How to go through passport control at the airport. Customs control of passengers How to undergo customs control at the airport

To make the flight as safe as possible, all passengers undergo several stages of inspection before boarding. Not only personal belongings are subject to inspection, but also the citizen himself.

In order to easily obtain permission to fly, you must familiarize yourself in advance with the rules of baggage inspection at the airport.

How do they check luggage and passengers at the airport?

Upon arrival at the airport, citizens must check in for the appropriate flight and receive a boarding pass. It indicates the date and time of the aircraft's scheduled departure, flight number, seat in the aircraft cabin and boarding gate number.

To find out which check-in counter you need to go to, just look at the electronic board in the waiting room.

The passenger must have an appropriate identification document with him (for example, to fly to another country, a citizen of the Russian Federation must present a foreign passport).

After completing the registration procedure, the passenger expects:

  • customs control;
  • migration and border inspection;
  • pre-flight baggage inspection at the airport.

If you are flying not on an international, but on a domestic Russian flight, after completing the registration procedure you only need to go through a pre-flight inspection and check the validity of your passport.

In most cases, passengers carry a personal bag classified as hand luggage and/or baggage that must be transferred to a special compartment on the aircraft. These items are subject to mandatory inspection for the presence of prohibited items. These measures are used to combat terrorism and ensure safe flights.

At the check-in desk, items checked into the baggage department are processed. Hand luggage and baggage must be weighed to avoid overweight (the size and maximum weight of items that can be taken with you depend on the internal policy of the particular airline). Overweight is paid additionally.

How is hand luggage checked at the airport?

Carrier companies set certain limits on the dimensions and weight of luggage. In most cases, a bag weighing up to 10 kilograms inclusive for Economy Class and up to 15 kilograms for Business Class is allowed on board. On average, the size of luggage cannot be more than 115 cm in total length, height and width.

The passenger has the right to take with him:

  • technical devices (smartphone, laptop);
  • necessary clothing;
  • any book;
  • items purchased at Duty Free;
  • medicines;
  • etc.

Hand luggage must be weighed at check-in. In case of exceeding the limits established by the company for the carriage of free luggage, the citizen will be forced to make an additional payment according to the carrier’s tariffs.

Hand luggage is checked using technical devices. If suspicious or prohibited items are detected, an airport employee has the right to insist on a personal search.

Pre-flight inspection at the airport


A citizen who has not passed or refused to undergo pre-flight security control cannot be allowed to fly. The passenger himself, his luggage and existing hand luggage are subject to inspection. To go through security, you must have your passport, ticket and boarding pass ready in advance.

The following inspection methods are distinguished:

  • using an introscope;
  • X-ray scanner;
  • stationary metal detector;
  • individual (aka personal) search.

The first method is the most popular. It can be used to check a passenger's luggage and outer clothing. Personal search is provided in exceptional situations, and it is carried out by an employee of the same gender as the citizen being examined.

At least two witnesses must be present during the inspection. At the same time, a corresponding protocol is drawn up.

For example, if a passenger has an implanted device or contraindications to undergoing a scanner examination, he will have to undergo an individual search.

When inspecting things using special technical devices, a citizen must take off his outer clothing, shoes, and items with metal inserts (for example, a belt, earrings, watches, etc.).

Border control

If you have purchased tickets for an international flight, after check-in and security, you will be subject to verification of your identity documents and legality of entry into another country. In the latter case, we are talking about whether the passenger has an appropriate visa or migration card.

Citizens of the Russian Federation can enter and exit Russia using the following documents:

  • international passport;
  • official or diplomatic passport;
  • certificate to return to the country.

If you lost your passport while on the territory of a foreign country, you still have the right to return to Russia. To do this, just contact the Russian consulate located abroad.

customs control


Some items must be declared before departure (for example, alcoholic beverages, large sums of money, tobacco products, indivisible items weighing more than 35 kilograms, etc.). To eliminate the chance of a passenger having items prohibited for transportation or subject to declaration, customs control is carried out.

Citizens who do not have the items listed above pass through the “green corridor”. The remaining passengers must follow the “red corridor” to declare their belongings and pay the appropriate fee levied in a situation where the amount of duty-free import has been exceeded.

Typically, an additional payment is required for the transportation of tobacco, alcohol, perfumes, etc.

Editor's response

All passengers on domestic flights are subject to passport control and security control. After screening, passengers await departure in a specially designated area. Passengers on international flights must undergo more thorough screening. They undergo customs control, security control, and passport control. To pass all types of control at the airport, passengers on international flights must arrive at least two and a half hours before the departure time indicated on the ticket, and passengers on domestic flights must arrive at least an hour and a half before the departure of the plane.

check-in

Upon arrival at the airport, passengers check in for the flight and receive a boarding pass, which includes:

  • date of,
  • time,
  • flight number,
  • boarding gate number,
  • seat in a plane.

The number of the counter where check-in takes place is indicated on the electronic board in the departure hall.

Registration can also be completed online from your home or office. Such registration begins 24 hours in advance. You choose a seat that is convenient for you in the aircraft cabin and print out your boarding pass yourself. Upon arrival at the airport, the passenger does not need to go to the check-in counter if he is flying without luggage.

Mobile check-in is also available to passengers. To pass it, just go to the airline’s website from your mobile phone and indicate the electronic ticket number (or the passenger’s name and flight number). The system itself will find the desired flight and offer to choose a seat in the aircraft cabin. After this, an SMS message containing a unique barcode will be sent to your mobile phone. To receive a boarding pass, you need to touch the cell phone screen with a barcode on the display to special equipment located in the check-in hall.

A paper boarding pass is required to proceed to the boarding gate.

Baggage check-in

At the check-in counter, each passenger can check in their luggage. Baggage will not be checked in until the final destination if the passenger is flying on different airlines with different tickets. In this case, you need to re-register at an intermediate point.

Hand luggage

You can only take items of a certain size and weight with you in your hand luggage. In economy class, up to 10 kg is allowed, in business class - 15 kg. The size of luggage must not exceed 115 cm in three dimensions (55x40x20). Low-cost airlines have different requirements for hand luggage; you can find them on the carrier’s website.

In hand luggage, you cannot carry sharp objects, liquids exceeding 100 ml in volume, radioactive, explosive, or flammable substances. It is best to check the list of prohibited items for transportation in hand luggage in advance with a representative of your airline.

In addition to the permitted baggage, in addition to the permitted baggage, passengers are allowed to take into the aircraft cabin:

  • laptop,
  • bouquet of flowers,
  • video camera, photo camera,
  • umbrella,
  • baby portable cradle,
  • cane,
  • diapers and baby food,
  • documentation,
  • book to read,
  • outerwear,
  • cellular phone,
  • crutches, a stretcher or a wheelchair when transporting a passenger with limited mobility,
  • a bag with purchases from the Duty Free store.

These items are not presented for weighing and are not processed during registration.

The weight limit for free baggage transportation in the cargo compartment of the aircraft is limited. Typically it is around 20kg for an economy class passenger and around 30kg for those traveling in business class. You will have to pay approximately 3 euros for each kilogram in excess of the established norm. To ensure that your bags and suitcases are treated with special care, you can ask the airport employee for a sticker on your suitcase when checking in.

Such fragile items can be transported in the aircraft cabin as hand luggage. But at the same time it is necessary to comply with the established limits on weight and dimensions. If you want to transport fragile luggage weighing up to 75 kg, for example musical instruments, then you need to purchase a separate ticket for one seat. If the total weight exceeds 75 kg, such baggage is carried on two or more seats, and this will require the required number of air tickets. No discounts are provided in this case.

Checked baggage

Typically, the baggage you check in can contain any items except dangerous ones:

  • drugs,
  • explosives, etc. (according to international classification).

A special permit must be issued for weapons.

Overweight luggage

The passenger is obliged to pay for the transportation of baggage that exceeds the free baggage allowance at the established rate in effect on the day of transportation for the entire transportation to the destination. To avoid overpaying for luggage, you need to check the baggage allowance in advance on the airline’s website. It is better to pay for excess luggage online; the cost of paying for excess luggage at the airport is much higher, on average 20 euros per 1 kg.

It should be borne in mind that exceeding the norms is also limited, even with an additional payment. Excess baggage should not exceed:

  • for economy class passengers - 32 kg and 203 cm,
  • for business class passengers - 50 kg and 203 cm.

Pre-flight screening of passengers (security control)

When going through security control, you must present your ticket, boarding pass and passenger identification document.

During pre-flight inspection, the passenger is asked to provide for inspection using technical inspection equipment (introscope):

  • outerwear,
  • shoes,
  • items containing metal (belts, keys, cigarettes, cigarette cases, etc.).

The passenger himself must go through the frame of a stationary metal detector.

Passengers with implanted devices that stimulate cardiac activity are subject to personal (individual) search without the use of technical means.

Passengers who, for health reasons (disabled people, people with limited physical capabilities, etc.) cannot undergo pre-flight inspection procedures on a general basis, undergo pre-flight inspection at the airport first-aid post.

Some passengers may also be screened individually. This inspection is carried out only:

  • by decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs,
  • by decision of the airport aviation security services,
  • persons of the same sex as the passenger being searched,
  • in the presence of two witnesses,
  • with the participation of employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in transport,
  • with the mandatory drawing up of a protocol.

customs control

Customs control includes inspection of personal luggage and belongings. The currency you carry with you in the form of cash is subject to declaration (oral or written). It all depends on the amount of currency. Import into the Russian Federation and export from Russia of cash foreign currency by individuals (residents and non-residents) is carried out without restrictions. Cash foreign currency is subject to mandatory declaration if its amount exceeds the equivalent of 10,000 euros.

If you have goods in your luggage for which an additional duty is paid for the export or import if the amount of duty-free import is exceeded, you will have to leave them or pay a fee. Such goods include cigarettes, coffee, wine, tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, and perfumes.

For more information about how much and what can be taken out of Russia,

If there is a suspicion that there are dangerous objects and substances in a passenger’s belongings, a manual search of the passenger’s belongings may be carried out. A passenger in whom dangerous substances and objects were found during inspection:

  • weapon,
  • ammunition,
  • explosives,
  • means of explosion,
  • explosive devices,
  • narcotic,
  • poisonous,
  • poisonous,
  • radioactive substances,

not allowed to fly. The act drawn up in this case and the seized substances or objects are transferred to the internal affairs bodies to resolve the issue of bringing the passenger to criminal liability.

Passport control

After passing through customs control, passengers undergo passport control. If you are making an internal flight, you must present an identification document of a citizen of the Russian Federation (passport, diplomatic passport, international passport, military ID, sailor's passport (sailor's ID card)). If the flight is international, you must present your passport.

When leaving the Russian Federation, employees of the border control department only check the legality of the passenger’s stay on the territory of the Russian Federation and do not control the citizen’s right to enter another country. In accordance with Art. 6 of the Federal Law “On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation”, the responsibility for monitoring the availability of a visa and the validity of the documents required for entry into the country of destination is assigned to the air carrier. Documents can be checked by an authorized representative of the airline during check-in or directly during boarding.

When entering and leaving Russia, foreign citizens are required to present valid (validity) documents issued by authorized bodies identifying them and recognized by the Russian Federation, and a Russian Federation visa.

If a child under thirteen years of age is traveling with you, you must show the border guards his birth certificate, and if he is flying alone or flying with one of his parents, consent to travel.


Air travel is considered the best means of traveling to various locations. It has been proven that the largest number of tourists from different countries prefer air transport, because it is a fast and convenient way to get to a distant point on the planet. There are often cases when an airliner is the only way to get to a certain place.

To determine the necessary conditions that should be taken into account when choosing a flight, we will study the customer service activities of some airports. Before using airline services, the passenger must arrive at the airport with a purchased plane ticket, and then follow the following steps:

  • register;
  • hand over things to the luggage department;
  • receive a security check;
  • bypass customs control;
  • make a documentary inspection.

It is worth considering that the purchase of tickets for international flights is accompanied by mandatory passport and customs control at the airport. If the flights take place within the territory of one country, then these procedures will not be required, but if an unforeseen situation arises, you must be prepared to go through the established security controls. Going through customs control at the airport is quite tedious, as this process takes time and nerves from passengers. Moreover, when all stages of registration and verification have been completed.

Once you reach the airport, you will need to check in for your required flight. To register, you need to find the counter where this process will take place. You can find it using the information screen. You can also register online. Passengers often prefer this method, because thanks to online check-in, travelers can independently determine the seat in the cabin where they will be during the flight.

Having an air ticket and completed online check-in, you can save a lot of time in queues at check-in counters. Airline employees will give you a special boarding pass. It must be presented upon entering the aircraft cabin.

It will indicate:

  • date and exact time of flight;
  • direction to the liner;
  • route number;
  • seat number on the plane.

Remember that any luggage must be checked in to a special department, and if the required weight is exceeded, you will have to pay extra. To avoid this situation, on the main website of the selected airline you can find out the details and nuances related to determining the weight of the luggage you want to take on board the plane. Different carriers have some differences in the weight standards for items to be transported in the cabin or in the luggage compartment.

The electronic version of the ticket always indicates whether it is possible to carry a large suitcase and what weight it should be.

You must bypass security before going through customs. Airport employees will inspect you along with all your luggage. Control occurs in a strictly defined sequence. Visitors must walk through a frame with an electromagnetic field. It allows you to record the presence of metal things and objects. In order to pass through it, passengers are asked to remove their belt and empty their pockets of various small items.

After the first procedure, security staff will examine your carry-on luggage using an x-ray. If necessary, you will be required to show the entire contents of bags, packages or boxes. There are situations where strict security conditions apply. Then they may be required to remove all outer clothing and shoes, but this happens very rarely. It must be remembered that going through security control is a mandatory process for every passenger, regardless of where and with what cargo he is going to fly.

How is customs control carried out?

Many airline customers are interested in what exactly customs officers check. The list of things that are often subject to inspection by airport employees includes:

  • availability of firearms and military ammunition;
  • carrying an amount of money exceeding the permitted limit;
  • transportation of things subject to state taxes.

The requirements for customs bypass are not difficult to comply with, but this does not mean that they are unnecessary to comply with. Pay special attention to the list of things that you want to take on board the plane, because different countries have certain rules for transporting various baggage. It is best to find out in advance about the rules for carrying hand luggage in the country to which you plan to fly.

How to quickly get through security at the airport

People planning to fly to another country need to prepare for customs control. This procedure is carried out in the airport building. You can travel within the country without going through customs control.

The customs inspection procedure takes a considerable amount of time in 2019. Therefore, anyone who does not want to be late for their flight should arrive at the airport 4–5 hours before departure. The check-in procedure begins two hours before departure and ends 40 minutes before departure.

The main purpose of control is to identify items that are prohibited for transportation. Before traveling, you should familiarize yourself with. On the opposite side, you will have to go through the procedure again, taking into account the rules of the country of entry. In, in, or, for example, there are no significant differences, but it would be useful to study them..

The control procedure is carried out by employees of the Russian customs service. They stop the person, ask him questions about what he is carrying, and then begin to inspect the luggage. Sometimes customs officers ask travelers about the amount they are carrying. The more confidently the traveler answers, the faster the customs inspection procedure will be completed.

Funds stored on a bank card do not need to be declared. There are no restrictions regarding their export outside Russia yet.

Carrying out customs control, service employees perform the following actions:

  1. Check documents.
  2. Inspected (if available).
  3. Accounting for goods is carried out.
  4. Travelers are interviewed orally.

Two control systems

At all Russian airports, it was recently simplified. Simplification of control occurred due to the emergence of two “corridor” systems. Today, all Russian airports operate “red” and “green” corridor systems.

Passing through the “green” corridor

A traveler who does not have things on the black list can use the “green” corridor system. The entrance to this control zone is not difficult to find. At all airports, this area is marked accordingly in two languages ​​- Russian and English.

Transportation of goods along the “green” corridor is considered as a sign that the things the traveler is transporting are not subject to mandatory declaration. It also indicates that the traveler is not carrying unaccompanied baggage. The opportunity to pass control is provided selectively.

Passing through the “red” corridor

When a traveler brings with him goods that are subject to mandatory customs duties, he undertakes to use the “red” corridor system. This is also true when the cost of transported items is limited by the letter of Russian law.

The entrance to the “red” corridor area is also marked accordingly in both Russian and English. In order to pass through the “red” corridor, the traveler must fill out a customs declaration. He must also attach a statement to baggage that does not need to be accompanied.

Control at Sheremetyevo

The customs control area at this airport is located not far from the entrance to the building. The traveler will need to go past the stairs and go up to the second floor. The required place is located slightly to the right of the information desk.

If a person has a large amount of money with him, he needs to have a certificate from the bank with him. This is true for both rubles and any foreign currency. If customs officers deem it necessary, they may ask the traveler to provide them with his wallet. The recounting of funds stored in the wallet occurs in front of the traveler.

Control in Domodedovo

In 2014, Russia's largest airport, Domodedovo, opened several additional channels designed to control arriving citizens. Now a person making a foreign rendezvous through this airport can freely use the implemented channels. These channels are located in the area of ​​international air lines.

This zone includes 5 new corridors. Each of the corridors of the control zone is equipped with special equipment, which is designed to facilitate the work of customs officers. Thus, the time required to clear customs control is reduced.

This know-how made it possible to make the control zone much wider and more convenient. Its throughput has doubled. Now passengers who do not have a declaration with them and have chosen Domodedovo to travel abroad can pass not through two, but through four out of five corridors.

Today, the city authorities plan to increase the control zone to 10 channels. This will make the control procedure even faster and easier.