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Comprehensive Guide

Egypt ACID Certificate — The Complete Guide

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The ACID (Advance Cargo Information Declaration) number is Egypt's mandatory pre-arrival customs requirement for all sea shipments to Alexandria, Port Said and Damietta. This guide covers who files it, the documents you need, the exact steps, timing and the latest rules — so your cargo clears without fines or demurrage.

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Overview

The ACID (Advance Cargo Information Declaration) number is Egypt's mandatory pre-arrival customs requirement for all sea shipments to Alexandria, Port Said and Damietta. Introduced under Customs Law No. 207/2020 and enforced through the government NAFEZA single-window platform (ACI system) since 1 October 2021, it is a unique 19-digit number that the Egyptian importer registers before the cargo is shipped. The foreign exporter must then complete the ACI filing and quote the ACID number on the Bill of Lading and Commercial Invoice. Cargo that arrives without a valid, matched ACID is refused customs release and returned to origin at the shipper's expense.

Discharge ports

AlexandriaPort SaidDamietta

Required documents

Bill of Lading
Draft or final; weights, seals and discharge port must match the cargo.
Commercial Invoice
HS codes and declared values as shipped.
Cargo Declaration

Application process

  1. 1
    The Egyptian importer registers the shipment on the NAFEZA platform and obtains the 19-digit ACID number before loading.
  2. 2
    The importer shares the ACID number, plus their and the exporter's registration details, with the foreign exporter.
  3. 3
    The exporter (or our compliance desk) completes the ACI declaration and uploads the Bill of Lading, Commercial Invoice and Cargo Declaration against that ACID.
  4. 4
    The ACID number must be printed on the final Bill of Lading and Commercial Invoice so customs can match the documents to the incoming shipment.
  5. 5
    File before the vessel departs the load port — Egyptian customs will not clear cargo whose ACI was not lodged in advance.

Timeline

StepDuration
Submit documentsYour action
Draft & invoice2–4 business hours
Approve draftYour action
PaymentYour action
Final validation2–4 business hours

Special rules & HS codes

The ACID number must appear on your documents

The 19-digit ACID number is generated by the Egyptian importer on the NAFEZA platform and must be quoted on both the Bill of Lading and the Commercial Invoice so customs can match your documents to the shipment. File before the vessel departs — cargo without a valid, matched ACID is refused at the Egyptian port and returned to origin at the shipper's expense.

Frequently asked questions

The ACID is a unique 19-digit Advance Cargo Information Declaration number issued through Egypt's NAFEZA platform. It links the shipment to a registered Egyptian importer and must be obtained before the cargo is shipped.

The Egyptian importer registers the shipment on NAFEZA and generates the ACID number, then shares it with the exporter. The exporter completes the ACI filing against that number before shipping.

Yes. The 19-digit ACID number must be quoted on both the Bill of Lading and the Commercial Invoice so Egyptian customs can match your documents to the correct shipment.

The ACI must be lodged before the vessel departs the port of loading. Late or missing filings mean customs will not release the cargo at destination.

Shipments without a valid, matched ACID are rejected at the Egyptian port, cannot be cleared, and are typically returned to the origin country at the shipper's cost.

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