Short answer
Before sending anything from Russia, check whether Russian Post accepts the destination, whether your item is prohibited or restricted, whether a customs declaration is needed, and whether the recipient can receive it. Do not mail cash, bank cards, passports, controlled medicine, or anything you would not want inspected by postal or customs staff.
What to do next
What to know first
Route first
Domestic and international mail use different forms, limits, and availability checks.
Contents matter
Cash, valuables, medicine, food, plants, and controlled items can create problems.
Keep proof
Save receipt, tracking number, address label, and a contents record.
Start with the route
Domestic letters, domestic parcels, and international parcels have different forms and limits. Russian Post maintains route and customs pages, but availability can change by destination. Check the destination before you buy packaging or promise a delivery date.
If the parcel is tied to travel paperwork, keep the original document route separate. Use the document checklist and do not send passports or migration documents through ordinary mail unless an official process specifically tells you to.
Check the contents before packing
Do not rely on common sense alone. Postal rules can block items such as cash, some valuables, hazardous materials, food, plants, cultural items, medicines, or goods that need extra documents. For border-sensitive items, check the customs declaration guide before you decide.
Make a plain contents list for yourself before filling any form. If you cannot describe the item accurately and lawfully, do not send it.
Prepare proof and tracking
Use a receipt, tracking number, and photos of the packed item and address label. For international parcels, confirm whether a customs declaration is required and whether the destination postal service has its own restrictions.
If the item is urgent, high value, legal, medical, or hard to replace, ordinary parcel post may be the wrong route. Pause and check the official provider or a qualified adviser rather than guessing.
Practical options
Ordinary letter
Low-value paper correspondence.
Not for passports, bank cards, or irreplaceable documents.
Tracked parcel
Allowed personal items with clear contents.
May need customs forms and destination checks.
Official or specialist route
Legal, medical, high-value, or urgent items.
May cost more and require documents.
Common mistakes
Mailing original passports or bank cards casually.
Use an official process or keep them with you.
Packing first and checking rules later.
Check prohibited and restricted items before packing.
Assuming delivery to every country works.
Verify the destination route and recipient rules first.