The lawyer spoke about security measures when transferring things abroad through fellow travelers.

After the departure of international courier services, sending parcels from Russia abroad has become a difficult and often risky procedure. The state post office delivers shipments for weeks and even months, so those who care about deadlines are increasingly resorting to the help of fellow travelers. Kirill Grigoriev, founder of the Asseal law firm, told Izvestia on January 26 about what security measures are important to observe when transferring documents and things in this way.

Recently, specialized online services have begun to appear that help senders and travelers find each other, negotiate transfers, and sometimes act as intermediaries or payment guarantors. However, the increase in demand has also led to an increase in the number of fraudulent schemes both on the part of unscrupulous "carriers" and on the part of senders.

The expert advises to follow basic precautions when transferring things through fellow travelers.

"Tell the traveler in general terms what is in the package — the details are not needed, but in case of questions at customs, it is important to know what he is carrying and why. Do not agree to an advance payment — it is better to give the money upon receipt, making sure that everything is in order with the contents. This way the traveler will be less tempted to appropriate the parcel," Grigoriev explained.

Those who are asked to transfer something abroad should also be especially careful. It is necessary to clarify and, if possible, check the contents of the parcel. The easiest way to transport documents is to identify them easily, and they are usually not subject to customs duties.

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If we are talking about things, it is important to know in advance their weight, volume and estimated cost, as well as check for tags. For air passengers, there is a duty—free import limit for personal items - up to 50 kg and a total cost of up to € 10 thousand. However, regulations may vary depending on the destination country and the method of border crossing, so exceeding the limit may lead to fines or other problems.

The specialist recommends taking special care when requesting to transport medicines. Drugs that are freely available without a prescription in one country may be restricted or completely banned from import in another. Violating these rules can have serious consequences.

If the parcel is transferred for a fee, the best scheme is considered to be without prepayment: the money is transferred only after the recipient receives the parcel. At the same time, the parcel itself should not be returned until the agreements are confirmed. This approach reduces the risks for both sides.

The expert noted that transferring things through fellow travelers can be a convenient solution in conditions of limited logistics, however, it requires care and a clear understanding of customs and legal rules in order not to face financial losses or violations of the law.

Earlier, on January 1, the website of Russian Railways (RZD) reported that starting from January 20, 2026, tickets for children under 14 for trains to foreign countries can only be issued with a foreign passport.

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