Parcel delivery from Russia to Kazakhstan

Dozens of flights run between Russia and Kazakhstan every day: from Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk to Almaty, Astana, Shymkent and other cities. Many families live across both countries, students study at Russian universities, and people travel on business and to see relatives. So finding a traveler for a small parcel here is usually easier than on long-haul routes.

JetJoin helps you choose a specific person on the flight you need and agree with them directly. It is convenient when an item is needed quickly — for a holiday, the start of studies or a trip — and you don’t want to wait for postal or courier delivery.

Russia and Kazakhstan are members of the Eurasian Economic Union, so flights between them have no customs control in the usual sense. That doesn’t mean anything goes: airline rules on liquids, batteries and dangerous items apply in full, and medicines containing controlled substances may not be carried without documents.

The EAEU also has personal-use allowances. Several identical new items look like goods for sale — such parcels are not sent via travelers.

Documents and certificates, keys, bank cards for relatives, prescription medicines, children’s clothes, gifts, books and factory-packed food. Put a bank card or another person’s documents in an envelope and tell the traveler in advance what is inside.

Homemade preserves and food in glass jars are at your own risk: jars break in baggage, and liquids won’t pass in cabin baggage. If you are sending honey or jam, agree that it will travel in checked baggage in secure packaging.

Describe the contents and upload photos and videos of the items and packaging to JetJoin. In Russia, arrange the meeting with time to spare before the traveler leaves for the airport — in Moscow, getting to Sheremetyevo or Domodedovo can take over an hour.

In Kazakhstan, it is easiest for the recipient to meet the traveler at the airport or an agreed place on arrival day. Keep the time difference in mind: Almaty and Astana are two hours ahead of Moscow.

There is no per-kilo rate: you offer a reward, and the traveler agrees or names another amount. On a short direct flight, a small parcel is usually inexpensive. JetJoin’s sender fee is 15%.

All users go through an identity check, and the app has reviews. The traveler photographs the parcel when taking it and enters the confirmation code when handing it to the recipient — only then is your card charged.