Customs Clearance in Egypt
Import entries into Egypt are administered by Egyptian Customs Authority. Cargo typically sits 7–15 days at the gateway before release, and most of that window is documentation rather than physical inspection. We handle the entry itself — classification, valuation, duty and tax settlement, and the release — either as part of a delivered duty-paid movement or as a standalone brokerage service on cargo somebody else is shipping.
Clearance profile — Egypt
| Customs authority | Egyptian Customs Authority |
|---|---|
| Duty and tax | VAT 14%; duty 0–60% depending on commodity, plus development fees on some categories |
| De-minimis | No practical de-minimis for commercial cargo |
| Certification | ACID number issued through the Nafeza single window before shipment — mandatory; GOEIC registration of the foreign factory for many consumer goods |
| Typical port dwell | 7–15 days |
| Sea gateways | Alexandria, Damietta, Port Said, Sokhna |
| Air gateways | CAI (Cairo), HRG (Hurghada), ALY (Alexandria) |
Compiled from the destination customs authority and port operators as a buyer-planning reference. It is not a customs ruling — the binding position depends on your HS heading and the consignee's status.
What we do on the entry
- Classification. We agree the HS heading before the cargo sails, not after it lands. A heading argued at the border costs storage every day it runs.
- Valuation. We build the customs value the way Egypt expects it — including or excluding freight and insurance according to the local rule, with the supporting evidence attached.
- Entry filing and duty settlement. Lodged in the consignee's name or, where the market allows it, under our own importer arrangement.
- Release and onward delivery. Terminal release, any inspection attendance, and delivery to the door if you want the movement quoted duty-paid.
What actually holds shipments here
ACID/Nafeza registration must be completed pre-shipment — this is the single most common cause of rejected cargo. GOEIC registration of the exporting factory is required for a long list of consumer goods. Letters of credit are required for many commercial imports.
None of that is unusual, but all of it is easier to resolve before the container sails than after it arrives.
How the lane behaves
Egypt's Advance Cargo Information system is the decisive requirement on this lane: the importer must obtain an ACID number through Nafeza and the exporter must reference it on the shipping documents before the goods leave China. Cargo arriving without a valid ACID is refused entry. On top of that, GOEIC factory registration is required for many consumer categories and takes months to obtain.
Documents we will ask for
- Commercial invoice and packing list matching the goods exactly
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin where a preference is claimed
- Consignee registration or tax identifier for the market
- Product certification, permits or licences where the commodity requires them
Mismatches between the invoice and the transport document are the single most common reason an entry is queried. We check them before filing rather than after a query lands.
Clearing agents in Egypt
Our entries in Egypt are filed by licensed local brokers, not sub-contracted blind. If you hold a customs broker licence or AEO authorisation here, we are open to adding capacity — we send referred volume from an ocean freight book that already discharges at your gateways.
The network is vetted rather than open: licence verification with the issuing authority, insurance, two contactable references and supervised trial entries before any unsupervised volume.
Apply to become our Egypt clearance partner →Freight rates into Egypt
Clearance is quoted alongside the freight. These are the priced lanes we currently run into this market.
- Ningbo to Alexandria FCL Ocean Freight Rates | 20GP & 40HQ
- Shanghai to Alexandria Container Shipping — 20GP Rates
Destination guide
Gateways, inland legs, port behaviour and seasonal pressure for Egypt — the background this clearance page assumes.
Egypt destination guide →Common questions
Who administers customs clearance in Egypt?
Import entries are administered by Egyptian Customs Authority.
How long does clearance take in Egypt?
Cargo typically sits 7–15 days at the gateway. Complete paperwork lodged before arrival is what keeps a shipment at the short end of that range.
What duty and tax applies in Egypt?
VAT 14%; duty 0–60% depending on commodity, plus development fees on some categories The rate that applies to your shipment depends on the HS heading — send the specification for a firm figure.
Can you clear cargo in Egypt that you did not ship?
Yes. Brokerage is available as a standalone service on cargo moved by another forwarder, as well as bundled into a duty-paid movement we carry ourselves.
Do you work with local brokers in Egypt?
Yes — our clearance network is built on vetted local licence holders. Brokers in this market can apply to join through our partner programme.