Are you an IT solutions salesperson? Ship hardware to 174 countries. Learn more

Egypt Importer of Record and IT Shipping

Egypt's complex and detailed import regulations require an expert Importer of Record to complete documentation and shipping requirements.

Egypt Importer of Record at a Glance: 

Importer of Record

  • Egypt is one of the most complicated IT import markets and can take weeks to months for first time importers
  • Some documents you’ll need are a COO, a DoC, commercial invoices, and manufacturer letters – at a minimum. Your Importer of Record service must notarize, apostille, chamber attest, and legalize these documents

IT Shipping & Logistics 

  • Shipping and last-mile delivery to Egypt is relatively pain-free and quick 
  • Shipping to remote locations in Egypt requires proper packaging and shipping to shield equipment from environmental harm

Importer of Record and Pre-Shipment Documentation 

Documents and Approvals 

Importing IT hardware into Egypt requires you to prepare many different documents that must all undergo a diligent approval process. Full document approval can take several weeks (and on occasion, months) due to the complex requirements of the Egyptian customs system. If you are planning to ship to Egypt you will need to budget the appropriate amount of time to ensure that your Importer of Record provider can complete everything correctly. 

Many of the products shipped by our clients will be subject to regulations under the National Telecoms Regulatory Authority (NTRA), which is the entity responsible for the regulations and approval of telecommunications equipment. If you are shipping telecommunications equipment FGX can ensure that all your equipment has the proper approval from the NTRA.  

Additionally, all shipments must provide Certificates of Origin (COO), Declarations of Conformity (CoC), and a commercial invoice, at a minimum. These documents help Egyptian customs ensure that you obtained all products from a reliable source and that the entity has the right to import them. However, simply obtaining these documents is not enough. You must notarize, apostille, chamber attest, and legalize all of these documents before shipment. This process is unique to Egypt and can be lengthy if your shipping and Importer of Record provider isn’t accustomed to carrying out these steps. 

Next, you will need to obtain manufacturer letters to clear your shipments. Egypt requires one manufacturer letter in which the manufacturer (OEM) authorizes the client (the purchaser of the equipment) to purchase and ship equipment. You will then need a second letter in which the client authorizes the importer to clear the equipment into Egypt. 

“Free-of-Charge” Imports 

Egyptian customs has a limit on how much you can import “free of charge” at any one given time based on the shipment’s value.

Free of Charge
In the simplest terms, a “free of charge” shipment refers to any import that an Egyptian entity did not purchase and is not being shipped to them directly from the source of purchase. Shipments that are purchased out of country by an out of country entity, and shipped for your own use or the use of your entity’s offices in Egypt are considered free of charge.

Most of our clients’ shipments are free of charge shipments, but they are also typically high-value shipments. If you are looking to ship high-value or high quantities of equipment into Egypt, FGX can assist you in meeting the proper “free-of-charge” regulations and avoiding any issues once the equipment has already arrived at customs. 

IT Shipping & Logistics 

Wide-bodied air freight into Egypt is not rare, and most entities are utilizing their equipment in one of Egypt’s major cities – like Cairo or Alexandria. Because of this, shipping is typically accessible and last-mile delivery only takes a couple of days. 

However, as usual, if you are shipping to a remote location in Egypt, you need to be mindful of the desert climate and ensure that IT equipment is kept properly dry, cool, and away from the elements. FGX will handle all of your shipment documentation as well as provide shipping expertise and services. 

FGX manages all of our client’s shipments door-to-door (or door-to-datacenter). This case study showcases how we navigated IT logistics and importation into Egypt at the time that it was written. Regulations and challenges are constantly changing and exact shipping requirements may have changed. To learn more about FGX and how our global shipping platform can help your company, reach out here.