United States to Egypt
Country or Territory Regulations Topics:
Commodity Specific Stipulations
There are special stipulations on the following commodities when shipping to Egypt. If you plan to ship one of the commodities listed below, be sure to adhere to the following stipulations in order to avoid delays and holds at customs.
- Any type of Camera, also integrated into any kind of device, requires an approval of the National General Security Department before customs release.
This applies to both commercial and private shipments. A surcharge of 2400.00 EGP needs to be paid to the National General Security Department unless the shipment will be authorized or refused to be imported through the authorities.
- Shipments containing chemicals, will be held in customs until the consignee provides the relevant approval from the Ministry of Chemicals department.
This includes Industrial chemical components of identified, or unidentified constituents such as detergent solutions, paint constituents, solvents and chemical powders for industrial use regardless of the weight or value.
- Customs require an Import License from the consignee.
Customs requires a Certificate of Origin for large amounts of cosmetics.
- All CD-ROMs and computer diskettes are transferred to the Censor prior to Customs clearance.
Clearance requires 4 to 7 days.
- If a shipment of dental instruments addressed to a doctor contains non-repeat items, Customs requires that the consignee obtain approval from the Doctors Corporation.
For commercial shipments, Customs requires the importer to provide both an Import License and approval from the Ministry of Health.
- All computer diskettes and CD ROMs will be transferred from Customs to the Censor prior to clearance.
Clearance will take 4-7 days.
- Prescriptions for personal use require an invoice and a prescription.
An Import License is required for commercial shipments of medicine. The Prescription has to accompany the package. However, it is not required to be on the outside of the package. It is acceptable to be included inside the package.
- Commercial shipments of film require approval from the Cinema Organization.
- There is no refrigeration facility available at the courier facility building-this also affects perishables.
- Data shipments to Egypt require an invoice stating the value of the CD-ROM or disk only.
- Customs requires the consignee to provide an Import License.
- Customs requires the consignee to provide an Import License.
- Personal shipments of medicine can be cleared if the consignee provides customs with approval from the Ministry of Health, provided that the consignee has a medical prescription that proves the use of this quantity depending on the case, as for critical cases might need more quantity and different kind of medicine. This has to be for his personal use and not commercial use.
Commercial shipments of medicine require the consignee to obtain an Import License and approval from the Ministry of Health department DA Drug Administrator.
Note: There is no refrigeration facility available at the courier facility building.
- Customs requires the consignee to provide an Import License.
- Commercial shipments of parts require an Import License from the consignee. The invoice must include a description of the part, the type of machine for which the part will be used, and a list of the part's components.
- Customers must use an authorized UPS / MBE (Mail Boxes Etc) Store, UPS Customer Center or ISC Approved Shipper to ship personal effects.
The UPS Store, Mail Boxes Etc, UPS Customer Center or ISC approved shipper will be required to identify personal effect shipments on the shipping label by placing "Personal Effects" in the Reference Field of a UPS "smart" label or in the Special Instructions Field of a UPS waybill. They must also clearly indicate 'Personal Effects' shipment on the Commercial Invoice.
Personal Effects are classified as used items (owned for a minimum of 6 months) intended for the consignee's personal use. Any items intended for any other use, such as wholesale or retail sales, business purposes, or for distribution are not considered personal effects and cannot be shipped on this basis. "Personal Effects" must be clearly stated on the invoice and goods description.
All of the following documents must be scanned into DIS/SIR and originals on the package:
An inventory list with estimated values with the reason for importation (holidays, move, relocation) A confirmation that the goods are older than 6 months and that they are intended for personal use only A photocopy of passport or ID card Any items intended for any other use, such as wholesale or retail sales, business purposes, or for distribution are not considered personal effects and cannot be shipped on this basis.
Excisable goods (for example, perfume, alcoholic drinks, tobacco), medicine and perishable food can not be cleared as personal effects.
Personal effects shipments are not allowed in combination with Return Services.
- Commercial video tapes are transferred from Customs to the Cinema Organization for review prior to Customs clearance.
- An Import License is required from the consignee for cellular telephones, telephones and telephone equipment. Customs may request the consignee to obtain approval from the Ministry of Telecommunications prior to Customs clearance.
According to the Ministry of Telecommunications, only one set of phone can be imported for personal use. Customs is obliged to return the shipment if more than one phone will be imported.
- If the shipment contains more than one television, Customs requires an Import License.
- If a shipment contains more than one watch, it becomes a commercial shipment and Customs requires the consignee to provide an Import License.
- Data shipments require an invoice with the character of the USB stick (storing intercompany data) and the value of the USB Stick.
- If the shipment contains more than one videocassette recorder, Customs requires an Import License from the consignee.
- The consignee must obtain approval from the Ministry of Health prior to Customs clearance.
Prohibited or Restricted Commodities
In addition to the commodities which UPS prohibits to all countries or territories served (listed here), it is prohibited to ship the following commodities to Egypt.
- Shipments containing alcoholic beverages will be inspected by Egyptian customs authorities. A notification letter will be sent to notify the consignee of the shipment. The consignee has to pay a document control fee for the customs clearance. For the import of alcoholic beverages, a Health Certificate and an Analysis Certificate is required from the export country or territory.
If the value of the alcoholic beverages exceeds US$2,000.00 a Certificate of Origin is also required from the export country or territory and the importer has to provide an import license for the commercial import. For non-commercial shipments to private individuals, one bottle of alcoholic beverages can be imported without the Health Certificate, Analysis Certificate and Certificate of Origin. The Customs rate and VAT rate on alcohol are very high. The Egyptian Customs rate is 3000 % of the value of the alcoholic beverage. The VAT rate is 100% the sum of the value of the alcoholic beverage and the Customs rate.
- Antique shipments are restricted from Europe, the Middle East and Africa and can only be shipped with an International Special Commodities (ISC) contract. Antiques are defined as a work of art, piece of furniture, decorative object, or silverware, object of religious character or any other commodity that is 100 years old or older.
The consignee has to obtain an approval of the Ministry of Antiques and Archaeologies for customs clearance. Delays and additional costs may occur.
Subject to either approval or not as per Ministry Authorities.
- Electronic Devices associated with cameras
Any electronic device or items like aeroplane kites, pens, sunglasses, equipped with cameras that might also have a spy entity view are strictly prohibited to be imported.
- Gambling devices are prohibited.
- If a shipment of jewelry is personal and addressed to an individual, the consignee must obtain approval from the Ministry of Finance -Jewelry Department. If a shipment of jewelry is commercial and addressed to a company, the consignee must obtain an Import License and approval from the Ministry of Finance.
- An import license is required by the consignee from the Ministry of Interior.
- Shipments of Lithium Metal Batteries are prohibited on Emirates Airlines flights which UPS uses to this destination country or territory.
Alternative arrangements are in place, but expect transit delays if the normal planned flow of the package is via Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Time in Transit may be extended due to solution found.
- Products made in Iran are prohibited in our service due to a current embargo.
- Religious artwork is prohibited.
- Satanic items are prohibited.
- Smoked salmon is prohibited.
- The import of software that allows or helps to pass Phone Calls and any Data without being passed by the NTRA (National Telecom Regulatory Authority) network Control is prohibited.
Shipments including such software products must be returned at shippers expense.
- If a shipment of garments is personal and addressed to an individual, the consignee must provide an identification number to Customs.
If the shipment of garments is commercial, Customs requires an Import License from the consignee. Garments with satanic themes are prohibited.
- Dried leafs of tobacco can only be imported if accompanied by a sanitary health certificate stating that the leafs are free from any plant diseases. The importer has to obtain an approval of the responsible department of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Finished tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars and smoking tobacco require a sanitary health certificate from the origin country or territory and an approval from the Egyptian food and drug association, a department of the Ministry of Health. Only registered importers with a valid import license are allowed to import finished tobacco products.
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