Sending Gifts to Russia (2024)

There's no getting around it: sending gifts to Russia can be challenging, with an ocean of options and high fees to navigate. And whether you're sending a gift to a friend, family, or a loved one, whether for Christmas, a birthday, a wedding, or any other occasion, it's therefore always a smart idea to consider things such as cost, convenience, and your recipient's preferences before sending your gift.

Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to send gifts to Russia, for example, by post, through online stores or gift delivery services, or by sending an international wire transfer. This short guide provides an overview of these methods, showing you the pros and cons of each, and helping you to make the best choice based on your needs and circ*mstances.

Best Ways to Send Gifts to Russia

• 01. Sending a gift to Russia by post scroll down
• 02. Sending a gift to Russia online scroll down
• 03. Sending a gift to Russia by wire transfer scroll down
• 04. Sending gift airtime or data to Russia scroll down
• 05. FAQ about sending gifts to Russia scroll down

Option 1: Send a Gift to Russia by Post

Sending gifts through the post or with a private courier service is an excellent option because it allows you to send a gift from anywhere in the world to Russia — regardless of whether your beneficiary lives in Moscow, Vladivostok, or anywhere in between!

To send a gift to Russia by post, you'll first need to have the gift in your possession. The smaller it is, the easier and cheaper it will be to post. Next, you'll need to securely package your gift and take it to a post office. Alternatively, you can mail it through a private courier service, which will be even more expensive, but it will be much quicker, and the tracking will be more precise. Either way, you'll need to pay for shipping to Russia, and the cost will depend on the weight and size of the package and the distance it needs to travel.

In some cases, you may need to fill out an Russian customs form, which will require you to declare the contents and value of the parcel. Additional duties or customs fees may also need to be paid when the package arrives in Russia.

Private couriers may have different rules and procedures, so it's a good idea to check with the company you're using for more information. Examples of courier services that send packages to Russia include DHL, UPS, and FedEx, but we recommend Eurosender, whose simple platform provides excellent value for money when sending gift parcels to Russia.

Option 2: Send a Gift to Russia Online

Instead of sending a gift from your country to Russia, another option is to order a gift online that gets shipped right to your beneficiary's address. This method tends to be cheaper because unless the gift is still being shipped from another country, you'll usually avoid shipping costs and duties. There are a few ways of sending gifts online to Russia:

Online Shops

A few popular online retailers and e-commerce stores used in Russia or that deliver to Russia include Wildberries, Avito, and Ozon. You can consider shopping around online for something that your beneficiary might like and sending it to their address (or to someone else's address who knows to pass it along!).

Some online shops like Amazon even come with gift wrapping and other personalization services, such as adding a personal note, so you can add a personal touch to the gift. Again, it's always a good idea to shop around and explore what options are available to you.

Online Gift Delivery

Similar to the above, some online companies specialize in delivering gifts specifically, rather than goods in general, to or within Russia. Typical gifts include flowers, chocolates, treats, toys, gift baskets, and many others. We recommend browsing the web to find a local service that operates near your beneficiary in Russia.

Gift Cards

Gift cards, coupons, and vouchers are an easy option for sending gifts to Russia. Many online retailers offer gift cards that can be used to make purchases in stores and online in Russia, while others might be exclusive to a specific product, service, or location.

For example, you can consider buying a voucher for a popular shop, restaurant, movie theatre, resort, hotel, park, zoo, or spa at a location near where your beneficiary lives. Once you've purchased a voucher from the retailer's website, you can usually give your beneficiary's physical mailing address, and the card will be sent to them directly.

Option 3: Send a Wire Transfer to Russia

If you want to be quick and straightforward and don't think your beneficiary will mind getting money rather than a physical, wrapped gift, then sending a wire transfer is an excellent way to send gifts to Russia. (Alternatively, you could also use this method to send money to somebody else you trust in Russia, who can then buy the gift and deliver it themselves to your beneficiary, or use this method to let your beneficiary choose their own gift.)

Most banks and money transfer apps allow you to send international wire transfers to Russian bank accounts, which usually takes less than 2 to 3 business days. Once the money's arrived in your recipient's Russian ruble bank account, they can use it immediately!

Wire transfers are a faster and more convenient way to send money internationally, but they often come with steep fees and hidden exchange rates when done via the bank. We therefore recommend comparing the money transfer marketplace before sending to Russia to make sure you're getting the best deal possible:

Compare transfer apps to Russia:

Option 4: Send Airtime to Russia

Daniela Araya

Another option to send somebody a gift in Russia is to send airtime or mobile data to their mobile phone. This is usually a fast and cheap method to get the job done, though you should ensure it's indeed a good gift for your recipient since many people would prefer a physical gift to something less tangible like airtime or mobile data.

If you know that your recipient would love to receive airtime or mobile data, then it's easy. Just enter your recipient's mobile number on our dedicated sending page below:

From there, you'll need to do the following (don't worry — it takes just seconds to get done!):

1. Sign up with WorldRemit for free,
2. Choose ‘Airtime’ from the options available,
3. Confirm your beneficiary's mobile number and network,
4. Pay for the airtime by credit card or bank transfer,
5. You and your recipient receive an SMS when the airtime arrives.