The Egyptian Customs Authority and the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) announced the rules governing the entry of mobile phone devices into the country, the exemptions granted to Egyptians returning from abroad and holders of foreign passports, the fees imposed on additional devices, and the registration mechanism through the “Telephony” app.
Exemption for Egyptians
Egyptian citizens returning from abroad are granted full customs exemption on one mobile phone upon entry into the country, provided they declare it and register its details electronically before leaving the customs office, the Authority confirmed.
Temporary Exemption for Foreigners
Foreign passport holders are granted a temporary customs exemption for three months only on their personal mobile phone, without the need for prior registration.
If they wish to keep the device after this period, they must pay the prescribed fees through the Telephony app.
Number of Mobile Phones Allowed
- Each traveler (Egyptian or foreign) is allowed to bring a maximum of four mobile devices.
- Only one phone is exempt from customs duties.
- The remaining three devices are subject to customs duties based on their market value.
- Bringing five or more devices categorizes the traveler as a merchant and therefore subjects them to commercial import rules.
Fees on the Second Phone
The Egyptian Customs Authority clarified that the second phone is subject to customs duties of 37.5 percent of its market value, while other phones are subject to the full fees according to the laws.
Registration via the Telephony App
The NTRA, in cooperation with Customs Authority, launched the Telephony app to register phones imported from abroad and pay fees on non-exempt devices.
This is part of the market regulation and protection of users from substandard devices.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
