Documents for traveling abroad: mandatory, additional, what to take with you just in case

Before traveling abroad by car, it is important to familiarize yourself with a number of rules in advance. When planning a trip by car to foreign countries, it is necessary to take into account the laws that apply not only in the Russian Federation, but also the legal norms of the countries that you will visit.

The logic is simple: we leave the Russian Federation according to domestic laws, and enter a foreign country according to local rules. A long-awaited trip to the sea abroad in a car borrowed is quite acceptable, but with some restrictions. The same applies to a leased car. Taking a pet with you is also not prohibited, but you should remember about the accompanying documentation.

Documents for traveling abroad by car

Conventionally, all the necessary documents for legal departure can be divided into 2 groups: documents for the car and documents for the driver.

Documents for the car

• PTS. The original PTS is not always kept by the driver. Often it is located in a bank or other credit institution, for example, when buying a car on credit or when providing a car as collateral. Then you should contact the bank with an application to issue a written confirmation of the storage of the original PTS and attach the bank’s response to a copy of the document.
• Vehicle registration certificate. Based on these documents, customs officers will fill out a declaration at the border.
• Diagnostic card. This requirement applies regardless of whether the car is new or used.

Driver documents

Driver's license (national or international)

A Russian ID, even in the new plastic format, is not suitable for traveling to all countries. With a Russian license you can enter and travel in Azerbaijan (but no more than a year), Belarus (no more than three months), Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, etc. The full list of countries can be found on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These countries are united by a signed international agreement, the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. In other countries, international laws are legal.

International rights have legal force only during the validity period of Russian rights. Therefore, it is important to take a Russian ID in any case, and additionally international rights will be required in countries such as Turkey, Albania, and Cyprus.

Obtaining an international license is quite simple. Moreover, this can be done not only by visiting the State Traffic Inspectorate again.

Instructions for obtaining international rights through State Services:

1. Register on the portal by creating a Personal Account;
2. Fill out and submit the appropriate application. To fill it out, you will need your passport data and data from your Russian driver’s license;
3. Select and indicate a convenient time to visit the inspection;
4. Pay the fee. The size is 1600 rubles, when paying through the portal there is a 30% discount;
5. Visit the inspection. Bring with you the originals of the specified documents, a matte photograph 35*45.
6. On the same day, usually within an hour, an employee will check the originals provided with the data you provided and issue a ready-made international ID.

Identity document outside the territory of Russia

Such documents include not only the foreign passport that is familiar to most, but also diplomatic and service passports.

In a number of countries, a Russian passport is also suitable for legal travel. We are talking about some CIS countries. With a Russian “internal” passport you will be able to enter and travel, for example, in Abkhazia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus.

"Green map"

The term “Green Card” in this case means civil liability insurance, similar to the Russian compulsory motor liability insurance. Today, the requirement for such car insurance is in effect in more than 40 countries.

In our country, the main responsible organization for the issue of obtaining and functioning of the Green Card is the Russian Union of Auto Insurers. The RCA website has a complete list of those insurance companies that can legally issue international insurance in the Russian Federation. The cost of insurance is the same in all these companies. (The minimum tariff from May 15, 2021 for a passenger car for traveling to Europe is 2,450 rubles for 15 days.) For convenience, there is also a map showing the locations of the checkpoints.

Documents for obtaining a Green Card:

• statement ();
• identification document of the policyholder;
• PTS;
• vehicle registration certificate;
• those. passport.

Having received the certificate, you should remember that you need to have the original document. The copy will not be suitable for either customs officers or traffic inspectors.

Rules for the Green Card:

1. The procedure for compensation for damage caused will take place not according to Russian laws, but according to the law of the country where the damage occurred;
2. The amount of insurance coverage is set based on the duration of the policy, tariffs established in the country of residence and the class of the car;
3. The minimum validity period is 15 days, the maximum is a year;
4. You can apply for it both on the territory of the Russian Federation by contacting the insurance company, and at the border.

If you have been involved in an accident abroad and are insured with a Green Card, you can contact the Russian Union of Auto Insurers via the hotline for advice or a free consultation.

Visa

Medical insurance policy

A number of countries refuse to issue a visa without medical insurance. Insurance is needed not only for the driver, but also for other persons crossing the border. There are no special rules for children; insurance for them is issued as usual.

Power of attorney for a car for traveling abroad

The law allows for the possibility of traveling abroad in someone else’s car and in the absence of the owner among the passengers. In this case, a mandatory document is a power of attorney from the owner of the vehicle. The form of power of attorney from an individual is notarized.

If you went abroad in a company car, a power of attorney for the car for traveling abroad is issued by a legal entity that is the owner of the vehicle. A power of attorney from an organization can be certified by the signature and seal of the head; Russian law does not contain a mandatory requirement regarding the notarial form. But the requirements for the notarial form may be in a foreign country, so we recommend that you familiarize yourself with them on the website of the relevant Consulate.

ADVICE: the power of attorney should specifically indicate the right to travel abroad. General formulations of “use a car” may raise questions from customs services.

Important nuances of crossing the border by car

If the driver goes abroad on a business trip in a company vehicle, then he must also have a power of attorney from his company that owns the car. It is also recommended to prepare a travel certificate and waybill.

In the case when the car belongs to one individual, and another person crosses the border, he must have a notarized power of attorney with the note “With the right to travel abroad” (sometimes the wording is slightly different). An exception is made if the owner of the car is in it as a passenger.

Traveling abroad with a rented car

Traveling abroad in a rented car is becoming a popular travel format among our compatriots. What nuances are important to consider?

1. Check the availability of the right to cross the border specified in the rental agreement;
2. Obtain from the landlord the necessary documents specified above;
3. The rental agreement must not only be in Russian; translation into the language of the country where you are going is required.

It is also possible to rent a car for travel in a foreign country. To do this, you will need an international driver's license, a foreign passport, a deposit, a Green Card and, in some cases, additional insurance, for example, against theft.

Travel permit for a child

If a child travels with one of the parents, then according to the legislation of the Russian Federation, permission to travel abroad is not required. But in a number of countries, for example the Schengen zone, such a document is required, moreover, its presence is a prerequisite for issuing a visa.

One way or another, just in case, permission to leave should still be obtained from the second parent. This document is required if the child is traveling alone or accompanied by third parties (close relatives, teachers, coaches, etc.). In this case, consent is issued by mom or dad to a specific person who will be responsible for the child throughout the trip.

If the child and the parent traveling with him have different surnames, then it would be useful to take with you abroad a birth certificate (with a citizenship stamp) or a copy of it certified by a notary, as well as a marriage certificate. This will eliminate unnecessary questions when going through border control. When traveling with a child, be sure to take out insurance for him and take the original document with you.

Traveling abroad with a leasing car

Traveling to foreign countries in a car that is owned by a leasing company is also not prohibited by Russian legal regulations. However, this will require additional documents. First of all, study the leasing agreement. Often the agreement contains separate clauses devoted to the specifics of crossing the border.

The following will be added to the list of generally binding documents indicated above:

• written consent from the leasing company,
• power of attorney.

Obtaining consent from the leasing company is not always easy. Some companies require preliminary completion of the CASCO agreement, namely, to expand the territory of its coverage. These changes result in additional costs for the traveler.

Additional documents

If you are planning a tourist trip, you will need the following additional documents to travel abroad by car with a power of attorney:

• documents that confirm the fact of booking a room in a hotel where the car enthusiast and his family will temporarily reside;
• a special sticker confirming that the car belongs to the Russian Federation, usually this is oval paper with the image of the Russian flag and the inscription RUS.

Customs declaration

In order to be able to use a car registered in Russia on the territory of foreign countries, it is necessary to fill out a customs declaration. Present to customs officials. The procedure for its registration is regulated by the provisions of the Customs Union, which came into force on January 1, 2018 with new amendments. Agreement on the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU TC) dated April 11, 2017.

The time for which the vehicle is exported is determined by the customs authority. The basis for this is the declaration of the declarant, which indicates the purpose of the export and the accompanying circumstances. If necessary, this period may be extended at the request of the traveling person, stated in writing.

Entry visa

Before traveling by car to an EU country, you need to find out whether a visa is required. To do this, you need to contact the representative office or consulate of the relevant foreign state. Contact information is posted on the website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A Schengen visa is requested at the office of the country where you are going. Typically this is determined according to the length of stay. Travel through certain states requires a transit visa. You must apply for a visa from the day on which you plan to cross the border checkpoint. Its duration is equal to the number of days of travel, taking into account the return trip to the territory of the Russian Federation

This is a general list of documents needed to travel abroad by car.

Ecological zones

The issue of ecology and the harmful effects of cars is especially attentive in European countries. Thus, in some of them, ecological zones have been established, the entry of motorists into which is provided for according to special rules.

Which countries have “eco-zones”?

• Germany;
• France;
• Belgium;
• Austria;
• Denmark;
• Spain;
• plans for 2021 include the Czech Republic.

It is important to take into account that the rules and standards for ecological zones in these countries are different; there is no uniform standard or governing law. The zone can be installed both in central cities, for example, in Berlin, and outside populated areas. In some countries (Germany, Belgium), the “eco-zone” rules apply to all cars, while in Austria and Denmark car owners of passenger cars are not limited by the rules. The main significance of the zones is to restrict the entry of vehicles whose concentration of hazardous waste in the exhaust does not meet environmental standards.

How to find out about the presence of an ecological zone?

There is a warning sign at the entrance to this area. Each country has its own; before traveling, we recommend that you read it on the official website of transport services. A map of the zones is also freely available on the Internet.

The largest number of “eco-zones” are located in Germany, about 60. Moreover, these territories come in different classifications. For Germany, the division into green and blue is relevant. It is interesting that some zones are permanent, while others are temporary, for example, in France. The operating mode of the zone depends on the degree of air pollution.

If you are visiting Germany while passing through, driving along federal highways, the rules of ecological zones do not apply to you. There are no “eco-zones” on highways.

Rules for driving in the ecological zone

Anyone who travels to the zone by car must equip their car with a special colored sticker. It is attached to the windshield and contains an indication of the environmental class of the car.

Where to buy a sticker for a car?

You can buy a sticker either online or locally, at a specialized office or at a gas station near the border. But offices are not open 24 hours a day, so you should take care of your purchase in advance. When ordering online, you must make a non-cash payment and attach a scanned technical document to your application. passports, indicate your data and the data on the car. The plaque will be sent to your address by post. Typically, delivery time is 2-3 weeks.

How much does a special eco-sticker cost?

There is no single cost for all European countries. The price varies from 5 to 15 Euros.

What if I don't buy a sticker?

When visiting the zone in a car without the appropriate sticker, a fine ranges from 65 to 385 Euros, depending on the country.

We are preparing a package of documents

So, we have already found out that before you start preparing documents, you should find out everything that concerns the state that you intend to visit. You should start with the procedure for crossing its border and customs regulations, and end with a preliminary acquaintance with the currency, customs and religious beliefs of the local residents.

In most cases you will need:

1. Foreign exit passport.
2. Visa.
3. Medical insurance for traveling abroad.
4. Travel voucher or hotel reservation.
5. Flights.
6. In some cases, you will need to provide a certificate with negative test results for the COVID-19 coronavirus.

   

International passport

The main requirement for this document is the validity period and blank sheets for the visa stamp. The minimum period for which your ID card should last ranges from 3 to 6 months.

It is necessary to start processing a foreign passport in advance, since this process can take about 1-2 months, not taking into account the collection and preparation of all papers for its issuance. By the way, for this you will need:

1. Completed application form.
2. Duty paid.
3. Internal Russian passport.
4. Previous foreign document (if any).
5. Photo.

Currently, it is possible to obtain a biometric or regular paper passport. Their main differences are the method of storing information, the number of pages, cost and validity period.

Insurance

Another important document is an insurance policy for traveling abroad. In this case, we are not talking about voluntary insurance, but about a compulsory policy that can be purchased at any insurance company. Like any other document of this order, it has such a feature as non-recoupment. This means that if trouble happens to you while traveling, it will simply become irreplaceable. But if the trip goes smoothly, then it turns out that you spent the money in vain.

On the other hand, without such a document it is not possible to obtain a visa to most countries, since it is included in the list of mandatory documents. In any case, having a policy allows the traveler to feel more protected.

It is no secret that medical services in other countries are much more expensive than in Russia. Having issued a policy, the tourist has the opportunity to use first medical emergency care, undergo examination and tests, and be hospitalized.

Typically, the package covers the basic service. But those traveling abroad can always purchase other services for an additional fee. For a certain category of travelers, insurance for pregnant women will be required when traveling abroad; A policy with special conditions will be needed for those who plan to engage in extreme sports on vacation.

To purchase a policy, you don’t have to go to an insurance company - you can get insurance for traveling abroad online, having previously chosen for yourself on the website the best option for the range of services and price.

Visa

You need to find out whether you need to obtain a visa stamp at home. Today, all countries for Russians are divided into the following categories:

• visa-free;
• visa;
• those that can be entered on the basis of a Russian passport.

Visas are issued by the consulates of the countries to which the visit is planned, located on the territory of the Russian Federation. In addition, some countries require an entry permit to be issued via the Internet, others issue it directly at the border, and there are those that provide for a complex procedure for considering each application individually.

The package of documents for obtaining a visa usually looks standard:

1. International passport.
2. Airplane tickets.
3. Hotel room reservation.
4. Confirmation of financial support.
5. Questionnaire.
6. Extended insurance for traveling abroad, which must cover the entire period of stay in the country and be valid on its territory.

This list can be expanded based on the type of visa you are requesting and the purpose of your visit.

Technical condition

Each country has its own mandatory standards for the technical condition of a car, which every car owner must comply with on the country’s roads. Most of the established standards are similar and boil down to the mandatory presence of:

• fire extinguisher,
• jack,
• a set of essential medicines,
• emergency sign,
• cable

Also, do not forget to check the absence of front tinting, since in most countries it is prohibited.

Insurance

As mentioned above, traveling abroad by car under a power of attorney requires insurance.

To cross the border of the Russian Federation you will need several insurances, the presence of which is mandatory:

• car insurance for traveling abroad;
• insurance for the driver and those traveling with him.

Each type of insurance has its own cost, and applies to both driving a car abroad under a power of attorney by a private person, and using a company vehicle.

Car insurance when traveling abroad is a mandatory legal requirement, failure to comply with which may result in a ban on entry into another country.

Insurance for driver and passengers

As stated above, to drive a car abroad by proxy, you need a special insurance policy of international standard.

Today, all insurance companies in our state that have the appropriate licenses do this.

Insurance of the driver and passengers can be done in two ways.

1. Car insurance for traveling abroad, which includes a technical assistance service. It provides full financial support for tourists in case of car breakdown, theft, technical malfunctions, as well as other non-standard incidents.
2. Medical insurance for the driver and passengers in case of injury or injury not only on the road, but also in other places. For various diseases that require medical examination and treatment that occur as a result of being in another country.

The cost of such policies depends on the number of possible insurance events selected, and may vary from company to company.

Assistance is a service company whose task, in the event of an insured event, is to provide you with a full range of medical services, related medical and other services, as well as comprehensive assistance and organizational support in the country of residence.

You need to remember that it is better to apply for such policies to insurance companies that have their branches not only in the Russian Federation, but also abroad. Since under such policies it will be easier to receive the necessary payments.

Car insurance

As mentioned above, car insurance for traveling abroad is called a green card . It is valid in the countries of Europe, the Customs Union, and Middle Asia.

In essence, this is a compulsory motor liability insurance policy of foreign validity only. It must be said right away that Russian compulsory motor liability insurance is not suitable for traveling abroad .

This type of insurance provides the following protection:

• from damage caused to third parties;
• from damage caused to the tourist’s car and its passengers;
• from damage caused as a result of damage to a foreign car.

Car insurance for traveling abroad is obtained from Russian insurance companies.

Sample greencard

It is better to choose an organization that has foreign capital and representative offices abroad. Moreover, after purchasing a policy, you must check it.

To do this, you need to go to the website of the Association of Russian Auto Insurers, where you enter the car data in a special window (policy check) and click on search.

If the car insurance for traveling abroad is valid, the system will issue its number, as well as the period for which it is valid.

It is important to remember that the green card is only valid in Europe and Middle Asia. If the driver is traveling to Central Asia, then he will need an orange card; for African countries, only a pink card is suitable.

Decor

To obtain car insurance when traveling abroad, you must submit the following documents:

Required documents

• technical passport for the car;
• passport of the owner of the car, or you need a notarized power of attorney for the car when traveling abroad, issued by the owner of the vehicle to the driver;
• driver's license.

That is, to obtain a green, orange or pink card, you will need a standard set of documents that are submitted when issuing a Russian OSAGO.

It is important to know that in cases with a green card, only the car is insured. That is, if damage is caused to passengers or the driver, this insurance does not apply to them. Therefore, on tourist or other trips, additional life and health insurance for the driver and the people traveling with him is required.

Price

A green card is issued for a period of 15 days to one year.

The cost of car insurance for traveling abroad varies from company to company and depends on the following factors:

• vehicle classification;
• the period for which it is issued;
• states where the car is traveling.

Thus, the price of car insurance for traveling abroad will differ and does not have a fixed cost.

If a motorist is going to drive his own or a rented car abroad, he must collect the necessary package of documents, which should include a power of attorney for the car when traveling abroad (if the motorist is not its owner), insurance, passports, and other documents necessary for crossing the border and staying for some time in the territory of another state.

On the road with a pet

Initially, it may seem that there is nothing easier than taking your favorite animal with you on a car trip. But in practice, you should seriously familiarize yourself with the rules for exporting animals abroad, which are officially enshrined not only in Russian, but also in international sources of law. What documents for animals do I need to take with me?

• Veterinary passport

in which there is a mark about the passage of microchipping and deworming. Moreover, for EU countries, only the presence of a specific international chip ISO 11784 is suitable. A passport can be obtained either at the time of purchasing an animal, or when contacting a veterinary service for vaccination.

• Veterinary certificate

It is not available in all veterinary clinics, but only in public ones. Private veterinary services do not have the legal right to issue certificates. The period for obtaining the certificate should not exceed 5 days before the date of border crossing. When crossing the border, the certificate is confiscated and a veterinary certificate is issued in return.

It is noteworthy that the certificate can be issued not only in the usual paper form, but also in the format of an electronic document with the assignment of an individual code in the Mercury electronic system. The certificate is valid for 90 days, so if you return to the Russian Federation within this period, there is no need to re-receive the certificate, provided that there have been no outbreaks of infectious diseases in the countries.

• Permission from Rosselkhoznadzor if an animal crosses the border for the purpose of sale

If you are not the owner and are taking more than 2 cats or dogs on a trip, such permission will also be required.

If you decide to travel with an animal in the EU, you must first go through the microchipping procedure and then get vaccinated against rabies. Otherwise, your animal will not be allowed to cross the border.

In addition to the basic requirements for documents, each foreign country may have special rules. For example, the import of animals that are less than three months old from birth is prohibited in the European Union.

As for traveling with a dog, a number of countries prohibit the import into their territory of animals that belong to the fighting breed. For example, it is not possible to legally import a fighting dog into Germany. European countries, in turn, have established special requirements for the import of birds. Mandatory bird flu vaccination followed by isolation before travel, blood donation to identify specific genomes.

Not all border points carry out veterinary control. When planning a trip from Moscow abroad with a pet, check in advance the addresses of points with veterinary control.

List of documents

Depending on the citizenship of the person and the country planned to visit, the list of documents may vary significantly. Especially when traveling with minor children. But there is a universal package of documents that will allow you to solve problems in most force majeure situations, as well as avoid them.

This list of papers includes:

1. A foreign passport must have more than 6 months of validity remaining at the time you plan to leave the foreign country of residence. Please also note that your appearance should be similar to your passport photo. If you have changed a lot, or your child has grown noticeably and is almost unrecognizable on the passport, it is better to replace the document with a new one in a timely manner to avoid problems in another country.
2. Visa. Many countries require special entry permits for foreign citizens. The procedure for obtaining this document must be clarified at the consulate of a given country. Many countries issue visas in a simplified electronic manner, some simply issue a visa upon arrival. And some countries require an interview, after which the consul decides to issue an entry permit to this citizen.
3. Medical insurance. This document is not mandatory in many countries. But this is the risk and responsibility of every tourist if he needs to seek medical help. And in order to avoid high costs of treatment in a foreign country, it is better to immediately think about insuring the whole family. At the same time, immediately think about what kind of vacation you will have, since many insurances by default do not include risks associated with active recreation. For example, riding scooters, mopeds, surfboards, etc. is practically excluded from the standard package. But if your vacation will include these types of entertainment, it is better to pay a little extra and get full insurance, which will help you in case of injury even in these cases.
4. Russian Federation passport. It is better to take it with you and store it separately from your main documents. In this case, you do not risk losing all documents at the same time.
5. Copies of both passports. You can always carry them with you to the beach, to the mountains and on any trips around the country, without fear that you will spoil them or lose them. But be sure to store the documents themselves in a safe safe.
6. A certificate confirming the birth of the child, as well as the fact that you are the legal representative of the baby. This is very important, since many countries very carefully check the legality of adults accompanying children.
7. Permission from the other parent. If you are traveling without a second parent with a baby, be sure to take with you a special notarized permission from the absent parent. This document is required when visiting many visa countries. But even in another country where this document was not usually required before, a situation may arise when you are required to do so. And so that you are not separated from your own child in a foreign country, it is better to always have such a document.

This is the main list of papers that you should have with you in any case. It is also advisable to always print out electronic plane tickets, train tickets, hotel reservations and everything else.

A paper document will be a great help if your phone dies and you can't show your email confirmation of your reservation. And failures in information technology are not uncommon. And even a simple power outage at the hotel can force you to wait all night at the reception, only because the hotel staff will not be able to check your reservation on their computer.

To the border and back

The path across the border is not always connected with tourist plans. The option of going to the border to get a migration card was until recently extremely popular. The migration card for foreigners in the Russian Federation has a validity period:

• as a general rule - 90 days;
• if you have a visa, the period is equal to its validity period.

It was possible to cancel the period until 2014 by leaving the Russian Federation through the official border checkpoint and entering back. At the border, a foreign citizen handed over his old card, it ceased to be valid, the foreigner received a new document, the validity of which was calculated anew.

The situation changed with the adoption at the legislative level of the “90/180 rule.” According to the “90/180 rule”, a foreign citizen has the right to stay on the territory of Russia, having a migration card, for 90 days out of 180.

It turns out that if over the last 180 days the migration card has already been valid for 90 days, it will not be possible to legally use the entry-exit scheme. Simply put, according to the law, after living for 90 days on the territory of the Russian Federation, you can re-enter only after 90 days. Violation of the rule threatens not only a fine, but also a ban on subsequent entry into Russia.

The 90/180 rule does not apply:

• for citizens who have a visa;
• for those working under a patent;
• for persons with a residence permit or temporary residence permit;
• for foreign students who are studying full-time in the Russian Federation;
• for persons who have received refugee status.

Travel abroad

Any travel between countries is regulated by global legislation and the individual laws of each country. Therefore, it is extremely important to clarify in advance the rules for the entry and exit of foreign citizens of certain countries into the territory of other countries. For different foreigners, completely different entry rules may be provided, since each country has the right to determine preferential rules for the arrival, residence and departure of foreign citizens, based on the external international policy between these countries.

For example, citizens of European Union countries can freely travel within member countries without obtaining special permission to do so. But Russian citizens are required to apply for a Schengen visa in order to visit at least one of these countries.

A mandatory document for visiting foreign countries for every traveler is a foreign passport. It must comply with established global standards, in accordance with which each country issues such a document. However, a passport always has a limited validity period, and most countries have the right to refuse entry into the country if the document expires in the next 3-6 months.

A Russian passport is not included in the list of required documents; it is not required at passport control in any country in the world if you present a foreign document.