Practice — Import & Export Advisory
Trading in or out of Egypt? Nafeza and ACI made it harder for foreigners. We make it work.
We handle import and export card issuance, Nafeza platform registration, ACI compliance, and customs broker coordination — for new traders setting up clean and for existing companies caught off-guard by the 2022 reforms.
Pending advisor validation
This page is sourced from public Egyptian regulatory references and our internal advisory notes. Our advisors are reviewing the specifics for final sign-off. Book a 30-minute call for advice tailored to your case.
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Where the friction sits
Why the trade regime is the bottleneck
Three regulatory layers stack on top of each other before a foreign-owned business can clear a single consignment through Egyptian customs. Most foreign investors discover them in the wrong order — after the goods are already on a vessel. The point of this engagement is to sequence them in the right order before money moves.
The trading licence layer
The Importer Card (and Exporter Card, where relevant) is the legal right to trade across the border. Activity-specific capital thresholds, Law 121/1982 ownership rules, and a 5-year renewal cycle apply.
The platform layer
Nafeza is the single-window customs platform every declaration now passes through. ACI is the pre-arrival manifest system layered on top. Both became mandatory in the 2021–2022 reform and both have penalty schedules for non-compliance.
The clearance layer
Customs dealer registration for the company plus customs broker authorization for the named agent. Without both, the cleared individual cannot file declarations in your name even if the card and Nafeza are in good standing.
The four registrations
Pick the registration to read in detail
Each page below carries the scope, the document checklist, the realistic timeline, and the per-area FAQs. The four read best together — but most engagements start with one of them.
Mandatory for commercial imports
Importer Card (Importers Register)
The Importers Register card is the legal prerequisite to import for commercial purposes in Egypt — issuance, renewal, modification, deletion, deposit recovery.
- Validity
- 5-year cycle, renewable
- Scope
- Companies importing for trade (Law 121/1982 governs the regime)
- Typical time
- 30–60 working days for first issuance
Mandatory for commercial exports
Exporter Card (Exporters Register)
The companion register to the Importer Card — required for commercial exports, often paired with the Industrial Register and chamber of industries membership for manufacturers.
- Validity
- 5-year cycle, renewable
- Scope
- Companies exporting Egyptian goods commercially
- Typical time
- 20–45 working days for first issuance
Mandatory single window + pre-arrival manifest
Nafeza Platform + ACI System Registration
Egypt's single-window customs platform (Nafeza) plus the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system — mandatory pre-arrival manifest filing per shipment since the 2022 reform. We register, configure, and operate the platform on the client's behalf.
- Validity
- Continuous — per-shipment ACID number per consignment
- Scope
- All sea, air, and land freight clearing Egyptian customs
- Typical time
- 10–20 working days to onboard + per-shipment ACID filing
Required to actually clear goods
Customs Dealer Registration + Broker Authorization
Customs dealer registration for the company and customs broker authorization for the cleared agent — without both, customs clearance is not possible in practice.
- Validity
- Renewable per Customs Authority schedule
- Scope
- Any entity engaging with the Customs Authority directly or via broker
- Typical time
- 15–30 working days when documents are complete
How a trade advisory engagement runs
01
Discovery call
Free 30-minute call in English. You describe the trade flow — goods, origins, destinations, volume, frequency. We map which of the four registrations you actually need and in what order.
02
Compliance memo
Written memo with the entity-level fit (Law 121/1982 implications), the registration sequence, the document load per registration, and what your foreign suppliers must do for ACI to clear.
03
Filing managed
We coordinate the Importer / Exporter card filings, the Nafeza onboarding, the ACI configuration, and the customs broker authorization. Weekly written updates and a documents tracker per registration.
04
Handover and renewals
One-hour session covering the renewal calendar (5-year card cycles, periodic Nafeza role audits, customs broker re-authorization). Optional retainer for ongoing per-shipment ACID coordination with your suppliers.
Common questions
What foreign traders ask before clearing a shipment
The questions below come up on almost every discovery call. If yours isn't here, bring it to the call.
Map your trade flow with us. We'll tell you the right sequence.
30 minutes. English. No obligation. The discovery call is free; the recommendation is honest.