Advance Cargo Information (ACI) is Egypt's electronic pre-arrival registration for imports. The Egyptian importer requests a 19-digit number, the ACID, through the Nafeza single-window portal. The foreign exporter then registers on a customs-approved platform (CargoX) and uploads the shipping documents, each carrying that number, ahead of arrival. Sea cargo has needed this since 1 October 2021 and air cargo since 1 January 2026 (as of November 2026). Cargo that arrives without a valid ACID on its documents is not cleared and can be sent back at the carrier's cost. This guide explains who does what and where shipments usually go wrong. For the wider market, see our guide to logistics companies in Egypt; for the general process, see customs clearance explained.
What is ACI and what is the legal basis?
ACI sits inside Egypt's move to digital customs under the new Customs Law No. 207 of 2020. The implementing rules named by the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO, page updated 12 February 2026) are Finance Ministerial Decree 38 of 2021 and Decree 222 of 2021, with Resolution 430 of 2021 affecting invoice certification. The German-Egyptian chamber (AHK Egypt) also refers to Decision 38/2021.
A correction to a common mix-up. You will sometimes see ACI attributed to "Decree 43". The decree number 43 that matters for Egypt imports is Ministerial Decree 43 of 2016, which governs the registration of foreign factories and trademark owners with the General Organisation for Export and Import Control (GOEIC), discussed below. It is not the ACI decree. If a customs broker or document cites a decree number, ask which system it refers to.
The stated purpose is faster clearance and better risk screening: customs receives the invoice and shipment data before the vessel or aircraft arrives and can match it to the incoming cargo.
What is the ACID number?
The ACID (Advance Cargo Information Declaration number) is a 19-digit identifier issued per import transaction through Nafeza. According to WKO, it is typically issued after customs review of up to about 48 hours, is valid for six months and then has to be renewed, and acts as a provisional import approval. Some older carrier material gave a shorter validity, so check the date printed on the ACID you receive. Both sources agree on the rule that matters in practice: the ACID must appear on the shipping documents. WKO states that handwritten ACIDs and stickers are not accepted.
Who registers, and where?
Two parties register on two different systems. A frequent error is assuming the exporter can obtain the ACID alone. It cannot: the importer starts the process.
| Party | Registers on | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| Egyptian importer | Nafeza (with an electronic token or e-signature) | Enters exporter, product and shipment data and obtains the ACID for each shipment |
| Foreign exporter | CargoX, the customs-approved platform | Registers once, is verified, then uploads the invoice and other documents under the ACID |
| Carrier or forwarder | Not applicable | Must show the ACID on the bill of lading or air waybill and manifest |
Per IHK Braunschweig (citing AHK Egypt, status 14 May 2025), the importer receives the ACID by email through the Egyptian Ministry of Finance technology provider, and so does the exporter. Exporter and importer data must match across the Nafeza request, the CargoX upload and the invoice. WKO adds that the exporter's CargoX verification and per-ACID processing fees apply, and puts the fees at roughly USD 15 for one-time verification, about USD 160 per ACID since April 2024 and a few dollars per uploaded document up to a cap (WKO gives a total of up to USD 175 per envelope). Fees change, so confirm them on CargoX before quoting a customer.
When must documents be uploaded?
- Sea freight: mandatory since 1 October 2021. Documents must be in at least 48 hours before the vessel arrives at the Egyptian port.
- Air freight: a test phase ran from September 2025 and the requirement became mandatory on 1 January 2026, according to AHK Egypt and WKO. Upload is due before the aircraft lands. Lufthansa Cargo's notice says the ACID and the consignor code go in the air waybill's OCI element.
- Express shipments by air: WKO reports that express parcels under 50 kg are exempt, whatever the value. Confirm this with your courier, because the courier decides how it files.
- Transit cargo: see the next section.
Transit cargo exemption (check the current status)
FIATA reported on 8 April 2026 that Egyptian Customs Procedural Circular No. 4 of 2026 exempted indirect transit shipments from the ACID requirement for three months from 9 March 2026. The circular covers cargo crossing Egypt to the ports of Nuweiba, Ain Sokhna or Safaga bound for Gulf States, and Gulf cargo transiting Egypt to the rest of the world. FIATA lists conditions: a foreign final destination on the bills of lading and manifests, a foreign importer and exporter, electronic seals and a ban on diversion into the Egyptian market.
Press reports from June 2026 (for example Zawya and Arab Finance) say the exemption was extended by six months from 10 June 2026. We could not find the extension circular itself, so treat the extension and its end date as reported, not confirmed. If you move transit cargo, ask the Egyptian Customs Authority or your broker for the current text before you rely on it. The exemption does not apply to cargo that is cleared for the Egyptian market.
What happens at the port without a valid ACID?
Both AHK-based sources (via IHK Braunschweig and WKO) say the same thing: if the ACID is missing from the shipping documents, the goods are not cleared, and they can be returned without being unloaded at the carrier's or its agent's cost. WKO adds that serious errors can lead to return too. For air cargo, Lufthansa Cargo warns that non-compliant shipments may not be accepted for carriage at origin. No source we read describes a fine schedule, so we do not quote one. The practical cost is demurrage, storage, a return voyage and a delayed customer.
The wider Egyptian import picture
Nafeza and the importers' registry
Nafeza is Egypt's national single window for foreign trade. Importers need to be on the importers' registry to trade. The US International Trade Administration (trade.gov, page published 21 November 2025) notes that an amended importers' registry law lifted the earlier 51 percent Egyptian-ownership requirement for import activity in 2024. Eligibility rules for a new importer are a legal question, so the importer's local adviser should confirm them.
GOEIC registration and conformity checks
The General Organisation for Export and Import Control (GOEIC, also written General Authority for Exports and Imports Control) inspects regulated goods. Under Ministerial Decree 43 of 2016, in force since 16 March 2016, foreign factories and trademark owners of regulated products must register with GOEIC to keep exporting to Egypt. Trade.gov describes documents that must be chamber-certified and translated into Arabic, and a quality certificate from the factory (ISO 9001 is preferred). Which products are regulated changes by decision, and food has its own authority (the National Food Safety Authority), so check the product list before you ship.
HS codes, customs value and duty
Duty is set by the tariff line, so classification matters: IHK Braunschweig reports that exporters now give the 8-digit EU code rather than the earlier 10-digit Egyptian code. Egypt's rates by line, any additional charges and the valuation method are in the official tariff and the Customs Law; we have not reproduced rates here because we could not confirm current figures from a primary source. For the classification method, see our guide to finding the right HS code. A value that differs between the invoice, the Nafeza request and the customs declaration is a common reason for delay.
Free zones and the Suez Canal Economic Zone
Egypt has free zones and the Suez Canal Economic Zone with their own customs regimes, and companies in free zones are treated differently from the domestic market. Whether ACI applies to a specific free-zone consignment depends on whether it is cleared for the domestic market or handled under the zone's regime. We did not find a primary source that settles this in general, so ask the zone operator or your broker.
Where shipments usually go wrong
- No ACID on the documents. The shipper ships before the importer has applied. The ACID must exist before the bill of lading or air waybill is issued.
- Mismatched data. Exporter name, importer tax ID, quantities or value differ between the Nafeza request and the invoice.
- Wrong or vague HS code. The classification on the invoice does not match the product or the Nafeza entry.
- Unregistered exporter. The exporter has not completed CargoX verification before the upload deadline, so the 48-hour window is missed.
- Expired ACID. A shipment delayed beyond the ACID's validity needs a new number.
- Regulated goods without GOEIC registration. The factory or brand is not registered, or conformity paperwork is missing.
- Forwarder not briefed. The carrier is not told to print the ACID on the transport document. Our bill of lading guide covers how those documents are issued.
What to do next
- Agree with your Egyptian buyer, before production ships, who requests the ACID on Nafeza and when. Add the ACID to the sales contract.
- Register and verify the exporter company on CargoX, and prepare invoices in the format CargoX expects.
- Check whether the product is regulated by GOEIC or the food safety authority, and confirm factory registration where required.
- Give your forwarder the ACID, the consignor code (for air) and the HS code, and work through the import documentation checklist against what Egyptian customs will see.
If you need a forwarder or customs broker who handles Egypt, more than 29,300 logistics companies are searchable by country and service in the CargoLinked directory. The public requests board lists freight that shippers have posted for forwarders to quote on directly. For the broader compliance picture, read the complete trade compliance guide.
This article is general information as of November 2026 and is not legal, tax, financial or customs advice. Egyptian rules, fees and exemptions change by circular, and several details here come from chamber of commerce and press summaries rather than the text of the decrees. Confirm current requirements with the Egyptian Customs Authority, Nafeza, CargoX or a licensed customs professional before you ship.
