Smartphone Tax: What Russian Tourists Need to Know Before Visiting Egypt
Egypt has a new law on registering mobile devices. If you don't do this at the airport immediately upon arrival, local authorities will block your phone, and to restore its functionality, you will have to pay a hefty fine - 38% of the cost of the device. Novye Izvestia investigated whether this is true.
A new law has been in effect in Egypt since this year. All phones with an Egyptian SIM card that have not appeared on the network before 2025 are subject to a duty. It is set at 38% of the cost of the smartphone. It will be paid only by those who stay in the country for more than 90 days and use a local SIM card. For tourists who come to the hotel for one or two weeks, there are no fines !
The fines only apply to those planning to stay in Egypt for more than three months. Photo: 1MI
Let us remind you that the visa-free regime for Russian tourists is valid only for three months. Those who want to stay in the country longer must do a visa run - leave Egypt for a neighboring country and then re-enter or apply for a visa.
Earlier, a number of media outlets reported allegedly draconian fines for using mobile communications in the African country. They say that those who came on vacation were left without Internet and communications. Their phones are blocked, and in order to restore the functionality of the devices, you need to pay a fine of a third of the cost of the phone. On average, this is about 10-20 thousand rubles, but for the latest iPhone models, for example, this amount reaches 30-40 thousand.
"This is complete nonsense. Firstly, if you do not use an Egyptian SIM card, but use SIM cards from other countries, then there are no restrictions. Secondly, the new rules only apply to those who plan to stay in the country for more than 90 days. But Russian tourists, as a rule, come to rest for one or two weeks," Russian Evgenia S., who goes to Egypt for the winter every year, commented to NI.
The duty on a new iPhone in Egypt reaches 30-40 thousand rubles. Photo: 1MI
To avoid a new fine, you should register your device at the airport upon arrival. Again, only for those planning to stay in the country for more than 90 days. The procedure is free. Upon departure, the phone will be deregistered.
Only one smartphone is allowed to be imported. For each additional one, you will have to pay a duty of 38% of the value of the device.
To avoid a new fine, you should register your device upon arrival at the airport. Photo: 1MI
New rules have been introduced to combat smartphone smuggling. There is a black market for devices in Egypt. Moreover, their cost is significantly higher than world prices. Even locals do not recommend buying a new phone in the country. If they need to update their gadget, they often fly to the neighboring UAE.
"At the border, you need to declare your phone just in case, to confirm that you are bringing it in for personal use and not for the purpose of getting rich. One of my friends did this and did not pay any tax. I don't need this, I don't plan to stay for more than three months," the interlocutor of "NI" said.
The new law was introduced to combat smartphone smuggling. Photo: 1MI
If you don't want to register your smartphone upon arrival, you can simply buy a new Egyptian SIM card every 90 days. This is not prohibited yet. However, it is quite expensive - $25 for the basic tariff.
You can bypass the restrictions by using SIM cards from other countries. But here the issue of roaming arises, which will cost a pretty penny for those who plan to stay in Egypt for more than three months.
Finally, you can do something even more clever: take your old phone with you for an Egyptian SIM card. Even if you have to pay a tax, it will be several times lower than for a new iPhone.
newizv.ru
