Egypt phone tax calculator

Putting an Egyptian SIM in a phone bought abroad? Enter what your phone is worth to estimate the import tax, and see how a travel eSIM lets you skip it.

Estimated tax

£385

On a phone worth £1,000 at 38.5%.

This is an estimate, based on the widely reported rate. Check the official Telephony app for your phone's exact amount.

Or skip it

Egypt eSIM from £4.48

Tourists on a foreign SIM or travel eSIM pay no phone tax, and the 90-day clock never starts.

See Egypt eSIM plans

How the 90-day rule works

Since 1 January 2025, Egypt's National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) and the Egyptian Customs Authority have tracked every phone that connects to an Egyptian network by its IMEI, the unique number that identifies the handset.

When a phone bought abroad is used with an Egyptian SIM, it gets a 90-day exemption on each visit.
After that, the phone is blocked from Egyptian networks unless the import tax is paid. It is the phone that is blocked, so swapping to another Egyptian SIM will not help.
The tax is widely reported at about 38.5% of the phone's value. It is paid through the official Telephony app, at banks or by e-wallet. The Telephony hotline is 15380.
The old exemption that let travellers bring in one personal phone tax-free ended at noon on 21 January 2026.

Who pays and who does not

You may need to pay if

you put an Egyptian SIM in a phone bought outside Egypt; and
you keep using it with that SIM beyond the 90-day exemption.

You do not pay if

you are a tourist using your UK SIM on roaming; or
you use a travel eSIM, such as a SimplySIM Egypt eSIM. It is not an Egyptian SIM, so the 90-day rule is not triggered in the first place.

For the full rules, the 2026 changes and official links, read our guide: Egypt phone tax, the 90-day limit and why an eSIM is the safer option, or jump to its FAQs.

Common questions

Do tourists have to pay tax on their phone in Egypt?

Not if they keep using a foreign SIM. If a tourist puts an Egyptian SIM in a phone bought abroad, the phone is exempt for 90 days on each visit. After that, the import tax must be paid or the phone can be blocked on Egyptian networks.

How much is the phone tax in Egypt?

It is widely reported at about 38.5% of the phone's value, though some reports say 37.5%. The Telephony app shows the exact amount for your phone.

Does the phone tax apply if I use a SimplySIM travel eSIM?

No. A SimplySIM eSIM is not an Egyptian SIM. It connects to Egyptian networks the same way a foreign SIM does, and official guidance says tourists using a foreign SIM pay no fees.

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