Egypt makes electronic ACI registration mandatory for air freight
Since 1 January 2026, every air shipment to Egypt must go through the ACI system and receive an ACID number before reaching the border. This requirement, already applied to sea freight since 2021, had been postponed several times.
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Since 1 January 2026, Advance Cargo Information (ACI) also applies to air freight bound for Egypt, after several years of delay since the scheme was first announced in the early 2020s.
The system rests on two linked platforms: Nafeza, on the Egyptian importer's side, and CargoX, on the exporter's or shipper's side. Every shipment must obtain a 19-digit ACID (Advance Cargo Information Declaration) number before departure, and documents must be uploaded to CargoX at least 48 hours before crossing the border.
A reduced filing fee of 80 units per ACID number applies from 1 January to 30 June 2026 to ease the transition before the full fee returns. Sea freight has followed this same process since October 2021, without interruption since.
Any shipper, Chinese factory or freight forwarder sending goods by air to Egypt is affected, as is every Egyptian importer registered on Nafeza, who must enter their suppliers' details in advance.
What it changes for an importer
For an importer buying in China and flying goods into Egypt, a shipment without a valid ACID number can be held up at clearance, with storage fees on top. Sorva checks with the factory and the freight forwarder that CargoX registration and the ACID number are in order before loading, without standing in for the Egyptian importer or acting as local customs declarant.
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