In 2026, Russia’s customs clearance supervision enters an era of strict management. Federal Law No. 140-FZ is fully implemented, employment registration on the Goslog platform becomes a mandatory requirement, electronic freight documents achieve 100% mandatory coverage, and the customs digital inspection rate is increased to 60%. Combined with the entry into force of the latest TIR implementation rules by the General Administration of Customs, the qualifications of transport vehicles and operation modes have ushered in new norms, and a number of customs clearance freight forwarders with incomplete qualifications and weak capabilities have been eliminated by the market. If enterprises choose the wrong customs clearance freight forwarder, they may face risks such as cargo detention, heavy fines, or even confiscation. As a professional agent deeply engaged in Russia-bound customs clearance for 20 years, Shanghai SBTG, based on the latest policy trends and practical experience, has sorted out 3 core selection criteria to help enterprises accurately lock in reliable partners.
I. Core Criterion 1: Compliance Qualifications, the Hard Threshold for Customs Clearance
Basic Qualifications Must Be Complete: Prioritize enterprises that have completed registration with the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation and hold a “Customs Declaration Agency License”, and the registration information must be directly verifiable through the official website of the Russian Customs. SBTG not only has the above basic qualifications, but also passed the China-Russia AEO mutual recognition qualification review, enjoying customs clearance convenience such as priority inspection and low document review rate, fully complying with international customs safety standards.
Policy Adaptation Capability Is Key: Require freight forwarders to provide 2026 new policy response plans, focusing on verifying the completion of Goslog platform registration and the ability to enter electronic freight documents. SBTG has set up a professional policy team, maintaining real-time docking with the Russian Customs and the General Administration of Customs of China, accurately adapting to the latest TIR rules, clarifying the requirements for handling the “Vehicle Approval Certificate” for transport vehicles, ensuring that TIR transportation complies with the “one declaration, full-process customs seal” norm, and avoiding customs clearance obstruction caused by lack of qualifications.
Qualification Traceability Cannot Be Ignored: Confirm that the freight forwarder’s qualifications are within the validity period and the service process complies with the requirements of the “Customs Code of the Customs Union”. SBTG strictly abides by the laws and regulations of both China and Russia, can provide original verification for all qualification documents, the entire service process is traceable, and the charging standards comply with industry norms and customs requirements, eliminating hidden costs and gray operations.
II. Core Criterion 2: Customs Clearance Capability, the Core Support for Efficiency
Full-Category Solution Coverage: Select freight forwarders with customs clearance experience in different categories and require them to provide segmented solutions. SBTG implements a “three-document review + classified customs clearance” mechanism. Household appliances containing R404A/R410A refrigerants handle licenses in accordance with standard cycles, food categories complete EAC certification and quarantine documents simultaneously, and mechanical categories prepare non-military use certificates in advance, accurately adapting to the control requirements of Decree No. 1374, covering the customs clearance needs of general goods and sensitive goods in all categories.
Mature TIR Route Operation: Combined with the latest TIR implementation rules, prioritize freight forwarders with compliant TIR routes. The mature TIR trucking routes opened by SBTG all have “Vehicle Approval Certificates” for transport vehicles, adapting to the two latest operation modes of “TIR + bonded” and “TIR + cross-border e-commerce”, clarifying the declaration elements of each link, and realizing seamless connection of cross-border transportation relying on the “Convention on International Road Transport”.
Information Level Guarantee: Verify whether there is a full-link digital system and whether real-time tracking of customs clearance progress can be achieved. SBTG has built an exclusive customs clearance digital platform, connected with the Russian Customs system, realizing one-click declaration of electronic documents and real-time push of customs clearance status. At the same time, it has built a Beidou/GPS dual-mode positioning system, with the entire cargo trajectory visible, ensuring that enterprises can grasp the cargo dynamics at any time.
III. Core Criterion 3: Guarantee System, the Bottom Line for Risk Prevention
Localized Emergency Capability: Prioritize freight forwarders with direct teams in core cities such as Moscow. All members of SBTG’s Moscow team have registered agent qualifications and are proficient in Russian as their native language. In case of inspection, they arrive at the scene within 1 hour to provide professional explanations, assist in supplementing documents, and cooperate with the Russian Customs’ digital inspection process, greatly shortening the problem handling cycle.
Transparency of Costs and Risks: Require freight forwarders to provide detailed quotations, clarifying all costs such as customs declaration fees, tariff advance payment, and service fees, and preventing additional fees from being added later. SBTG implements a system of publicizing the cost list in advance, and each expenditure has a clear basis. At the same time, it introduces exclusive digital insurance plans, covering core risks such as customs clearance delays, cargo damage, and policy changes, and initiates claim review within 24 hours.
Supporting Value-Added Services: Investigate whether to provide full-chain supporting services to improve trade convenience. SBTG has laid out bonded warehouses in Moscow and Novosibirsk, supporting cargo transshipment, sorting and local delivery; providing integrated services such as order synchronization and labeling for e-commerce enterprises, adapting to the needs of platforms such as Ozon and Wildberries; at the same time, providing supplier qualification verification services to reduce customs clearance risks from the source.
Choosing a Russia customs clearance freight forwarder is essentially a comprehensive consideration of compliance, capability and guarantee. Adhering to the principle of zero compromise on quality, SBTG deeply integrates 20 years of practical experience with the latest 2026 policy requirements, fully meeting the above three core selection criteria. In the future, SBTG will continue to deepen policy research and service upgrading, and provide enterprises with stable and safe Russia customs clearance services with the core advantages of “compliant qualifications, strong capabilities and comprehensive guarantees”. Enterprises only need to conduct accurate verification against the above standards to avoid customs clearance traps, find professional agents suitable for their own needs, and make the customs clearance link of Russia trade worry-free and assured.
