Required to actually clear goods
Customs Dealer Registration + Broker Authorization in Egypt
An Importer or Exporter Card grants the right to trade across the border. Customs dealer registration and a customs broker authorization are what allow a named individual to file declarations at the port and clear consignments in your name. Most companies appoint a licensed customs broker under a customs power of attorney; some manufacturers register as direct dealers. This page covers both paths and the linkage with Nafeza.
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.
Last sourced:
When this entity is right
Best for
New importers / exporters setting up clearance capability for the first time
Companies switching customs brokers and needing fresh power-of-attorney filings
Manufacturers coordinating direct-dealer status with the Customs Authority
Foreign-parented Egyptian entities aligning their card, Nafeza, ACI, and customs registrations together
When something else fits better
Not for
Naming the cases this entity is wrong for is the whole point of an advisory call. The cross-links below go to the entity we would suggest instead.
Companies whose 3PL handles all customs under its own licence
Some logistics providers act as the customs principal end to end under their own licence and customs file. In that case you may not need a dedicated broker authorization in your own name. We confirm this on the call.
See Nafeza + ACI to understand the platform side →Trading-licence questions
The question of whether you are permitted to import or export at all is governed by the Importer or Exporter Card, not by customs registration.
See the Importer Card →Free Zone-only operations
Free Zone movements follow a separate clearance regime under the zone licence. We confirm whether a parallel customs registration is required on the discovery call.
See Exporter Card for the licensing companion →Quick facts
- Statutory minimum capital
- —
- Foreign ownership
- Same ownership rules as the underlying entity
- Typical timeline
- 15–30 working days when documents are complete
What you need to prepare
Document checklist
Items tagged Foreigner-specific need apostille, consular authentication, or sworn translation from your home jurisdiction. We send you a precise per-document brief before any Egyptian-side work begins.
Company — legal status
Commercial register extract
Tax card
Importer Card and / or Exporter Card
Must be issued and in good standing on the GOEIC register.
Articles of association with the trading activity in scope
Power of attorney to the customs broker
Customs POA naming the licensed broker
Foreigner-specificNotarised in Egypt. For foreign-resident signatories the POA is executed through the Egyptian embassy / consulate in the home country and translated.
Broker's customs licence number and good-standing
ID copies of the company signatories and the broker
Nafeza linkage
Nafeza entity registration in good standing
The customs broker is mapped as an authorised user against the entity on Nafeza.
User-role assignment matrix
How the engagement runs
01
Discovery call
A 30-minute call to map your trade flow and confirm the correct customs path: 3PL handling under its own licence, in-house direct-dealer status, or external broker under POA.
02
Compliance memo
A written memo covering the recommended path, the document load, a broker shortlist if you do not already have one, and the realistic timeline.
03
POA and dealer registration
The customs power of attorney is drafted and authenticated. Customs dealer registration is filed with the Customs Authority. We track every comment through to acceptance.
04
Nafeza linkage
The broker is mapped as an authorised user on Nafeza. User roles, signatory permissions, and declaration scope are configured so the broker can file in your name from day one.
05
First declaration test
We run the first declaration with the broker to confirm the linkage works end to end and that ACI and ACID coordination flows correctly.
06
Handover
A one-hour session covering the renewal and re-authorization calendar, the broker-change protocol, and the linkage map across the Importer and Exporter Card, Nafeza, ACI, and customs registration.
Engagement scope
What this engagement covers
We prepare a tailored proposal after reviewing your specifics — activity, shareholder structure, sector pre-approvals. The lists below describe what we typically own end-to-end versus what stays outside the engagement.
What we own end-to-end
- Pre-filing review of the company's trade flow and the chosen broker path (3PL, in-house dealer, or external broker)
- Customs dealer registration with the Egyptian Customs Authority
- Customs broker selection support and reference checks where requested
- Customs power-of-attorney drafting and authentication
- Customs broker authorization filing and tracking through to acceptance
- Linkage with Nafeza user roles so the broker can file in your name from day one
- Handover with the renewal and re-authorization calendar
Outside this engagement
- Government fees, Customs Authority fees, notarisation (paid at cost)
- Customs broker professional fees (the broker invoices you directly)
- Foreign-document apostille / consular legalisation (handled in your home jurisdiction)
- Sectoral pre-approvals for controlled goods (food, pharma, dual-use)
- Operational per-shipment customs declarations (the broker's scope, not ours)
Common questions
What foreign investors ask us
The questions below come up on almost every discovery call for this entity. If yours isn't here, bring it to the call.
Set up the customs side correctly: broker, POA, dealer registration, and Nafeza mapping.
A 30-minute consultation in English, with no obligation. We align the customs side with the rest of your trade stack so the first shipment clears cleanly.