Short answer: a tourist using a foreign SIM or a travel eSIM in Egypt pays nothing. The customs fee of up to 38.5% applies to phones bought abroad and used long term on an Egyptian line. If you buy a local tourist SIM, you get a 90-day exemption for that stay.
What changed on 21 January 2026
Egypt's Customs Authority and the telecom regulator, the NTRA, ended the old exemption for phones carried in by passengers at noon on 21 January 2026, according to Ecofin. Since then, a phone bought abroad and used on an Egyptian SIM must be cleared within a set period, or it loses service on Egyptian networks.
Passengers no longer declare phones on arrival. The official Telephony FAQ says arrivals leave the airport without registering a personal phone, and anyone who owes the fee registers and pays afterwards.
Who pays and who does not
| Who you are | How you connect | Fee | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist | Foreign SIM or travel eSIM | None | Your whole stay |
| Tourist | Egyptian tourist SIM | None during the exemption | 90 days, resets each visit |
| Egyptian living abroad | Egyptian SIM, after contacting the authorities | None during the exemption | 120 days per visit since 1 April 2026 |
| Resident, or a phone kept in Egypt | Egyptian SIM | Up to 38.5% | Pay within 90 days |
The tourist rule comes from two sources. The head of the Customs Authority told EnterpriseAM that anyone who keeps using an international SIM "will not be subject to fees", and that tourists get a 90-day exemption automatically when they buy a local tourist line, resetting with every visit. The Telephony FAQ says the same in Arabic. Ahram Online reported the extension to 120 days for Egyptians abroad. We found no report of the same extension for tourists.
The 90-day clock, in numbers
Days allowed on an Egyptian SIM before clearing the phone
Sources: Telephony FAQ, EnterpriseAM, Ahram Online, Ecofin. On a foreign SIM or travel eSIM, no such clock applies.
Apple gives the practical version. On its support page, published on 22 January 2026, it says a phone used on an Egyptian network may get an NTRA alert that its IMEI is not registered, and there is a 90-day grace period "from the activation date of the Egyptian SIM card on the network". After that, the status bar shows No Service.
So the clock runs from an Egyptian SIM going live in your phone. A foreign SIM does not start it.
How much is the 38.5% fee?
Ahram Online describes a 38.5% regulatory fee on devices not imported through local agents, covering customs and VAT. The exact amount for a device appears in the Telephony app after you enter its IMEI, so the figures below are simple examples and not official quotes.
| Value of the phone | Fee at 38.5% |
|---|---|
| €500 | about €192 |
| €800 | about €308 |
| €1,000 | about €385 |
| €1,500 | about €578 |
Fee at the 38.5% rate, by phone value
Our arithmetic at the published rate. The Telephony app shows the amount for your device.
Payment is by bank card, e-wallet, or cash with a payment code, and the FAQ says the phone is activated straight after payment. Tourists on a normal holiday never reach this step.
Does a travel eSIM count as a foreign SIM?
A travel eSIM such as ours is a foreign data profile that roams on Egyptian networks. It is not an Egyptian line, so the rule for foreign SIMs is the one that fits. Neither source names eSIMs specifically, so if you stay for many months or plan to work in Egypt, check with the Telephony help line, 15380, listed by Apple.
This gives a travel eSIM one small advantage over a local tourist SIM: you have no passport step at a shop and no 90-day limit to keep in mind. The main trade-off is that an eSIM gives you data only, with no Egyptian phone number. If you need one for a local service, see our guide to an Egypt eSIM and phone numbers.
Common situations
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| One or two weeks on holiday | Nothing. Use your foreign SIM or a travel eSIM. |
| Three months, foreign SIM only | No fee is due on that basis. Watch your plan's own validity. |
| Buying a local tourist SIM | Show your passport. The 90-day exemption applies for that stay. |
| You see an NTRA alert on an iPhone | It applies when an Egyptian SIM is active. Follow the Telephony app steps if you plan to stay on that SIM. |
| Buying a phone in Egypt | Ask for an e-invoice: Apple says the tax is prepaid through authorised sellers. |
If your phone shows no service in Egypt, the cause is rarely this rule when you are on a foreign line. Start with our eSIM not working fixes.
What this means for your trip
For a tourist, the phone tax is a reason not to worry, more than a cost. Bring your phone, keep your foreign SIM for texts, and add a data plan for the trip. Our guide to eSIM in Egypt explains how local operators and travel plans differ.
Our Egypt eSIM connects to the Orange Egypt, Etisalat and Vodafone Egypt networks, with 1 GB a day at full speed then 512 Kbps until the next day. The 7-day plan costs €33 and the 15-day plan €46. First check that your phone is eSIM compatible.