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Comprehensive Guide

Egypt ACID Certificate — The Complete Guide

Last updated: October 15, 2026

The Egypt ACID (Advance Cargo Information Declaration) number is Egypt's mandatory customs requirement for sea cargo to Alexandria, Port Said, Damietta and the other Egyptian ports, and since 1 January 2026 for air cargo. 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.

Start your certificateSee the country rules

Overview

The Egypt ACID (Advance Cargo Information Declaration) number is Egypt's mandatory customs requirement for sea cargo to Alexandria, Port Said, Damietta and the other Egyptian ports, and since 1 January 2026 for air cargo. 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 ACID number that the Egyptian importer registers before the cargo is shipped. (The ACI is the filing system on NAFEZA; the ACID is the number it generates.) The foreign exporter must then send the ACI filing through CargoX and quote the ACID number on the Bill of Lading, the Commercial Invoice and the other export documents. 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
PDF plus the NAFEZA Excel template; HS codes and values must match what the importer entered on NAFEZA.
Packing List
Carries the ACID number; packages and weights must match the invoice.
Certificate of Origin
Carries the ACID number, added by the chamber of commerce.

Official ACID Document Sample

Verify the layout, stamps, and ACID customs format of a validated Egypt loading certificate:

Official Egypt ACID sample document
Sample Draft

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) composes the ACI envelope on CargoX and uploads the Bill of Lading copy, the packing list, the commercial invoice (PDF and NAFEZA Excel template) and the certificate of origin 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
    Obtain the ACID before loading (NAFEZA asks for the shipment data at least 48 hours before departure) and send the ACI filing as soon as the documents are issued, so the importer gets the fast release at arrival.

Timeline

StepDuration
Submit documentsYour action
Draft & invoice1 hour on average
Approve draftYour action
PaymentYour action
Final validation1 to 24 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 in good time for your route — cargo without a valid, matched ACID is refused at the Egyptian port and returned to origin at the shipper's expense.

Air cargo: Egypt ACID mandatory since 1 January 2026

ACI became mandatory for air cargo to Egypt on 1 January 2026. The ACID goes in the OCI segment of the electronic Air Waybill, and the filing carries the Air Waybill copy instead of the Bill of Lading. Single-parcel express shipments up to 50 kg and direct transit are among the exemptions.

A sent Egypt ACID filing cannot be recalled

An ACI filing already sent to NAFEZA cannot be recalled or deleted. To correct it, send a new ACI envelope on CargoX under the same ACID number with the corrected documents; CargoX does not charge the filing fee again.

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 sends the ACI filing through CargoX against that number once the documents are issued.

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 ACID number must exist before the cargo is shipped: NAFEZA asks for the shipment data at least 48 hours before departure. The ACI filing itself follows once the documents are issued; for sea freight CargoX sets no hard deadline, but a late filing costs the importer the fast release at arrival.

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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