Bringing a Phone into Egypt

Bought a new phone abroad, used it with an Egyptian SIM, and then it suddenly stopped working? That is most likely the mobile-device governance system.

What changed

Egyptian Customs and the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) announced on 20 January 2026 that:
The governance system for phones from abroad has applied since January 2025;
The exceptional exemption for one phone carried by a passenger ended at **12 noon on 21 January 2026**;
Phones of Egyptians living abroad and of tourists remain exempt for **90 days**.

What to do

According to the Telephony (تليفوني) website:
**Find your IMEI** by dialling *#06# or checking the box;
**Check in the app** for registration status and any amount due;
**Pay** in-app by bank card, Meeza card or e-wallet, or get a payment code and pay cash at an authorised collection outlet;
**Deadline**: up to 90 days from initial activation, after which the phone may be blocked;
**After payment**, service is restored instantly.

Not at the airport

The site says personal phones are no longer registered or paid for inside customs; you can leave the airport and register later.

Tourists vs residents

A foreign tourist using a foreign SIM can use the phone normally with nothing to pay;
A tourist using an Egyptian tourist SIM gets a 90-day exemption per visit;
For people living in Egypt, phones brought from abroad are subject to the applicable taxes and fees.

Help

Telephony hotline the Telephony hotline on telephony.gov.eg, or the WhatsApp numbers listed on the site.

Reminder

We don't list amounts here — the app shows them. Rules may change; follow Customs and NTRA announcements.
Compiled by Wang Fu Egypt for general guidance. For binding rules, please refer to Egyptian Customs, NTRA and the Telephony app.

Sources

Egyptian Customs Authority – news 161 (end of exceptional exemption, 20 Jan 2026): https://www.customs.gov.eg/Home/NewsDetail/161
Telephony app – about & FAQ: https://telephony.gov.eg/
Egyptian Customs Authority – news 163 (short guide to the system): https://www.customs.gov.eg/Home/NewsDetail/163

Your first week in Egypt

Get a local SIM card and save key addresses in Arabic.
Keep some Egyptian pounds in cash and use official exchange channels.
Check your health insurance and the nearest hospital.
Save emergency numbers and your embassy contact from its official website.
Install a ride-hailing app and find the supermarket and pharmacy near your home.

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