Customs & Regulations

Temporary Release Basis

Temporary Release Basis is bonded release until re-exportation of incoming items when consignee is departing the country after his contract with his sponsoring company comes to an end. There are two different groups of temporary release basis as described below.

Temporary Release Basis (House Hold Goods).

Eligibility for

ONLY expatriate Oil Company Employee; Semi Diplomats and Governmental project staff that have a presence in Egypt are eligible for this group of release basis, where the following documents are mandatory to custom clear shipments.

Required Documents

  • Original Bill of Lading (OBL) or Air Way Bill (AWB) or Express Release.
  • Packing List (Shipment Description Inventory).
  • Consignee original passport with a residence visa.
  • 2 Authorization letters or power of attorney to Express International.
  • Work permit that the consignee should have prior to effecting customs clearance.
  • Residence Permit of Cnee.

Beneficiaries of this release option are exempted from duties on the non-consumable items (Electrical Appliances, Furniture, Vehicles…etc) while the consumable items (Glass Ware; China Ware; Frames; CD’s…etc) are subject to duty. Shipment is subject to customs inspection to enable customs authority to determine the consumable and the non-consumable items. The above mentioned staff members are also entitled to import one vehicle under temporary release basis despite of the year of manufacture; provided that this vehicle released under temporary release will be re-exported when customer returns to his country.

For Oil Companies and Petroleum Contractors.

Documents Required

  • Original Bill of Lading.
  • Owner’s Original Passport with residence permit.
  • Owner’s work permit.
  • Vehicle License at country of Origin
  • Customs Declaration from the Egyptian Sponsoring Entity.
  • Arabic Letter from sponsoring company addressed to Customs Authority in Alexandria.
  • Arabic Letter from sponsoring company addressed to The Director of Alexandria Port Traffic Department.
  • Arabic Letter from sponsoring company to Bonded Warehouse and Steam Shipping Line.
  • Arabic Letter from sponsoring company to Ministry of Civil Defence.

Statement from the Company addressed to customs authority wherein it clearly states that the vehicle will be re-exported when customer is reassigned to another mission and departs the country. Furthermore it has to confirm that the customs duties and taxes assessed by customs on the vehicle items will be paid in case that the vehicle is sold or rid-of locally and could not be re-exported with the shipment whenever it is to be shipped out of the country. No diesel engine allowed.

For Semi Diplomatic Entities.

Documents Required

  • Original Bill of Lading.
  • Owner’s Diplomatic ID.
  • Vehicle License at country of Origin.
  • Arabic Letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed to Customs Authority in Alexandria.
  • Arabic Letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed to Director of Alexandria Port Traffic Department.
  • Arabic Letter from the Embassy addressed to Customs Authority in Alexandria.
  • Arabic Letter from the Embassy addressed to Bonded Warehouse and Steam Shipping Line.
  • Arabic Letter from the Embassy to Director of Alexandria Port Traffic Department.
  • Arabic Letter from the Embassy to Ministry of Civil Defence.
  • Diplomatic Card of owner.
  • Diplomatic Passport of owner.

Statement from the Embassy addressed to customs authority wherein it clearly states that the vehicle will be re-exported when customer is reassigned to another mission and departs the country. Furthermore it has to confirm that the customs duties and taxes assessed by customs on the vehicle items will be paid in case that the vehicle is sold or rid-of locally and could not be re-exported with the shipment whenever it is to be shipped out of the country. No diesel engine allowed.

Exemption Release Basis (Vehicle).

Full diplomats are entitled to import a vehicle despite of the year of manufacture or type of engine.

For Diplomats.

Documents Required

  • Original Bill of Lading.
  • Owner’s Diplomatic ID.
  • Commercial Invoice.
  • Arabic Letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed to Customs Authority in Alexandria.
  • Arabic Letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs addressed to Director of Alexandria Port Traffic Department.
  • Arabic Letter from the Embassy addressed to Bonded Warehouse and Steam Shipping line in Alexandria.
  • Arabic letter from the Embassy addressed to the Ministry of Civil Defence.

Final Release Basis (HHGDS) “Cash Pay of Duties and Taxes”

Paying customs duties basis is the most common and cost effective way to release inbound shipments and it applies for Individual Shipments, Non Certified Company member and Egyptian Nationals:

Required Documents

  • Original Bill of Lading (OBL) or Air Way Bill (AWB).
  • Packing List (Shipment Description Inventory).
  • Consignee original passport with an entry visa and a tourist permit.
  • 2 Authorization letters or power of attorney to Express International.
  • Work permit is needless.

Important notes about customs rules and regulations

SMALL AIR & SEA FREIGHT SHIPMENTS THAT CONTAINS LOW VALUED ITEMS Such as (Water Kettle, Ordinary Coffee Machine, Rice Cooker…etc.) can NOT be released under temporary release base as customs will not accept a very low value Bank Letter of Guarantee to cover such shipments on the contrary it is preferred to pay the duties on this shipments. All Inbound Shipments are subject to customs inspection and assessment of customs duties and sales tax. Only full diplomatic shipments are exempted. Customs duties are equal 30% of the value of the shipment assessed by customs assessor. Sales tax is equal to 10% of the value of the shipment assessed by customs assessor. Egyptian Citizens have to pay full duties & taxes to import their used household goods. Egyptian consignee does not require residency visa, BUT requires newly dated entry stamp of not older than 3 months. In consequence to customs inspection books, magazines and other printed materials are subject to Ministry of Culture Approval. All audio and videocassettes, CD's and floppy diskettes etc., are subject to censorship department approval. Color printers and photocopiers must be approved by the Anti-Forgery department at the Ministry of Interior in Egypt and has to be approved by the Ministry of Interior in Alexandria in case of imported sea freight. High Resolution Color Printers and Photocopiers to include Professional Printers are more often than not rejected, unless they are imported to the use of Multinational Company in Egypt and this Company has to issue commitment addressed to Anti-Forgery Department wherein it clearly states that they are responsible for this printer and to mention the name of the staff member who will use it. This rule is created to avoid money falsification. Wooden items including lift vans are subject to Ministry of Agriculture Approval. Communication equipment and satellite equipment will be inspected by the Ministry of Telecommunications

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