:

2. b) Released according to special allowance (issued by Ministries of Culture, Interior Affairs, Defense, Health, Communication, bank exchange point, etc.):

Customs Official will list all items for which you have a special permit to import or export. For the average traveler, this means little or nothing on entering the country, but on leaving, it refers to your exporting a painting, hand-made carpet, or precious metal and/or stone jewelry bought while visiting Armenia.

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