What to do if a parcel with a smartphone was detained at the customs

Problem

Messages became more frequent (for example, the first, second, third and fourth) that the customs service of Russia prevents the receipt of smartphones purchased abroad. It happens this way: along with the parcel, a customs notification is received about the absence of notification of the smartphone in the EAES. The parcel is not given out and it is proposed to contact the customs officers. And they, in turn, refuse to issue customs documents.

According to the Decision of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission of April 21, 2015 No. 30 (Ed., Dated November 17, 2015), “On measures of non-tariff regulation” for the importation of smartphones and some other devices, such as walkie-talkies, radio transmitters, computers, server systems, Notification of registration in the registry of encryption devices. In the legal subtleties we will not go into, but give an example. Smartphone on Android or iOS in the factory bundled does not fall under the action of these documents, but the presence on it of installed Telegram, What’sApp and similar programs, not to mention a variety of cryptographers and Tor-clients, immediately translates the gadget into a category of spetsustroystv. Receive such a smartphone will not be easy, since for legally sold devices, the notification is still submitted by the manufacturer. It guarantees the invariability of the cryptographic algorithms specified in the document before the specified date, and this notification is sufficient for all postal items.

Most brands that do not trade officially in Russia do not have such documents. Therefore, can hold almost any parcel with a gadget of such a manufacturer.

Decision

Method one

The simplest algorithm of action in this case was suggested by one of the 4pda users. According to him, when the parcel is detained because of problems with customs, it is bagged, sealed and issued a package of documents for communication with customs authorities. Any manipulation of postal employees with this package is possible only with the sanction of the customs authorities. More often this happens when the permitted duty-free monthly import limit is exceeded, but it can happen because of the lack of notification on the territory of Russia. In the latter case, such an algorithm works.

Instead of going to customs, we open a mail client and write a letter to the FSB – that’s exactly what this notification organization exists for. Before sending it is necessary to collect the following package of documents:

1. Extract from the bank with a stamp on the payment of the goods.
2. Application (form).
3. Description of the phone (manufacturer, model, characteristics, indication of the version of the operating system).
4. Confirm the order from the store in the form of screenshots.
5. Scanned first and second pages of the passport.
6. Notification from the customs service.

All documents must be collected in a PDF-file. The letter with it should be sent to the address [email protected] and / or via the web-reception on the site fsb.ru.

The title of the letter

The Center for Licensing, Certification and Protection of State Secrets of the Federal Security Service of Russia (TsSLZ FSB of Russia)

Text of the letter

Hello.

I purchased it from the online store (store name):

1. Cell phone (make and model) – 1 pc.

To receive the parcel, the customs service requires a one-time permit for the import of unidentified funds to the territory of the Russian Federation for personal use.

The package of documents in the attachment.

The service has the right to respond within a month. Although, according to reported reports, everything happens much faster.

Further, the received documents together with those that were sent to the FSB, we take to the customs (do not forget to take the mail notification). There, according to the established pattern, it is necessary to write an explanation, which together with a full package of documents is passed to the customs inspector. After some time, the workers will put on the stamp the stamp “Import is allowed”. After that, you can easily get a purchase at the post office.

Method of the second

You can contact the company that registers the notification. The nearest to yourself will help find Google, but you can refer to one of our list:

• “Minpromtest”;
• “Certificate.Moscow”;
• Center for Licensing, Certification and Protection of State Secrets of the Federal Security Service of Russia;
• IFCG;
• RadioCert.

Such offices will do everything themselves, will only show documents at customs and pick up the parcel. However, this will not be cheap – about 10-15 thousand rubles. This is not surprising: their customers are brands and companies, so they will hardly want to reduce the cost of a rather long procedure. After all, if one phone received a notification, then it applies to all devices of this model.

Prevention

Buy only smartphones that officially have notifications in Russia. While it is precisely known that notifications have such brands as Xiaomi, Meizu, Doogee. There are problems with the importation of HomTom (although it is a daughter brand of Doogee) and Oukitel. To clarify the availability of a notification for this or that model, click here.

I hope our instructions help you to get your purchase. If you have experienced such an incident, tell us about it in the comments.