Removals to Egypt: Customs and Personal Effects

The same page warns that quantities above personal use are held, and that duty and tax are charged above the exemption. Goods for people who live in Egypt follow the ordinary customs rules, not the traveller route. Whether a family arriving to take up residence counts as resident for this purpose is not answered on the page, so ask the Egyptian clearing agent which route applies before the booking is paid.

Do not read the allowance for new items as a settler allowance. The Customs Authority sets new items for tourists and transit passengers at 15,000 Egyptian pounds, which is a rule for people passing through and not for a household moving in.

The UK government gives a related warning: “You should declare high value electronic devices and recording equipment when you arrive.” It adds that “Officials are likely to confiscate satellite phones or radio communications equipment unless you have prior clearance from the Ministry of Telecommunications.” A drone, a satellite messenger or a ham radio is best left in Britain unless clearance is in writing.

It also says “Shipments without ACID will be denied entry” and must be re-exported at the shipper’s cost, and that “Duties must be paid in Egyptian pounds.” Whether a household shipment counts as an importer’s cargo is not stated. Ask your mover’s Egyptian agent, in writing, whether a number is needed, who registers it and whether it must exist before the goods leave Britain.

The only other figure is a commercial tariff note. The US guide says customs fees on cars with engines up to 1600 cc were reduced, but it is a tariff for traders and not a rule for a private owner shipping their own car, and no age limit appears in it. Ask the Egyptian Consulate General and the Egyptian agent for the current private-owner rule before paying for a car shipment, and see our car shipping guide for how cars are carried abroad.

Passports must be valid for at least six months after arrival, and a work permit application needs HIV test results. The Egypt overview sets out the visa and the order of steps.

We found no Egyptian rule for transfer of residence, returning residents, private cars or pets, and we could not tell whether an advance cargo number applies to household goods. The Egyptian Consulate General in London did not load for us, and the GOV.UK living-in-Egypt guide was not at the addresses we tried. Ask your removal firm for the agent’s current list in writing. The Egypt overview covers ports, cities and the UK government travel warnings. The Alexandria and Port Said guides cover the two ports we could read about.