How is passport control at Domodedovo Airport?

Passport control is a mandatory procedure before you are checked in for a flight. During the procedure, you must show an identity document and a boarding pass. If the border guard has any questions, they will need to be answered.

At Russian airports, only one person can approach the border control booth. When traveling around the world, some airports allow families to approach. These rules are set by the receiving party and may have fundamental differences from each other.

To travel by air from Russia, you need a passport. EU countries and the United States are not allowed to enter their territory without a previously opened visa.

Main document verification functions

All checks at the airport are aimed solely at aviation safety. This helps to avoid force majeure during the flight.

To make it easier to understand, let's give examples of when and why such control is needed:

• Identification of upcoming terrorist attacks on board the aircraft and in the airport building;
• Preventing the illegal transportation of weapons;
• Detection of narcotic drugs.;
• Fight against smuggling.;
• Preventing illegal border crossing using forged documents.

What documents are checked at the airport

You will not be able to cross the border without passport control. Every passenger goes through this procedure. The customs officer has the right to ask questions that will need to be answered. These are usually two standard questions:

• Where are you going;
• The purpose of the trip.

There is usually no difficulty answering these two questions. You already know the direction of the trip. And what is the goal? This is usually tourism. If your visa is for some other reason: a work or business trip, then you must respond the way you applied for the visa.

The border guards have the right to ask some other questions, they may ask you to move a little further away, take off your glasses and cap. Additional questions may include the date of birth, for example, or ask for the date of the last visit abroad. Don't let that scare you. Thus, they manage to check whether a person is crossing the border using their passport.

The border guards also check the citizen for outstanding criminal record debts, this information is stored by airport staff on the computer. You will not be able to pass the control “by chance". If there are any, this may be a reason to refuse a trip.

Successful completion of the inspection by a customs control officer is confirmed by a stamp on border crossing.

Checking documents with children

There are especially many questions about the passport control of minors. The package of documents for a child depends on who he is traveling with.

To travel with the whole family, the child needs to get his own passport. It will display all the information necessary for the border service.

Tip: "Update your child's photo more often to match his age."

If the child's last name differs from the parents, you need to take a birth (adoption) certificate on the trip. It must be presented to prove the relationship between the travelers.

If a minor goes on vacation with one mom or one dad, then you must first obtain a notarized permit from the other parent. In the document, you must specify the country where you plan to rest.

If a child is flying to a competition with a teacher or on vacation with his grandmother, a notarized permit must be issued from both parents.

Two zones

The customs checkpoints are divided into two:

• for air passengers without luggage;
• to fill out the declaration.

This division was invented in order to save time for passengers without luggage. After all, they do not need to declare their belongings and pay the fee. The only exception is when the goods purchased in stores exceed two thousand dollars.

The Green Corridor

In order to reduce the time spent on verification, Domodedovo operates in two areas:

• The red corridor;
• The green corridor.

This divides the general flow of traveling citizens into two queues. In order to figure out which of the corridors is right for you, you need to ask in advance:

• Which category of goods is subject to declaration;
• Is there a list of prohibited products?

Tip: "Be sure to specify which types of goods are subject to the transportation ban."

A corridor with a green sign is recommended for the main percentage of travelers to pass through the control. Anyone whose baggage is not subject to mandatory customs declaration can pass it. Here is a list of restrictions that apply to the corridor with a green sign:

• Products for individual use, the cost limit is up to two thousand dollars;
• Money, stocks, etc. - an amount of no more than $ 10,000;
• Jewelry made of gold, silver, and other precious metals;
• Alcohol-containing beverages;
• Tobacco products are allowed in a small amount.

Declaration of goods in the red corridor

Passing through customs control along the red corridor involves filling out a declaration for goods purchased before the flight. However, this applies only to the category of goods that exceeds the permissible standards. A set of measures is immediately applied to identify all categories of goods subject to declaration. During the baggage inspection, customs officers will find and tell you what needs to be declared.

This is possible if the passenger carries in his bag:

• More than 10,000 units;
• Diamonds, sapphires, gold, any precious metals and stones, the amount of which exceeds a quarter of a hundred in foreign currency;
• Assets, stocks, etc.;
• Firearms, special equipment, ammunition;
• Certain foodstuffs (raw potatoes, sturgeon caviar), etc.;
• Items of historical importance, paintings;
• Red Book flora and fauna;
• Medications, especially those that are available on prescription. The only exceptions are those that are necessary to maintain the health of the traveler. They may ask for a prescription from their doctor.
• Hard drives, various storage devices, and other documentation that is a state secret;
• Drugs and psychoactive substances, poisons, elements emitting radiation;
• Awards of the Great Patriotic War and the Russian Federation.

It is better not to put anything from the list above in your briefcase, as this can have serious consequences. It is advisable to learn in advance about all categories of items prohibited for export and import. After all, such an attempt may end up not only with the withdrawal of the "forbidden", but also become the basis for initiating a criminal case.

If you still exceed the permissible amount of things allowed for transportation, you will have to declare the excess part of it. There's nothing wrong with that. The declaration contains:

• Personal information about the passenger;
• Type of baggage;
• The age and number of minor passengers with whom the trip is planned;
• A list of all transported items;
• The total amount of funds.

A sample declaration can always be found on the airline's official website. You can print it out and fill it out in advance, so as not to waste time on it before departure. It is very important not to accidentally throw away the document, because upon return it must be presented to the customs officers.

Domodedovo control

Domodedovo security area

Almost 8 years ago, additional control corridors were opened at Domodedovo Airport for incoming tourists. Since then, anyone traveling around the world through Domodedovo Airport can use the new passport control system.

It has more than four corridors. Each is well equipped with the latest technologies in the control system for visiting citizens. This innovation has made it easier for airport staff and made the customs control procedure much more convenient. Due to the opening of additional corridors, the time for inspection was also reduced, and the throughput increased.

Now, passengers who do not have a declaration can pass through four of the five corridors. Previously, there were only two.

The airport plans to increase the checkpoint area by another five corridors. This will make the control procedure lightning fast.

Customs rules for border crossing

In 2022, the rules for completing the customs declaration have not changed, and the following are subject to declaration:

• Large amounts of money;
• Checks in the amount of more than 10 thousand US dollars;
• Jewelry;
• The product is for sale.

Under strict import/export ban:

• Narcotic substances, tranquilizers;
• Red Book animals and plants;
• Literature, advertising brochures of banned organizations.

Weapons and ammunition are allowed only with a special permit from the Department of Internal Affairs. If at least one item from the list above ends up in your briefcase, it can lead to serious consequences.

Tip: "Please note that a duplicate customs declaration is not issued. In case of loss, it will not be possible to restore the paper"

How airport customs officers identify intruders

Before joining the service, customs control officers undergo special training. Including psychology. A customs officer can easily identify a passenger who is transporting prohibited products by their behavior.

A personal search is used only if the passenger is suspicious. They can also attract a service dog. Such methods of verification are used only if the tourist is suspected of transporting narcotic drugs.

Set of documents

In addition to the completed declaration, if necessary. The following documents must be provided to the Customs service staff:

• An internal or foreign passport;
• Birth certificate (for each child);
• An air ticket or its electronic booking;
• Receipts for the goods that you specified in the declaration;
• Documents confirming the right to the benefit (for payment of the fee).

To cross the border with animals, you need a standard certificate and a passport with vaccinations. It must be issued a few days before the trip to the veterinarian. In some cases, a pedigree may be required. But this is the exception rather than the rule.

As you have already understood, there are only two types of corridors at the airport for passport and customs control. One or the other can be used depending on the volume of items being transported.

The green corridor is intended for passengers whose luggage volume does not exceed the permissible limits, and the red one exists so that all items transported in excess of the norm are declared. Ignoring the rules of border crossing is stopped by customs officers and is punishable by law. Penalties or criminal proceedings may be initiated for violations.

The source of the photo, published unchanged, is an image from freepik