Sunday 25/January/2026 – 07:11 AM
Ahmed Amawy, head of the Customs Authority, confirmed that any Egyptian citizen enters the country With a mobile phone Coming from abroad, he is allowed to operate the phone for a period of 90 days without taking any measures or paying any fees, explaining that this procedure applies to the phone that enters Egypt for the first time.
Head of the Customs Authority: Operating the phone coming from abroad for 90 days without fees
Amoi explained, during television statements, that if a citizen leaves the country and returns again after the expiration of the 90-day period, he can contact customer service via the number 15283 or through designated numbers on the “WhatsApp” application, to provide limited data on the basis of which the phone will be reactivated for a new period of 90 days, and this period is renewed every time the citizen returns from travel.
The head of the Customs Authority pointed out that tourists and guests from Arab countries are not required to have any special procedures, as they can either use their phones with the international roaming service without restrictions, or purchase a tourist SIM card from Egyptian telecommunications companies that is valid for 90 days without registration or additional procedures.
Regarding citizens who buy their phones from abroad, Amwi explained that the state has granted facilities for paying customs duties, so that the citizen is not obligated to pay immediately upon entering the airport, but rather is given 90 days to pay electronically via credit cards, direct debit cards, or electronic wallets approved by banks.
He revealed that the phone is evaluated according to an approved indicative price for each model, and not based on the price of the dollar, as customs duties are calculated at a rate of approximately 38% of the indicative value of the phone in Egyptian pounds, stressing that the exchange rate used is the official price approved by the Central Bank of Egypt, and not any unofficial price in circulation.
The head of the Customs Authority stressed that the primary goal of the mobile phone governance system is not to increase revenues, but rather to regulate the market and protect the national industry, pointing out that any financial revenues are a side effect of the regulation process.
He explained that Egypt has included factories that produce mobile phones since 2012, and that most international companies – with the exception of one company – have a production presence in the Egyptian market, with the volume of production increasing and the presence of exports to foreign markets.
Amwi concluded his statements by emphasizing that the current electronic governance system has effectively eliminated the smuggling of mobile phones, as it is not possible to operate any device that entered the country illegally, noting that the cancellation of the temporary exception to payment of fees came after ensuring the effectiveness of the system and the availability of sufficient local production to cover the market’s needs.
