Egypt on Wednesday ended the year-long grace period that allowed travellers to bring one mobile phone into the country free of customs duties, enforcing a tariff system officials say aims to protect domestic manufacturing and curb smuggling.
The exemption expired at noon, the Egyptian Customs Authority and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority confirmed, completing the rollout of a handset governance and registration system that began in January 2025.
From now on, any mobile device entering the country with a traveller will be subject to a one-time 38.5 per cent charge of the device's cost covering customs and taxes.
Only foreign tourists and Egyptians residing abroad remain exempt for 90 days per visit; after that period they must pay.
The device is registered and fees are paid exclusively through digital channels such as the Telephony mobile application, the Finance Ministry’s e‑gateways and licensed banking apps.
Customs offices will
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