URGENT: Egypt ends exceptional exemption for imported mobile phones effective 21 Jan

Egypt’s Customs Authority and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) announced on Tuesday the end of the exceptional customs exemption for mobile phones brought into the country by passengers, effective 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The exemption for Egyptians residing abroad and tourists will continue for 90 days.

Authorities confirmed that the new taxes and fees will not apply retroactively to previously exempted devices and that registering personal mobile phones at customs offices has been cancelled, with payments to be made through the specified digital channels.

The move comes after the implementation of the mobile phone governance system in January 2025, which supported local production until locally manufactured phones not subject to customs duties became available. The initiative has attracted 15 global companies to the Egyptian market, with an annual production capacity of 20 million devices, surpassing local demand.

In 2025, Egypt’s mobile phone industry achieved a qualitative leap, making the latest global models available locally across all outlets and official branches of international brands, manufactured either by global producers or under their direct supervision, meeting international technical specifications and quality standards at competitive prices.

The regulatory policies have also created around 10,000 job opportunities for young Egyptians while reducing reliance on imported devices. Taxes and fees on mobile phones brought from abroad can now be paid through the Telefoni app, banks, or e-wallets, with a 90-day grace period from first activation, and instalment payments will be available in the near future.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English