This guide is for winter-sun travellers heading to the Red Sea, Cairo or Luxor, and for Egyptians abroad visiting family over the holidays. After reading, you will know whether you have to do anything, what changed in January 2026 and what to check before you fly.
Do tourists have to register their phone in Egypt?
Egypt's official Telephony FAQ states that a foreign tourist can use their phone with a foreign SIM normally and pays no fees. The FAQ is run by Egyptian Customs and the telecom regulator NTRA, and this answer sits under the tourist question (Q2).
The system started on 1 January 2025, according to Ahram Online. It records the IMEI (the device number) of phones. Its purpose is to tax imported handsets that are used on Egyptian networks. Phones that were already active before 1 January 2025 pay nothing and need no registration.
Put simply, the rule is about your handset, not your eSIM. Rules can change, so check telephony.gov.eg before you travel.
What changed on 21 January 2026, and do I still register at the airport?
No. Since 12:00 on 21 January 2026, personal phones are no longer registered or paid for at customs, so you can leave Cairo, Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh airport without registering a personal phone (Telephony FAQ Q7).
Daily News Egypt reports that the old one-time customs exemption for passengers' phones ended at that moment. Tourists and Egyptians abroad keep a 90-day exemption. Any fees are paid within 90 days through the Telephony app, banks or e-wallets (FAQ Q7).
Outdated advice is everywhere. Many forum threads, embassy pages and 2025 articles still describe registering one phone at the airport and staying under a value limit. That advice has been outdated since 21 January 2026, so ignore it.
Phones that were registered as exempt before the decision will not be charged later. The FAQ (Q6) and Daily News Egypt both say there is no back-dated tax.
Does a travel eSIM or home roaming count as a foreign SIM in Egypt?
Under the published rule, yes: a travel eSIM bought abroad, or your home SIM on roaming, is a foreign SIM, so the tourist rule applies. The official FAQ says "foreign SIM" (شريحة أجنبية) and does not mention eSIMs, so this follows the published wording, not a separate confirmation.
Simbye's Egypt eSIM is a data-only travel eSIM that roams on Orange Egypt, Etisalat Egypt and Vodafone Egypt, with plans from 2,95€. The 5GB plan for 30 days, for example, costs 6,95€. What you get with Simbye's Egypt eSIM:
- It runs on 4G/LTE, and on 5G where the network already offers it.
- There is nothing to set: the APN comes with the eSIM.
- Hotspot is allowed, for a laptop, tablet or travel companion.
- Calls and texts are not included, and WhatsApp chats run over data.
- Your own home number stays in the phone and stays reachable.
- There is no contract, and the plan ends by itself.
The 90-day rule is tied to the Egyptian SIM card: under the published rules, travelling on a foreign data connection does not trigger it. For a two-week holiday it is irrelevant. If you stay longer or enter several times a year, check the current rules. For most data plans, validity starts when the eSIM first connects at the destination; see the product page for details.
See the Egypt eSIMEgypt plans and airport guide
What if I buy an Egyptian tourist SIM instead?
A tourist using an Egyptian SIM made for tourists gets 90 days without fees, and this applies on every visit (Telephony FAQ Q2).
According to Ecofin Agency, tourists can buy a tourist SIM from any Egyptian operator with their passport.
The difference in practice is this. With a local SIM, your phone's IMEI is used on an Egyptian SIM, so the 90-day clock is relevant. With a foreign SIM or travel eSIM, the tourist rule on foreign SIMs applies. A local SIM also gives you an Egyptian number, while Simbye's Egypt eSIM does not.
I'm Egyptian and live abroad: how do I get the phone exemption?
Egyptians living abroad get an exemption for their personal phones on each visit, up to 90 days each time, but they have to request it through Telephony customer service (FAQ Q1). The official channels are:
- Hotline: 15380
- WhatsApp: 01033151553, 01152118155, 01200038580 or 01501592166
- Email: contactus@telephony.gov.eg
According to Ecofin Agency, you send photos of your passport, entry stamps and proof of residence abroad. The official FAQ names only the contact channels, and the procedure may change, so confirm it when you get in touch.
The FAQ states the "foreign SIM, no fees" rule for foreign tourists only. For Egyptian passport holders using a foreign SIM or travel eSIM, no 2026 official source confirms the same, so ask hotline 15380 before the trip.
If you want a callable number for family calls, Simbye's Egypt eSIM with a phone number gives you a French +33 number on Orange Worldwide, with plans from 30,95€. It is not an Egyptian number. Our guide Does an eSIM give you a phone number? explains the difference.
Who has to do what? Egypt phone rules at a glance
Tourists on a foreign SIM pay no fees under the published rules; phones used on an Egyptian SIM that are not paid for after 90 days are switched off, so tourist-SIM users, Egyptians abroad and anyone bringing a gift phone should check their situation.
| Traveller | SIM used in Egypt | Fees under the published rules | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign tourist | Foreign SIM, home roaming or travel eSIM (e.g. Simbye Egypt eSIM) | ✓ No fees (Telephony FAQ Q2; eSIM follows the "foreign SIM" wording) | Nothing to register; check telephony.gov.eg before travel. |
| Foreign tourist | Egyptian tourist SIM | ✓ 90 days without fees, per visit (FAQ Q2) | Buy with passport (Ecofin); pay via the Telephony app if you stay longer. |
| Egyptian living abroad | Any SIM, personal phone | ✓ Exemption up to 90 days per visit, on request (FAQ Q1) | Request via hotline 15380 or the official WhatsApp numbers; ask what applies to a foreign SIM or eSIM. |
| New phone brought as a gift for someone in Egypt | Egyptian SIM | ✗ The exemption covers personal-use phones; a fee is possible | Check the amount in the Telephony app. |
| Any traveller after 90 days on an Egyptian SIM without payment | Egyptian SIM | ✗ Switched off on all Egyptian networks (Ecofin) | Pay in the Telephony app; the phone works again straight away (FAQ Q8). |
The official FAQ says "per visit, up to 90 days". Some sites claim the days add up across visits. Follow the FAQ wording, and check the app if you visit often.
What happens after 90 days, and how do you pay the phone tax?
A phone used with an Egyptian SIM that is not paid for after the 90 days is switched off on all Egyptian networks, according to Ecofin Agency. After payment through the Telephony app, the phone works again straight away (FAQ Q8).
The grace period runs up to 90 days from the date of first activation, according to Daily News Egypt. To pay (FAQ Q10), enter the IMEI in the Telephony app, which shows the amount due. You can pay in these ways:
- Bank card, credit or debit card, or Meeza card
- Bank or mobile-operator e-wallet
- Cash at an approved collection company, using a code from the app
The official apps are on Google Play and the App Store.
The tax on imported phones is widely reported at about 38.5% (Ahram Online). The exact amount depends on the phone and is shown in the app. Payment in instalments was announced in January 2026 (Daily News Egypt), but its current status is unclear, so check the app.
How do I find my IMEI, and which one counts on a dual-SIM phone?
The IMEI is a 15-digit number that you see by dialling *#06#. A dual-SIM phone, including eSIM phones, has one IMEI per SIM, and either can be entered (Ahram Online).
You can also find it in the settings: on iPhone under Settings > General > About, on Android under Settings > About phone. Take a screenshot of both IMEIs before you travel, so you have them even without a connection.
Checklist: what to do before you fly to Egypt
Note your IMEI, decide between a foreign travel eSIM and a local tourist SIM, and if you are Egyptian, request your exemption and save the hotline 15380.
- Note your IMEI. Dial *#06# and screenshot the number; on dual-SIM or eSIM phones note both.
- Choose your connection. A foreign line (travel eSIM or home roaming) means no fees for tourists under the FAQ; an Egyptian tourist SIM means 90 days per visit.
- Install a travel eSIM before departure over Wi-Fi. Simbye's Egypt eSIM arrives by email with a QR code and install link within minutes; for most data plans, validity starts on first connection at the destination.
- On arrival, switch on the eSIM line and data roaming for that line only. Keep your home line active for calls and SMS if you need them.
- Egyptians abroad: request your exemption via hotline 15380 or the official WhatsApp numbers before or right after arrival, and ask what applies if you use a foreign SIM or eSIM.
- Install the Telephony app (Google Play / App Store) if you will use an Egyptian SIM for longer than 90 days or bring a phone as a gift, and check the amount there.
To plan your spending for the trip, see how much a trip to Egypt costs.
Why don't WhatsApp calls work in Egypt? (A separate rule)
Egyptian carriers block voice and video calls over WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype and Messenger. This has nothing to do with phone registration, and an eSIM does not change it.
Chats, photos and voice notes work normally. Simbye does not promise a workaround. For a real call, count on a normal call over your home number, or arrange things by voice note. The Egypt eSIM with a phone number (French +33 number) includes real calls and texts. More background is in our guide on using WhatsApp abroad.
Egypt phone registration: frequently asked questions
I'm only in Egypt for two weeks. Do I need to do anything about my phone?
With a foreign SIM or travel eSIM, the Telephony FAQ says foreign tourists pay no fees, so no. Check telephony.gov.eg before you go, as rules can change.
Does the 90-day period reset on every visit?
The official Telephony FAQ says "per visit, up to 90 days" for tourist SIM users and Egyptians abroad. Some sites claim the days add up, so check the app if you visit often.
Does the rule cover iPads, tablets and laptops?
Pre-2026 guidance from the Belarus embassy in Egypt said tablets and laptops were not covered. No 2026 source repeats this, so check the current rules in the Telephony app.
Can I bring a new phone as a gift for my family in Egypt?
The exemption covers phones for personal use, so a gift phone used with an Egyptian SIM may need the fee paid. Check the amount in the Telephony app before you travel.
Will my home number still work in Egypt if I use a travel eSIM?
Yes, your home SIM stays in the phone and stays reachable. Calls and SMS on it count as roaming and are billed by your home operator.
Does Simbye's Egypt eSIM give me an Egyptian phone number?
No, the Egypt eSIM is data only. If you need a callable number, the Egypt eSIM with Calls & Phone Number has a French +33 number on Orange Worldwide.
Can I pay the Egypt phone tax in instalments?
Instalments were announced in January 2026, but their current status is unclear. The Telephony app shows the amount and the payment options available.
Ready for the trip? See the Egypt eSIM.
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