Guide
Import documents for Egypt
The papers we usually start from for a customs file. We confirm the exact list for your cargo and product type.
Start with a complete file
Clearance moves as fast as the weakest paper. Send a full set early. This list is a typical starting point for commercial imports. Some products need extra permits. We tell you what applies to your shipment.
Core commercial papers
Commercial invoice. Packing list. Transport document (bill of lading for sea cargo, or the land waybill). These three describe what was sold, how it is packed, and how it travels. Values, weights, and item lines must match across all three.
Payment and bank papers
Egyptian customs often asks for proof you paid the supplier. Form 4 is the bank paper that proves that payment. When it is late, cargo can sit on the terminal and storage fees rise.
Origin papers
A certificate of origin is often required by customs or by your bank. Rules depend on the trade lane and the product. We check whether your file needs one before the cargo arrives.
Product codes for customs
Every item needs the right product code for customs (often called an HS code). The code must match what is actually in the shipment. Wrong codes create holds, rechecks, and delay.
Permits and product checks
Food, chemicals, medical goods, and other controlled products may need extra approvals from Egyptian authorities. GOEIC and similar checks depend on the product. Tell us the product early so we can flag what the file needs.
Nafeza and ACID
For many commercial sea imports, an ACID number from Nafeza must exist before the goods leave the foreign port. Papers must show the same number so customs can match the file on arrival.
Export papers
Export shipments need their papers ready before the vessel sails, not after. A late export document can hold a sailing that was already booked.
Common mismatches
Invoice totals that do not match the packing list. Product codes that do not match the goods. An ACID number that does not appear on the papers. Names or tax IDs that do not match the importer on file. We look for these before they become a hold.
Send the draft file
Email or WhatsApp the draft papers. We will tell you what is missing and what the clearance file needs.
Tell us about your next shipment