All passengers and visitors shall pass the entrance security checks upon entering the airport’s passenger terminals.
- Departing passengers shall pass pre-flight security checks immediately before boarding the aircraft.
- Separate rules apply for the transportation of weapons, ammunition and special devices.
- Please pay attention to possible restrictions valid in other countries.
Entrance Security Check
All citizens shall pass the entrance security checks upon entering the passenger terminals of Vnukovo International Airport.
All persons entering the Vnukovo International Airport terminal, as well as their baggage and carry-on baggage, are subject to this control.
The security check is performed by aviation security officers using stationary and hand-held metal detectors, X-ray television introscopes and explosive vapor detectors.
Queues may occasionally form at the terminal entrances during peak flight departure times.
Please take this into account when planning your trip to the airport. Please be sure to leave for the airport in advance, giving yourself enough time to calmly and comfortably go through pre-flight security check and all pre-flight formalities.
Pre-Flight Security Check
Departing passengers shall pass pre-flight security checks before boarding the aircraft.
Pre-flight and post-flight security checks (hereinafter referred to as security checks) of passengers and baggage, including items carried by passengers, aircraft crew members, civil aviation personnel, aircraft on-board supplies as well as cargo and mail are performed by aviation security officers, including dog handlers who have passed appropriate special training and are sufficiently qualified to work with service dogs.
When undergoing the pre-flight security check, passengers are asked to present their outer clothing, belts, wallets, pocket contents and carry-on baggage for inspection using an X-ray introscope as it passes through a stationary metal detector.
In accordance with Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 96 dated April 16, 2012 «On Amendments to the Rules for Pre-Flight and Post-Flight Security Checks» approved by Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 104 dated July 25, 2007, the rules for passing pre-flight security check have been changed. Passengers may not take off their shoes or belt if:
- the height of the shoe heel is less than 2.5 cm and the thickness is less than 1.0 cm;
- the belt width is less than 4.0 cm and the thickness is less than 0.5 cm.
Please note that, belts and shoes, regardless of size, can be inspected by decision of the inspector of the aviation security inspection team using special and technical means.
Passengers with implanted devices that stimulate cardiac activity shall be examined without the use of special and technical means upon presentation of a certificate from a medical institution.
In cases where a passenger is suspected of having items and/or substances prohibited for transportation, a personal (individual) control check is performed, as well as a manual (contact) search of the contents of the passenger’s carry-on baggage.
Dangerous substances and items prohibited for transportation found in a passenger’s baggage and carry-on baggage during the security check may be handed over to accompanying persons or accepted for temporary storage. Such items and substances will be stored for 2 months from the date of seizure.
In accordance with Clause 11.2.5 of the Manual on Fire Safety in Civil Aviation approved by Order of the Minister of Civil Aviation of the USSR No. 133 dated 21.06.1985, it is prohibited to store and use flammable liquids and substances in air terminals and passenger buildings.
Compressed gases, toxic, poisonous, flammable liquids, batteries with a capacity of more than 160 Wh, and other dangerous goods are not accepted for storage.
Seized items and substances can be obtained at Vnukovo Airport, Terminal A, 1st floor, domestic arrivals area, unclaimed baggage room. Upon arrival at the terminal, please contact directly the unclaimed baggage room located in the waiting area for domestic passengers.
Cost of tariffs for the services «Registration for storage and issuance of items and substances prohibited for carriage on board the aircraft» and «Storage of items and substances prohibited for carriage on board the aircraft»:
| Name of service | Applications | Tariff (rubles) including VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Registration for storage and issuance of items and substances prohibited for carriage on board the aircraft | service | 103,20 |
| Storage of items and substances prohibited for carriage on board the aircraft | 1 place/day | 162 |
| Storage of oversized items and substances prohibited for carriage on board the aircraft | place/day | 258 |
Unclaimed Baggage Helpline: +7 (495) 436-45-13.
Operating hours: 24/7
Passengers who are unable to pass pre-flight security check on a general basis due to their health conditions (on stretchers, disabled people, etc.) shall pass pre-flight security check at the first-aid post at Vnukovo International Airport.
Passengers who refuse to pass pre-flight security check shall not be allowed for carriage.
Rules for Transporting Liquids in Carry-on Baggage
According to the Rules for Pre-Flight and Post-Flight Security Checks approved by Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 104 dated July 25, 2007, liquids, gel-like substances and aerosols in containers of 100 milliliters and less are allowed for transportation on board the aircraft. The total volume of containers allowed for transportation shall not exceed one liter per passenger.
Containers carried in carry-on baggage shall be packed in a transparent bag. Liquids purchased from duty-free shops can also be taken on board the aircraft if sealed in a transparent bag.
To simplify the security check, please pack the liquids you will not be using during your flight in your baggage prior to checking in for your flight.
Permitted containers of 100 ml and less shall be packaged in one securely sealed transparent plastic bag. The total volume of liquids transported shall not exceed 1 liter.
Prohibited Substances and Items
In accordance with Appendix No. 1 to the Rules for Pre-Flight and Post-Flight Security Checks of Passengers approved by Order of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation No. 104 dated July 25, 2007, passengers shall not carry the following dangerous substances and items in checked baggage, carry-on baggage, or in their personal belongings:
- any gunpowder in any packaging and in any quantity
- live ammunition (including small-caliber)
- cartridges for gas weapons
- hunting percussion caps (percussion primers)
- pyrotechnics: signal and light flares, signal cartridges, landing smoke signals, torch pots (land pots), slow matches, sparklers, railway detonators
- TNT, dynamite, tritol, ammonal and other explosives
- blasting caps, electric detonators, electric igniters, detonating cords, time fuses, etc.
- gases for domestic use (butane-propane) and other gasses
- aerosols with nerve and tear gas agents, etc.
- acetone
- petrol
- samples of flammable petroleum products
- methanol
- methyl acetate (methyl ether)
- carbon disulfide
- ethers
- ethylcellosol
- substances able to spontaneously combust
- substances that emit flammable gases when in contact with water such as potassium, sodium, calcium metal and their alloys, calcium phosphide, etc.
- white, yellow and red phosphorus and all other substances classified as flammable solids
- colloidal nitrocellulose, in granules or flakes, dry or wet, containing less than 25% water or solvent
- colloidal nitrocellulose, in pieces, wet, containing less than 25% alcohol
- nitrocellulose, dry or wet, containing less than 30% solvent or 20% water, etc.
- strong inorganic acids: hydrochloric, sulfuric, nitric, etc.
- hydrofluoric acid and other strong acids and corrosives
- any toxic, potent and poisonous substances in liquid or solid state in any packaging
- brucine
- nicotine
- strychnine
- tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol
- antifreeze
- brake fluid
- ethylene glycol
- mercury, with the exception of mercury contained in a medical thermometer, a mercury tonometer in a standard case, a mercury barometer or a mercury manometer packed in a sealed container and sealed with the consignor’s seal
- all salts of hydrogen cyanide and cyanide chemicals
- cyclone, black cyanide, arsenic trioxide, etc.
- toxic, radioactive and other dangerous substances, items and cargo that can be used as weapons to attack passengers, aircraft crew, or pose a threat to flight safety
- Pistols, revolvers, rifles, carbines, and other weapons, gas, pneumatic weapons, electric shock devices, dirks, stiletto knives or bayonets, except in cases and in the manner established by the legislation of the Russian Federation.
A detailed list of hazardous substances and items prohibited for carriage on board the aircraft by crew members and passengers is contained in the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (Doc 9284 AN/905 ICAO).
The following items and substances are permitted to be carried on board the aircraft by crew members and passengers under the required conditions:
- crossbows, spearguns, checkers, sabers, cleavers, yatagans, broadswords, swords, rapiers, bayonets, daggers, hunting knives, automatic knives, locking knives, and imitations of any kind of weapon
- household knives (scissors) with a blade length over 60 mm
- alcoholic beverages containing more than 24%, but not more than 70% alcohol by volume in packaging not exceeding 5 liters, in packaging for retail sale — not more than 5 liters per passenger;
- liquids and alcoholic beverages containing less than 24% alcohol by volume
- aerosols for sports or domestic purposes with release valves protected by caps against spontaneous release of their contents and in packaging not exceeding 0.5 kg or 500 ml — not more than 2 kg or 2 l per passenger
- medical thermometer containing mercury, in a standard case — one per passenger
- mercury-free medical thermometer
- mercury tonometer in a standard case — one per passenger
- mercury barometer or manometer packed in a sealed container and sealed with a consignor’s seal
- disposable lighters — one per passenger
- dry ice for cooling perishable goods — not more than 2 kg per passenger
- 3% hydrogen peroxide — not more than 100 ml per passenger
Liquids, gels and aerosols classified as non-hazardous:
- in containers of 100 ml and less (or equivalent capacity in other units of volume) packed in a securely closed transparent plastic bag not exceeding 1 liter — one per passenger
Liquids in containers of more than 100 ml are not accepted for carriage even if the container is only partially full, with the exception of:
- medicines, special dietary products, baby food, including mother’s milk, in the amount necessary for the duration of the flight;
- medicines containing narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors with documents stipulated by the international treaties of the Russian Federation, including acts constituting the law of the Eurasian Economic Union, and/or the legislation of the Russian Federation, confirming the prescription of the said medicines by the passenger with an indication of their name and quantity, in the quantity required for the duration of the flight;
- biological materials if the passenger has documents stipulated by international treaties of the Russian Federation, including acts constituting the law of the Eurasian Economic Union, and/or the legislation of the Russian Federation establishing the Procedure for carriage of biological materials.
Liquids purchased from duty-free shops at the airport or on board the aircraft shall be packaged in a tightly closed (sealed) plastic bag ensuring identification of access to the bag contents during the flight, which has an authentic confirmation that the purchase has been made at airport duty-free shops or on board the aircraft on the day (s) of travel.
The airport, airline or operator administration may decide to introduce additional aviation security measures on high-risk flights, as a result of which the following items may not be carried in the cabin of the aircraft:
- corkscrews;
- hypodermic needles (unless a medical justification is provided);
- knitting needles;
- scissors with a blade length of less than 60 mm;
- folding (without latch) travel knives, penknives with a blade length of less than 60 mm;
- mercury tonometers;
- mercury barometers or mercury manometers.
Passengers carrying weapons and ammunition (including bladed weapons and gas weapons) shall inform an aviation security officer and an employee of the Regional Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at Vnukovo Airport before the pre-flight security check (at the entrance to the airport terminal).
After check-in, passengers who are entitled to keep and bear arms shall hand over their weapons and special devices to an aviation security service officer in the collection room for further processing and handing over to the aircraft crew for temporary storage during the flight:
- Terminal A, domestic air lines — room 3219;
- VIP-ZOLiD terminal, room for collecting weapons and special equipment.
- When booking and checking in on airline flights, the passenger shall inform the airline representative of the intention to carry weapons as baggage.
- During check-in and baggage handling, the passenger presents the weapon for weighing and marking. The check-in agent then weighs the weapon and includes its weight in the total weight of the baggage, which is noted on the boarding pass and entered into the check-in system. The weapon is marked with a baggage tag.
- Passengers carrying a weapon shall appear for check-in no later than 1 hour 40 minutes prior to departure.
- At the airport of departure, the passenger shall arrive at room No. 3219 no later than ninety minutes prior to departure to hand over weapons and ammunition to aviation security personnel.
- When transporting weapons across the territory of the Russian Federation, passengers shall have with them an appropriate permit to store and carry weapons.
- When importing/exporting weapons to/from the territory of the Russian Federation and carrying them through the territory of the Russian Federation, passenger s shall have a permit to import/export weapons issued by an authorized body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia.
- Weapons and ammunition of transfer passengers traveling within the Russian Federation and carrying weapons are not re-registered at Vnukovo Airport. For details, please call: +7 (495) 436-79-88, +7 (495) 436-27-30.
- In accordance with the Law of the Russian Federation «On Weapons», foreign citizens:
8.1 may import sporting and hunting weapons into the territory of the Russian Federation if they have an invitation from a legal entity that has a hunting license, if there is a hunting contract with the specified legal entity or an invitation to participate in sporting events and the corresponding permit from the Federal National Guard Troops Service of the Russian Federation;
8.2 shall not import into the territory of the Russian Federation and use on the territory of the Russian Federation all types and models of weapons to ensure personal safety, protect the lives and health of other citizens, their property, escort cargo and for other purposes not specified above, unless it is provided for by separate international treaties of the Russian Federation. - Simulator weapons (pistols, revolvers, rifles, carbines, machine guns, electric shock devices, etc.) are prohibited for carriage in aircraft cabins.
- Simulator weapons are allowed for carriage only in checked baggage.
- Weapons are accepted for carriage only in a clear state in passenger’s packaging (covers, holsters, special containers, cases, boxes) that meet the weapon safety and security requirements. In this case, weapons and ammunition shall be in separate packages.
- One passenger may transport weapons as checked baggage in an amount not exceeding 5 units, cartridges in an amount not exceeding 1000 pieces, weighing not more than 5 kg (category 1.4S classified as dangerous goods, Doc 9284 AN/905 «Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air ” of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, packed in gun-cases, holsters or special cases, as well as in special packing of the weapons manufacturer (for foreign citizens, weapons imported into the Russian Federation for hunting and participation in sporting events shall be carried to the venue of the relevant event in locked cases).
- Cartridges weighing more than 5 kg are allowed for carriage only as dangerous goods registered in accordance with the requirements of the Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, Annex 18 Doc 9284 AN/905 «Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air» of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
- Carriage of ammunition with explosive or incendiary bullets, cartridges for gas weapons, and devices filled with tearing or irritating substances is prohibited on board civil aviation aircraft (Order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia No. 275 dated August 16, 2021 «On Approval of the Federal Aviation Regulations «On Air Carriage of Weapons and Ammunition»).
- The certificate of acceptance of weapons and ammunition from a passenger is drawn up in four (4) copies. All copies are signed by the passenger. One copy is given to the passenger to collect weapons and ammunition at the airport of arrival. After handing over the weapon, passengers board in accordance with the general procedure.
- When registering weapons belonging to transfer passengers at the initial airport of departure, the Certificate shall be issued by an aviation security service officer in 5 copies, each of which is signed by the passenger. Upon arrival, the passenger receives weapons and ammunition in the special equipment check-in room at the airport of arrival, using the Certificate previously issued to the passenger.