Hi Everyone,
I will be taking an engagement ring with me to Ukraine next month. I will be flying into the Lviv airport. Usually I move through customs very quickly and fill out a short customs form that does not require that I declare anything. I am wondering, since this time I will have a valuable piece of jewelry with me, should I make a point of declaring it even though I may never be asked if I have anything to declare?
Thanks
Grid

Grid,

If it was me I would not declare it. You may be asked if you are bringing any valuable gold or jewlery into the country as a gift. Keep it in your pocket or wear it on your finger (turned around so the diamonds are not seen)


Boryspil airport in Kiev is very busy, the last time I went through there it took forever to get through customs....Russians and Ukrainians do not know how to form a line When I flew into Kharkov a much smaller airport the customs process was much more 'up close and personal' simply because it was a smaller airport. My observations of the people working at the airport is that they are not overly suspious, in fact they looked very bored and very busy.

If it was me I would keep it on my person and not declare it. I do not know what the tax would be but I have shopped for jewelry in the Ukraine and the prices are high compared to Western standards...that tells me that the import taxes are high.

Good luck

Harry

My husband and I went through this dilemma when he brought my ring to the UK. The way we resolved it was by seeing the ring as his property which was going to be going back to the US eventually anyway. If we had split up then I would have given the ring back - as is the custom here - so it would never have belonged to a UK citizen and was just in transit like any of his possessions as he travels - eg watch etc.

No way I would declare it.

I would not declare it either,if you have like a 8.000 Dollar ring just imagine how much you would pay on it.
Hell no,its none of their business.
Do you know how many people have weding rings/engadgement rings.

I did the same thing last September - whatever you do, do NOT declare the thing. Just put it in a sock and bury it deep down in your luggage. One thing to remember is that in the Ukraine, wedding rings are worn on the right hand and not the left. Where I was I did not see many fancy engagement rings but, yes, wedding rings I did see. I would be cautious about putting an $8k ring on her finger however - I'd be afraid I would be making her a target- seeing how that's worth about 10 years of an average person's salary. You can always go for an upgrade on your anniversary. Good luck and congragulations.

Only you can answer the question.... You know what the rules are, you know what the risks are... decide for yourself.