Egypt Customs Summary: What You Must Declare (2026)
Before packing your bags and flying to Egypt, it is essential to know the exact duty-free quotas and import bans enforced by the local customs authority (Egyptian Customs Authority (customs.gov.eg)).
Exceeding tobacco, alcohol, perfume, electronics, or foreign currency thresholds without declaring them at the red channel exposes you to immediate confiscation and heavy fines. Here are the verified 2026 regulations.
200 cigarettes (or 25 cigars, or 200g of tobacco)
1 liter of spirits or wine
Mandatory declaration for foreign currency exceeding $10,000 USD (or equivalent). Carrying more than 5,000 EGP in local cash out of the country is prohibited.
Tramadol and codeine-based painkillers are strictly prohibited without prior consular authorization (classified as major narcotics).
1. Duty-Free Quotas for Tobacco, Alcohol & Perfume (Egypt)
Purchases made in airport Duty-Free shops remain subject to the arrival country's import limits:
- Tobacco Allowance: 200 cigarettes (or 25 cigars, or 200g of tobacco)
- Alcohol Allowance: 1 liter of spirits or wine
- Perfume & Gifts: 1 liter of perfume or eau de cologne for personal use — Personal gifts and new non-commercial items up to a value of $200 USD duty-free.
2. Cash Declaration, Foreign Currency & Exchange Controls
Mandatory declaration for foreign currency exceeding $10,000 USD (or equivalent). Carrying more than 5,000 EGP in local cash out of the country is prohibited.
If you carry cash above the legal threshold, stop at the customs declaration counter in the arrival hall before exiting to obtain a stamped official receipt.
3. Strictly Prohibited Items: Drones, Vapes, Optics & Antiquities
Here is the official list of prohibited or strictly restricted goods when entering or leaving Egypt:
Airport X-ray scanners at arrivals immediately detect LiPo batteries and drones in both checked and cabin bags: never bring prohibited equipment without a prior permit.
4. Personal Medication & Airline Baggage Rules (Cabin vs Checked)
Tramadol and codeine-based painkillers are strictly prohibited without prior consular authorization (classified as major narcotics).
Always pack lithium-ion powerbanks, laptops, cameras, and e-cigarettes in your carry-on cabin baggage.