Bag missing at Sheremetyevo? Report it inside the baggage hall, before you leave.
Arriving in Moscow without your luggage is frustrating, especially in winter when you need warm clothes straight away. At Sheremetyevo, where you report the missing bag depends on whether you arrived on a domestic or an international flight, and international bags also need to clear Russian customs when they arrive later.
Where to Report: Domestic vs International
Внутренние и международные рейсы
Sheremetyevo has a northern terminal complex (Terminals B and C), which handles most passenger traffic, and a southern complex (Terminals D, E and F). Your arrival terminal shapes how you should report a missing bag.
Domestic arrivals
Внутренние рейсы
On domestic flights within Russia, you walk from the carousels straight into the public arrivals area.
- Check every carousel and the oversized baggage zone before leaving
- Report at the baggage tracing desk while you are still in the reclaim area
- Once outside, staff will usually not let you back in without an escort
International arrivals
Международные рейсы
On international flights, you collect your bags before passing through customs (green or red channel).
- Report the missing bag at the baggage tracing desk in the baggage hall
- Do this before you cross the customs line
- Leaving without a report can complicate customs clearance when the bag arrives
The SVO Baggage Recovery Process
Порядок действий
Check the carousels
Watch your carousel, check the others and visit the oversized baggage point.
Report and get your reference
File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) at the baggage tracing desk. You may also receive a Russian-language report. Keep your reference, often a WorldTracer-style code such as SVOSU12345.
Tracing
The airline searches its systems, and the bag is usually sent on a following flight once found.
Customs and delivery
International bags are cleared through customs, then delivered to your Moscow address, often by courier. Timings are typical, not guaranteed.
Treated as lost
Under the Montreal Convention, if a bag has not arrived within 21 days, you can claim for it as lost.
Winter tip
If you land in the cold months, warm clothing may be an essential purchase while you wait. Keep the receipts.
Payment tip
Cards issued outside Russia generally do not work there, so keep some roubles in cash for essential purchases.
Baggage Desks by Terminal
Службы розыска багажа
| Terminal | Complex | Mainly handles | Where to report |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | North | Domestic flights | Baggage tracing desk in the reclaim hall |
| C | North | International flights | Baggage tracing desk in the reclaim hall, before customs |
| D–F | South | Selected flights; check your booking | Ask staff in the arrivals area |
Documents to Bring
Необходимые документы
Bring these originals when you report the bag or collect it in person:
Passport or ID
The same document you used to check in.
Migration card or entry record
For foreign visitors on international flights, if one was issued.
Bag tag stub and boarding pass
The barcode sticker from your origin airport.
Your report copy
Paper or digital, with your reference code.
Customs declaration
Only if customs officials ask for one for a later-arriving bag.
Delivery address and phone
Hotel, room number and a working phone, WhatsApp or Telegram contact.
Russian Customs and Delayed Bags
Таможенные правила
A delayed international bag arriving at Sheremetyevo still has to clear customs under the rules of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Personal allowance
Delayed personal belongings are normally duty-free within the standard personal import limits. To help clearance:
- Keep your PIR and ticket as proof it is delayed personal luggage
- Do not pack goods that need a written customs declaration, such as commercial quantities
- Declare cash above the legal threshold, roughly USD 10,000 or equivalent
Authorising delivery
When you file the report, you may be asked to authorise the airline or its agent to present your bag to customs on your behalf so it can be delivered. If you do not, you may have to return to the airport to clear the bag in person. Ask the desk which option applies.
Your Rights and Compensation
Права пассажира
Flights within Russia fall under the Air Code of the Russian Federation.
- Delay fine: the law sets a fine for each hour of baggage delay, capped at half of the fare, unless the airline shows the delay was beyond its control
- Essential expenses: if you are away from home, ask the airline about reimbursing essentials against itemised receipts (кассовый чек)
International flights are generally covered by the Montreal Convention.
- Essentials: you may claim reasonable costs for toiletries, basic and seasonal clothing
- Written complaint: within 21 days of receiving a delayed bag, or 7 days for damage
- Lost bags: liability is limited to 1,519 SDR per passenger (since December 2024), unless a special declaration was made
Final Tips for Delayed Bags at Sheremetyevo
Check every carousel and the oversized point, report the missing bag at the baggage tracing desk before you leave the reclaim hall, and keep your reference, documents and receipts safe. Give the airline an accurate Moscow address and phone number, ask how customs clearance and delivery will work, and keep some cash for essentials while you wait.