Egypt operates a structured customs framework administered through Egyptian Customs (under the Ministry of Finance), with the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) handling conformity for regulated categories, the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) approving telecom and wireless equipment, and the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) regulating medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Since October 2021, the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system, accessed through the Nafeza single-window platform, requires importers to upload commercial documents at least 48 hours before vessel loading at origin. Imports require an Egyptian-registered party with active customs registration and the correct sector approvals before shipment.
IOR Service operates as your registered Importer of Record (IOR) and Exporter of Record (EOR) in Egypt. We hold the local registration, manage ACI and Nafeza submissions, coordinate NTRA, EDA, and GOEIC workflows, file customs declarations, and pay duties and the 14% VAT as the legal party of record.
Egyptian customs and conformity rules combine the ACI pre-arrival documentation regime, document legalization requirements, sector-specific approvals, and HS classification discipline. Foreign companies shipping into Egypt without an in-country compliance partner face ACI rejection, shipment hold at port, document re-legalization delays, sector-permit refusal, or extended demurrage exposure.
Local entity and customs registration requirement: Only an Egyptian-registered party with active customs registration may file declarations directly. Foreign companies cannot self-clear. Working through a registered IOR provides the legal importer structure without establishing a local subsidiary.
ACI / Nafeza pre-arrival filing: Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and certificate of origin must be uploaded to the Nafeza platform at least 48 hours before vessel loading. Shipments arriving without an ACI Cargo Identification Number (ACID) face refusal at port and return-to-origin orders.
Document legalization and OEM letters: Commercial invoices and certificates of origin commonly require attestation by the Egyptian consulate at origin or apostille under the 2025 framework. OEM manufacturer letters may be required for certain tech categories, particularly where authorized distributor status is relevant.
NTRA approval for telecom and wireless: Telecom, radio, wireless, and encryption equipment require NTRA type approval before lawful import and use. Common categories include routers, RF modules, base stations, modems, and IoT devices.
EDA controls for medical and pharmaceutical: Medical devices, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food products require EDA authorization. Risk-based inspection and laboratory testing apply.
GOEIC conformity for regulated goods: Selected categories require GOEIC conformity verification, sometimes including pre-shipment inspection at origin.
HS classification and valuation discipline: Egyptian Customs applies strict HS review and CIF valuation checks. Misclassification or undervaluation triggers reassessment, inspection escalation, and penalty exposure.
As your registered IOR in Egypt, IOR Service manages the full compliance stack from pre-shipment review through delivery, under a single engagement.
Pre-shipment compliance review: HS classification, restricted-item check, NTRA scope confirmation, EDA and GOEIC pathway determination, document legalization mapping, and ACI readiness before goods leave origin.
ACI / Nafeza submission: Commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and certificate of origin uploaded to Nafeza at least 48 hours before vessel loading. ACID generation and verification before departure.
Documentation and customs declarations: Commercial invoice review, certificate of origin legalization coordination, packing list alignment, OEM letter compilation where required, NTRA and EDA document compilation, and customs entry filing.
Duties and VAT handling: We pay applicable customs duty (MFN tariffs generally within 5–60 percent depending on category), 14% VAT, schedule tax where applicable, and customs fees from our account as the registered importer. Costs are billed transparently to the client.
Regulatory approvals coordination: Liaison with NTRA for telecom type approval, EDA for medical and pharmaceutical authorization, GOEIC for conformity, and other sector regulators as required.
Customs coordination and release: Egyptian Customs interface, query response, inspection coordination, valuation defense where required, and post-clearance audit management at Alexandria, Port Said, Sokhna, Cairo International Airport, or land borders.
For re-exports, multi-destination projects, and equipment returns leaving Egypt, IOR Service operates as your registered Exporter of Record under a single engagement.
Pre-export compliance review: HS classification, restricted-item screening for dual-use and NTRA-controlled items, destination market assessment, and export license pathway determination before goods leave Egyptian territory.
Export documentation: Commercial invoice review, certificate of origin preparation (Arab Mediterranean, COMESA, Agadir, and AfCFTA preference where applicable), packing list alignment, export permit coordination where required, and Nafeza export filing.
Tax handling: VAT zero-rating documentation under Egyptian export rules, export duty assessment where applicable, and customs fee settlement from our account as the registered exporter. Costs billed transparently.
Carrier and broker coordination: Interface with carrier, customs broker, and Egyptian Customs for departure clearance from Alexandria, Port Said, Sokhna (sea), Cairo International Airport (air), or land borders. Query response and post-departure documentation.
Recordkeeping and shipment updates: Export declarations, license records, and shipping documents retained per Egyptian Customs retention requirements. Status updates per shipment milestone.
Re-export and multi-destination support: Project-flow coordination across multiple destinations, returned-equipment handling, free zone routing (Suez Canal Economic Zone where applicable), and bonded consolidation for outbound staging.
Egyptian Customs, under the Ministry of Finance, administers all import and export declarations. The Nafeza single-window platform is the electronic interface for customs filings, regulatory approvals, and ACI submissions. Customs entries are filed electronically, with risk-based inspection assignment.
The ACI regime, mandatory since October 2021, requires importers to upload commercial documents to Nafeza at least 48 hours before vessel loading at origin. The system generates an ACID (Advance Cargo Information Document) number, which must accompany the shipment. Shipments arriving without a valid ACID are refused at port and returned to origin at the importer's cost.
Commercial invoices, certificates of origin, and selected supporting documents commonly require legalization. Under the historical framework, attestation by the Egyptian consulate at origin is required. Egypt's 2025 movement toward apostille recognition (under the Hague Convention) is changing the legalization pathway for many origin countries; pre-shipment verification of current requirements per origin is part of the compliance review.
The National Telecom Regulatory Authority administers type approval for telecom, radio, wireless, and encryption equipment. WiFi routers, Bluetooth devices, RF modules, modems, base stations, IoT devices, and encryption hardware require NTRA approval before lawful import and use.
The Egyptian Drug Authority regulates medical devices, diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food products. Imports in EDA scope require pre-authorization and are subject to risk-based inspection.
The General Organization for Export and Import Control administers conformity assessment for regulated categories. Selected products require GOEIC verification, sometimes including pre-shipment inspection at origin.
VAT is 14% on the CIF value plus customs duty. Schedule tax applies to selected categories. Customs duty rates generally range from 5 to 60 percent MFN depending on HS classification, with preferential rates under Egypt's trade agreement network (EU Association Agreement, Agadir, COMESA, Arab Mediterranean, AfCFTA, and others).
Commercial invoice (with HS codes, CIF breakdown, legalized or apostilled where required)
Packing list
Bill of lading or airway bill
Certificate of origin (legalized or apostilled where required, preference documentation under FTAs where applicable)
ACID (Advance Cargo Information Document) generated through Nafeza pre-arrival
NTRA type approval certificate (for telecom and wireless equipment)
EDA authorization (for medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food goods)
GOEIC conformity documentation (for regulated categories)
OEM manufacturer letter (where required for authorized distributor or tech categories)
Technical datasheets and product specifications
Sector-specific permits (other regulators as applicable)
Insurance certificate (where applicable)
Classify equipment under Egypt's tariff schedule, identify regulated categories, confirm NTRA, EDA, and GOEIC scope.
Determine attestation or apostille requirements per origin country, coordinate OEM letters where required.
Upload commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and certificate of origin to Nafeza at least 48 hours before vessel loading. Generate ACID and confirm before departure.
Electronic customs entry through Nafeza, query response, inspection coordination, release.
Paid by IOR Service as the registered importer, then billed transparently.
Delivery to consignee in Cairo, Alexandria, or other destinations; documentation retained for Egyptian Customs audit.
Missing ACID at arrival: Shipments without a valid ACID generated through Nafeza at least 48 hours before vessel loading are refused at Egyptian ports and returned to origin at the importer's cost. ACI completion at origin is non-negotiable
Document legalization gaps: Commercial invoices and certificates of origin without proper attestation or apostille trigger clearance refusal. Legalization cannot be completed in Egypt after arrival.
HS misclassification and valuation queries: Egyptian Customs scrutinizes declared values and HS codes, particularly for high-value tech and inter-company transfers. Misclassification triggers reassessment and inspection escalation.
Missing NTRA type approval on wireless equipment: Telecom, wireless, and encryption devices held pending NTRA clearance. Type approval cannot be expedited at port
EDA non-compliance for medical or pharma goods: Imports in EDA scope without prior authorization are held; sampling and laboratory testing apply to higher-risk categories
OEM letter requirements for tech categories: Selected tech imports require manufacturer letters confirming authorized distributor status or product authenticity. Missing letters trigger clearance hold.
Used or refurbished IT equipment: Selected categories face policy-driven import restrictions and additional scrutiny. Pre-shipment scope confirmation is essential before goods are committed to freight
Tell us the origin, the destination (Cairo, Alexandria, or other), the equipment scope (including any wireless, medical, or used or refurbished capability), the value, the Incoterm, and the project timeline. Our compliance team returns an HS, ACI, NTRA, EDA, and document-legalization assessment, customs documentation framework, and quote, typically within one business day.
Available on request
Shared after initial assessment.25+ Years of International Trade & Compliance Leadership
Backed by decades of experience in global trade, IOR Service delivers the compliance frameworks, regulatory oversight, and market-entry expertise required for successful international operations. From highly regulated industries to complex cross-border projects, we help organizations move forward with certainty.The Importer of Record is the legal party registered with Egyptian Customs as responsible for the imported goods. The IOR files the customs declaration, holds the customs registration, pays duties and VAT, manages ACI and Nafeza submissions, and bears legal accountability for compliance. Only an Egyptian-registered party may serve as the IOR on the customs declaration.
Generally no. The seller is typically located outside Egypt and cannot file Egyptian customs declarations directly. Even under Incoterms that place responsibility on the seller (DDP), the seller must work through an Egyptian-registered IOR to act as the legal importer. IOR Service holds the local registration and acts as the legal IOR on behalf of foreign sellers shipping into Egypt.
Under DAP (Delivered at Place), the buyer is typically the named importer of record and bears responsibility for customs clearance, duties, and taxes. The buyer must either have its own Egyptian customs registration or work through a registered IOR. IOR Service operates under DAP terms by acting as the named importer on behalf of the buyer, managing clearance, paying duties and VAT, and delivering cleared goods.
No, not if you work through a registered IOR. Only an Egyptian-registered party with active customs registration may file declarations and act as the legal importer. IOR Service holds the local registration on your behalf, so you ship into Egypt compliantly without establishing a local subsidiary.
Commercial invoices and certificates of origin commonly require legalization. The historical pathway is attestation by the Egyptian consulate at origin. Under Egypt's 2025 movement toward apostille recognition (Hague Convention framework), the legalization pathway is changing for many origin countries. Pre-shipment verification of current requirements per origin country is part of the compliance review.
The Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system, accessed through the Nafeza single-window platform, requires importers to upload commercial documents at least 48 hours before vessel loading at origin. The system generates an ACID (Advance Cargo Information Document) that must accompany the shipment. Shipments without a valid ACID are refused at Egyptian ports and returned to origin. ACI completion is the most time-sensitive element of Egyptian import compliance.
The Importer of Record (IOR) is the legal party responsible for imports into a country, holding the customs registration, paying duties and taxes, and bearing accountability for compliance. The Exporter of Record (EOR) is the legal party responsible for exports leaving a country, filing export declarations, managing export licensing where applicable, and bearing accountability for export compliance. IOR Service operates in both directions in Egypt under a single engagement.
Egypt is not on US, EU, or UK comprehensive sanctions lists. However, sanctions screening on individual transactions depends on the parties involved (consignee, end-user, intermediaries), end-use, and product category. IOR Service runs restricted-party screening on every shipment against BIS Entity List, OFAC SDN List, EU Consolidated List, and equivalent registers as part of the standard compliance workflow.
Yes. Under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) terms, IOR Service acts as the named importer, completes ACI submission through Nafeza, pays all duties, 14% VAT, and applicable schedule tax, manages NTRA, EDA, and GOEIC workflows, and delivers cleared goods to the consignee. Your company appears nowhere in the Egyptian customs record. IOR Service is the legal party of record.
Yes. IOR Service operates as registered Exporter of Record for outbound shipments, managing classification, export documentation, VAT zero-rating, preference origin certification under Egypt's FTA network (EU Association, Agadir, COMESA, Arab Mediterranean, AfCFTA), and Nafeza export filings. Free zone routing through the Suez Canal Economic Zone is supported for project flows requiring bonded outbound staging.
