Do I need a passport when exchanging currency in Russia?

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Do I need a passport when exchanging currency? A similar question may arise in every citizen. Especially for those who plan to travel outside of Russia. For example, to Poland or the USA. It is impossible to pay in Russian rubles abroad. And that can be a huge problem. So, you have to look for "exchangers". Not always such a question is quickly resolved. Is it necessary to carry out personal identification? If so, under what conditions?

Legislative Framework

Do you want to answer as accurately as possible? Then the citizen must thoroughly study the legislative framework. Do I need a passport when exchanging currency at a bank?

This issue is regulated by Federal Law No. 115 of 2001-07-08. It is currently amended on April 23, 2018. This is the legal framework that you should rely on when selling or buying a currency.

Required or not

Do I need a passport when exchanging currency? It is impossible to give a definite answer to this kind of question. The moment is connected with the fact that FZ-115 provides for various life situations. Depending on themthe answer to the question asked earlier will change.

What does this mean? According to the law, in foreign exchange transactions, sometime an ID is needed, and sometime it is not. But what to prepare for? When can I not take my ID with me to a bank or money changer?

When not needed

Up to what amount currency exchange - without a passport? It is worth paying attention to the fact that at the moment a person can buy an infinite amount of foreign money, as well as sell it. It's just that sometimes a civil passport is required to complete the task.

According to the law, it is possible to carry out anonymous exchange currency transactions with funds in the amount of not more than fifteen thousand rubles. This means that when buying foreign money for this indicator or when selling it, you will not have to identify a person.

When required

I wonder if you need a passport when exchanging currency? Then the citizen will have to study the laws in force. Otherwise, during attempts to make currency transactions, a person will be disappointed. He can simply be denied service. This is quite normal.

Today, a passport or other personal identifier is required if currency exchange is carried out in the amount of 15,000 rubles or more. And it does not matter with what means the operations are carried out. The main thing is that when transferring to Russian rubles, transactions do not exceed the specified threshold. Otherwise, you will have to prepare a passport.

Filling out the questionnaire

Citizens may be surprised. The thing is that when making foreign exchange transactions in the amount of more than 15,000 rubles, a person should be asked to fill out a special questionnaire. Previously, they did not exist at all. This innovation may scare some, but there is nothing to worry about.

The specified information will not be transferred to third parties. The questionnaire is conducted for the purpose of identifying a person, as well as to check the integrity of a citizen: is he laundering money or financing terrorist organizations?

You will have to specify in the questionnaire:

• F. Acting name of the person who applied to the exchanger;
• contact details;
• tax identification number;
• place of employment;
• employer address;
• phone of the company where the citizen works;
• information about the appearance of the applicant's funds.

Accordingly, if a person does not have an official place of employment, he will not be able to exchange a large amount of money. In any case, he will have to prove the legitimacy of the appearance of the means he uses. This is not always possible.

Is there a way out of the situation? Yes! It is enough just to carry out currency exchange anonymously. That is, for amounts less than fifteen thousand Russian rubles. Then you won't have to fill out any forms. And identify the person too.

Dependence on banks

Do I need a passport when exchanging currency in Russia? The above informationsays that it is necessary to identify a person, but not always. For small currency transactions, neither a passport nor a special questionnaire is required. Some believe that the need for identification when buying or selling currencies depends on the particular bank. This is not entirely true.

The financial company can independently decide whether to exchange money or not, if a person cannot present a passport or prove the legality of the receipt of appropriate funds. But no more. Departure from the rules specified in the Federal Law is prohibited. This is a gross violation that should be reported to the authorities as soon as possible.

If you want to exchange a large amount anonymously

Do I need a passport when exchanging currency at Sberbank? Yes, just like any other financial institution. The need for personal identification in foreign exchange transactions is prescribed in the Federal Law No.-115. It also states that for small settlements, you can receive service anonymously.

But what if a citizen does not have an official place of work, but at the same time wants to immediately make a currency transaction with a large amount of money? For example, received from an informal employer?

In this case, as already mentioned, you can exchange small amounts or contact special exchange offices that are not controlled by Russian banks. Under such circumstances, the above restrictions are abolished.

No passport: what to do?

Do I need a passport when exchanging currency in Russian banks? More searchthe answer to this will not cause significant trouble. Citizens do not always have to identify an individual in foreign exchange transactions. This cannot be required during small transactions.

It also happens that, for one reason or another, a citizen does not have a passport. For example, if it is exchanged or was lost. What to do?

There are different ways to get out of this situation. For example:

• use other identification documents;
• postpone foreign exchange transactions until the restoration of the passport;
• use a temporary copy of the document.

How to proceed? The person must answer this question for himself. Lack of a passport for large currency transactions can cause a lot of problems and questions from a financial institution.

drawing conclusions

Do I need a passport when exchanging currency in Russian banks - from now on, the answer to this question will no longer put a person in an awkward position. The main thing is to adhere to the above principles and rules.

Some people use resellers for anonymous currency transactions. This is not the best solution, but sometimes it helps to quickly solve the problem.

In any case, the presence of a passport when contacting the "exchangers" will not be superfluous. If necessary, a person can simply present it. And if he has already filled out a special questionnaire in the selected bank, you can not repeat the corresponding action.