Customs at Cairo

[crewmeal]

I came across this article regarding customs at Cairo airport. Now I know some bring in more than one smartphone for friends and some locals are asking for tablets so the risk of duty on these is possible. The question is what are the rules for importing electronics into Egypt.

https://onemileatatime.com/news/cairo-a ... 2025-06-29

[Who2]

From the low to the high, Iv'e always found 'baksheesh works wonders, got stung for a 100 just the other day,
Ahmed's touro-cycle no tax 100 no problem. Baksheesh stems from the meaning 'to share'...

[DJKeefy]

There is no point in taking a mobile phone into Egypt (or a tablet) if it needs any kind of sim card or even e-sim,.
As soon as you insert a sim into the phone it registers the IMEI number/s with the government.
With in a few weeks you will receive a text message giving you up to 3 months to pay the customs on the phone, you can not argue with the government to say its an old phone etc, they wont listen, you have to pay the customs on the phone at a rate 38.5%
A friend of mine ignored the warning and they switched the phone of after 3 months, it still could be used to play games etc, but you could not get any sim in Egypt to work, there is no work around (crack) for this. they charged 14,800LE customs fee plus a admin fee of around 350LE, which you can pay via the telephony app, once paid the sim/s will start working again.

You can register any phones/tablets and pay at the airport too.

This new law came into force on the 1st January 2025
https://www.sis.gov.eg/Story/203961/Egy ... lang=en-gb

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... n_GB&pli=1

IOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/telephony/id6739450752

[BENNU]

Earlier this year, I was given 90 days to register, but after 75 days, my new phone was locked. Not even data roaming was possible as you are on an Egyptian network.
An Egyptian friend who travels a lot had brought a new iPhone into the country and had to pay 38%.
Here in Copenhagen, I can buy a phone with a good camera for less than 38% of what it would cost in Egypt. Now I wonder if I would be expected to pay 38% of the official price or what is written on the receipt.
I have heard that a foreigner can register one phone for free every three years at arrival.

[crewmeal]

I presume you can still use an Egyptian WiFi box with an appropriate SIM card and then use your UK iPhone for data only. Calls using messenger type apps would still work, I hope

[HEPZIBAH]

OK. Not got my head around this fully (guess it's a case of I don't need to so my brain won't compute the information).
However, for regular visitors/travellers - would an Esim be the answer?

[BENNU]

I presume you can still use an Egyptian WiFi box with an appropriate SIM card and then use your UK iPhone for data only. Calls using messenger type apps would still work, I hope

Yes, you can do that. I used my old phone as a hotspot.

[DJKeefy]

OK. Not got my head around this fully (guess it's a case of I don't need to so my brain won't compute the information).
However, for regular visitors/travellers - would an Esim be the answer?

No

[DJKeefy]

Here in Copenhagen, I can buy a phone with a good camera for less than 38% of what it would cost in Egypt. Now I wonder if I would be expected to pay 38% of the official price or what is written on the receipt.
I have heard that a foreigner can register one phone for free every three years at arrival.

They are not interested in any reciept you may have, if its old or cracked screen etc, they will charge you the official Egyptian price of what it would be sold for new in egypt.

You know what Egypt is like apparently the customs charge is supposed to be for NEW phones, yet, you can argue, show them receipts that it is 1+ years old for example, they just won't listen.

The only way to find what you will be charged is to download the telephony app, enter the IMEI number and it will show you the price.

[HEPZIBAH]

would an Esim be the answer?

No

Errrmmm So that would be a firm no then?

[BENNU]

Here in Copenhagen, I can buy a phone with a good camera for less than 38% of what it would cost in Egypt ...

... they will charge you the official Egyptian price of what it would be sold for new in egypt.

That is what I imagined.
I may buy a cheap phone in Luxor and keep it with me as a hotshot. Even the very cheapest one I saw in Luxor cost three times as much as in my local Danish shop.

[John Landon]

I'm thinking of coming back in November, and was wondering if I get my friend to buy me a pre loaded SIM with data and call capability and use that for the 2 or 3 weeks, will I be OK, once I leave the country. ?
Or am I better off just buying a burner phone when I arrive. ?

TIA.

[DJKeefy]

I'm thinking of coming back in November, and was wondering if I get my friend to buy me a pre loaded SIM with data and call capability and use that for the 2 or 3 weeks, will I be OK, once I leave the country. ?
Or am I better off just buying a burner phone when I arrive. ?

TIA.

You will be ok using your own phone, you are there for less then 3 months anyway, yet i would buy the sim myself when you arrive in your name (they need your passport) , they do know (Big Brother) when you leave Egypt.

[BENNU]

I'm thinking of coming back in November …

You will be ok using your own phone, you are there for less then 3 months anyway ...

Next time you return after that, your phone will be blocked.