What certificates do I need to export to Egypt?

Two separate procedures stand between many shipments and Egyptian customs clearance. The General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) requires the factory, or the company that owns the trademark, behind a list of regulated consumer goods to be registered before those goods can be released into Egypt, under Decree No. 43/2016. Separately, most commercial shipments need an Advance Cargo Information (ACI) declaration, filed through the Nafeza platform before a sea shipment arrives or before an air shipment departs — a requirement that has applied to sea freight since 2021 and was extended to air freight from 1 January 2026.

What is the short answer?

• GOEIC registers factories and trademark owners for a list of regulated consumer goods under Decree No. 43/2016, later amended; without registration, those goods cannot be released into Egypt.
• ACI is a separate, unrelated requirement: most commercial shipments need cargo data filed on Nafeza at least 48 hours before a sea shipment arrives, or uploaded to CargoX at least 8 hours before an air shipment departs. Thresholds apply — see below.
• The Egyptian importer, or its customs broker, files on Nafeza and receives the ACID; the exporter supplies its shipment documents quoting that ACID.
• We could not find a published fee for either procedure on GOEIC's or Nafeza's own site as of 28 October 2026; ask GOEIC or a licensed Egyptian customs agent for the current cost.

What does each procedure require?

Procedure	Who	What's required	When
GOEIC factory or trademark registration	The factory that makes the goods, or the company that owns the trademark	A certificate of the factory's legal status and licence, a statement of the products and trademarks made, and a certificate that its quality system is recognised by a body affiliated with the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) or the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), or another body the Minister of Foreign Trade approves	Before the goods may be released into Egypt; under Ministerial Decree No. 195 of 2022, GOEIC issues the proof of registration within 15 days of the documents being complete, and any document with a validity date is renewed within 30 days of its expiry
ACI advance cargo declaration	The Egyptian importer or its customs broker files on Nafeza and receives the ACID; the exporter supplies its documents quoting it	A pro-forma invoice for the Nafeza filing; on the exporter's side, a commercial invoice, packing list, transport document and certificate of origin, each quoting the ACID	Consignment documentation goes through Nafeza 48 hours before a sea shipment arrives; for air freight, documents go through CargoX at least 8 hours before the aircraft departs

Which products need GOEIC registration?

GOEIC's Decree No. 43/2016 lists 25 categories of consumer goods, including dairy products, canned and dried fruit, packaged oils and fats, confectionery, chocolate and cocoa products, flour and bakery goods, fruit juice, bottled water and beverages, cosmetics and toiletries, soap and detergents, kitchenware, sanitary ware, paper hygiene products, floor and wall tiles, glassware, reinforcing steel, household appliances, furniture, bicycles and motorcycles, watches, lighting fixtures, toys, clothing and textiles, carpets and floor coverings, and footwear. A later decision, Decree No. 44/2019, confirmed the system and added four more entries to the same annexe: suitcases, cases and boxes used to transport and pack goods, shaving and haircare devices, and telephones (Lexology, overview of GOEIC Decision 44/2019).

Does GOEIC charge a registration fee?

Decree No. 43/2016 does not publish a fee, and we could not find a current fee schedule on GOEIC's site. Ask GOEIC directly, or a licensed Egyptian customs agent, for the current cost before you register a factory or trademark.

Who needs to file an ACI declaration, and is anything exempt?

The Egyptian importer, or its customs broker, opens the declaration on Nafeza and receives the ACI number (ACID); the exporter then sends its shipment documents quoting that ACID, which must appear on every document. The requirement traces to Ministry of Finance Decree 38/2021 (trade.gov, Egypt — Import Requirements and Documentation). For air freight, express shipments weighing up to 50 kg and valued at no more than $2,000 are generally excluded from the filing (Seagate Express, Nafeza ACI Mandatory for Air Freight Egypt — 2026 Explained); we could not confirm whether the same thresholds apply to sea freight. A shipment that arrives without a valid ACID risks being held at the Egyptian port or airport while the declaration is sorted out, so file it with enough lead time rather than while the goods are already in transit.

Where do I go next?

A Market Scan is a shortlist of organizations matching your target market, with a source for each — see the pricing page for the current price and what is included. If you want distributors that have already answered four qualifying questions about their business and agreed to a call or to samples, that is our Africa Distributor Shortlist. Our data is deepest in South Africa, so for Egypt tell us the country first: we confirm whether we can deliver a Shortlist there before you pay.

What are the limits of this guide?

This is a general orientation, not legal or customs advice. It is based on GOEIC's Decree No. 43/2016 and Ministerial Decree No. 195 of 2022, and on Nafeza's own description of the ACI requirement, plus the public pages of trade.gov, Seagate Express and Lexology, opened on 28 October 2026. Rules, product lists and deadlines change; confirm the current requirement with GOEIC, Nafeza or a licensed Egyptian customs agent before you ship.