International moves require preparation and planning to relocate from one country to another. In addition to securing the services of an international moving company, packing your belongings and planning your moving budget, you must also consider the customs regulations, as they often vary and are subject to change.
Whatever your reasons for relocating to Egypt, you'll need to be properly prepared when entering the country through customs.
Here's what you need to know when preparing to travel to Egypt from the United States:
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY
Before your arrival in Egypt, make sure you gather the following documents and keep them in a safe place. You'll need to present them to the Customs officials in order to make your transition into the country go as smoothly as possible. Here is what you'll need:
- Original passport is required - passport must have the latest entry stamp to Egypt included
- Work or residence visa, must be valid for a minimum of three months
- Copy of the Bill of Lading or Air Waybill
- Typed copy of the complete valued inventory list of your shipment, must be in either English or Egyptian Arabic - must also include a typed copy of your complete packing list, also in either English or Egyptian Arabic
- Authorization letter allowing the destination agent at Customs full control to clear the shipment - letter must be stamped by the Egyptian bank where the customer has opened an account prior to arrival
- Proof of insurance coverage
- Letter of guarantee from the customer's employer authorizing the import and approving the work contract or work visa
SHIPPING AND CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Before you begin unpacking and settling in, you'll have to make sure your shipment fits all of the regulations to clear customs. Each country has its own unique set of shipping guidelines that must be followed, so here are what to expect when moving to Egypt:
- All customers must be in Egypt, but are not required to be present at Customs when the shipment is cleared
- All household goods imported into Egypt through customs are subject to a physical inspection upon arrival
- All used household goods and personal effects are subject to taxes and duties, as well as various other storage fees and administration fees and costs that may be levied
PROHIBITED ITEMS
The following items are prohibited from being imported into Egypt through customs and may be seized by customs and border authorities upon arrival:
- All narcotics and illegal drugs
- All firearms, explosive devices, ammunitions and weapons, including decorative swords and daggers
- Pornography and vulgar or objectionable materials of any kind, including all publications featuring semi-nudity such as fashion magazines or men's magazines
- All alcohol is strictly prohibited and any customers attempting to import alcohol through Customs will face a penalty of up to 3,000 times the value of the alcohol
- Politically sensitive material, as well as any publications or literary materials that are contrary to Muslim culture and Arab beliefs and morality laws
- Gold and silver, with the exception of tableware
- All telephones, including mobile, wireless or landline phones
- Any communications equipment, including CB radios or any hand-held radio equipment
- All live birds and all frozen or stuffed birds, including all bird-related products
- Seeds or cotton
RESTRICTED ITEMS
Restricted items are items which may be limited to certain quantities or require additional duties, taxes or fees before they can be cleared by customs officials. Here are the items that are restricted and dutiable by the government of Egypt:
- All consumable items, such as food, toiletries or cosmetics, are subject to import taxes and duties upon arrival at Customs
- All works of art and antiques are discouraged, as they are required to undergo a lengthy evaluation and examination process by a committee, which can significantly delay the clearance process
- All media, including video tapes, DVDs, CDs, cassette tapes and records are subject to censorship and may be confiscated if they fail to meet the required standards stated in the prohibited items category
- All religious material not related to Islam is subject to restriction
- All printers, scanners, fax machines and copiers are subject to inspection and approval from the Ministry of Security and the brand and model number must be included on the typed inventory submitted to Customs prior to arrival
MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS
Each country has different rules and regulations when it comes to the importation of motor vehicles. If you're hoping to take your vehicle with you when you relocate to Egypt, take some time to familiarize yourself with these regulations so that you can be prepared when it's time to relocate overseas with your vehicle:
- All vehicles being imported into Egypt are subject to high taxes and duties
- Vehicles must be new - no used vehicles may be imported to Egypt; vehicles must be made the same year of importation and the customer importing it must be the original owner of the vehicle
- All diesel vehicles are prohibited
- Customers must receive prior authorization before importing a vehicle of any kind - consult with your destination agent prior to importation
- The following documents are required for importing a vehicle to Egypt:
- Original title and registration
- Original purchase invoice or receipt of purchase
- Original bill of lading, including all information about the car such as the state, make, model, engine and chassis number, color and weight
PETS AND ANIMAL REGULATIONS
Pets are always welcome when moving overseas. However, many destinations have their own laws pertaining to bringing animals into the country:
- All cats and dogs will be subject to examination upon arrival by a licensed veterinarian from the Ministry of Agriculture - quarantine is not required
- If a pet looks unhealthy or ill upon arrival to Customs, it will be placed in a government kennel for a maximum of 15 days before being cleared
- Birds of any kind may not be imported
- All pets must be accompanied by a certificate of vaccination stating that the animal received all vaccinations, including rabies, no more than 30 days prior to arrival
- All pets must be accompanied by a health certificate signed and endorsed by a licensed veterinarian from the customer's origin location, dated no more than 30 days prior to arrival
To help you prepare for your move, we've provided you with a few links to learn more about the complicated international moving process: