Khaberni - The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Egyptian Customs Authority revealed the end of the exceptional exemption period for mobile phones brought in by passengers from abroad.
Starting at 12:00 PM tomorrow, Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the exemption will cease, while the exemption for mobile phones owned by Egyptians residing abroad and tourists will continue for 90 days.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority confirmed the cancellation of the registration of personal mobile devices in customs circles due to the purpose being deemed obsolete, stating that the payment of due taxes and fees should be made through previously announced payment channels.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority stated that this decision is part of implementing a governance system for mobile devices imported from abroad, starting from January 2025, which includes a temporary customs exemption for one mobile device accompanying a passenger, until locally manufactured phones not subject to customs are available.
According to the decision, no phone coming from abroad will be exempt from the imposed fees, which are estimated at 38% of the phone’s price, including phones brought by Egyptians from abroad.
This means that if incoming passengers, whether Egyptian or non-Egyptian, decide to bring mobile devices as gifts or for any other purpose, the prescribed fees will be applied within 90 days from the activation date of the phone.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Organization clarified that the system for registering imported phones and imposing taxes on them has led to 15 international companies entering the Egyptian mobile phone market with an annual production capacity of 20 million devices, which exceeds the local market needs.
The mobile phone industry in Egypt has undergone a qualitative transformation during 2025, which has positively reflected on the availability of the latest globally manufactured models locally, with various features and specifications suited to all segments of the citizens, available in all sales outlets and official branches of the international companies.
These devices are manufactured by the same global manufacturers, or under their direct technical supervision, with the same technical specifications and international quality standards as those manufactured abroad, and at competitive prices.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority revealed that taxes and fees imposed on mobile devices imported from abroad can be paid through the "Telephony" application, in addition to digital payment methods available through banks and electronic wallets, with a grace period of up to 90 days from the first activation date to regulate the status of the devices before any regulatory actions are taken, and it will also provide the possibility of installment payment of these taxes and fees in the coming period.
