• Egypt reinstates customs duties on foreign phones from Jan. 21, 2026

• Egyptians abroad get 90-day exemption; tourists use foreign or tourist SIMs

• Unpaid phones face network deactivation after 90 days

Customs authorities and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) announced on Tuesday, Jan. 20, the reinstatement of customs duties on foreign mobile phones brought into the country by travelers. The new regulations take effect at noon on Jan. 21, 2026.

Egyptians living abroad are granted a 90-day exemption period for their personal phones during each visit to Egypt. To qualify, they must contact authorities through dedicated numbers and provide photos of their passport, entry stamps, and proof of residence abroad. Once verified, the device is exempt for the specified duration.

Tourists may continue to use their devices with foreign SIM cards without paying duties. Those who want a local SIM can purchase a "tourist SIM" available at all local telecom operators upon presentation of a passport. This SIM carries a 90-day exemption per stay.

The temporary tax exemption, introduced in January 2025, allowed certain travelers to use foreign-purchased phones with local SIM cards long-term without paying duties, provided the devices were declared at customs upon arrival.

New payment system and network deactivation

The measure was designed as a transition "until local phone production restarts," according to Egyptian authorities. The local industrial context has changed and the exemption is no longer necessary. There are now 15 international manufacturers operating in Egypt, producing more than 20 million devices annually. This capacity is considered sufficient to cover the market while meeting international quality standards.

In addition to the industrial argument, the return of the customs tax aims for better tax collection and market oversight. This allows the state to better oversee connected devices and limit parallel markets.

With the end of the exemptions, the declaration of phones upon arrival is abolished. However, a new system has been established. Travelers subject to the tax have a 90-day period to pay the duties. After this period, devices that have not been cleared will be deactivated across all Egyptian networks.

Payment is made through the "Telephony" application by entering the phone's identification number (IMEI). Payment can be made via credit card, mobile payment, digital wallets, or in cash at a bank or an automated teller machine.