Egypt ACI and ACID Number: Shipping to Egypt with Nafeza and CargoX (2026)

What the ACI system is

Advance Cargo Information (ACI) is Egypt's pre-registration system for imports. Before goods are shipped, the importer declares the shipment in Nafeza, the national single window for foreign trade, and Egyptian Customs assesses the data and issues an ACID (Advance Cargo Information Declaration) number. The system became mandatory for sea cargo on 1 October 2021 and, after testing from September 2025, for air cargo on 1 January 2026.

The exporter's documents travel electronically through CargoX, a certified blockchain document transfer service connected to Nafeza, so that customs receives the original commercial invoice and other documents before the goods arrive.

Step by step: importer and exporter

• The exporter sends the Egyptian importer its company details (name, address, country, tax or registration ID such as a VAT number) and a proforma invoice.
• The importer, registered in Nafeza, requests the ACID with the exporter and goods data; the system generates the ACID, usually within 48 hours after review.
• The exporter registers once on CargoX (registration is free; identity verification costs a one-time fee) and is linked to the importer.
• After shipment, the exporter uploads the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill and certificate of origin to CargoX and sends them to the importer.
• The importer signs the invoice electronically in Nafeza and submits the documents to customs for clearance.

Documents and how to show the ACID

The ACID must appear on the commercial invoice, the bill of lading or air waybill, the packing list and the certificate of origin, including an EUR.1 movement certificate for EU goods. Austrian and German chambers of commerce advise printing it as part of the document, not writing it by hand or adding it as a sticker, and making sure the exporter details match the data the importer entered in Nafeza.

Ask your freight forwarder to put the ACID on the booking and the bill of lading. A shipment whose transport document has no ACID can be refused at the Egyptian port and returned, at the carrier's cost, which the carrier will pass on.

Deadlines, fees and exemptions

Upload the documents to CargoX at least 48 hours before the vessel arrives in Egypt; for air cargo, chambers advise uploading before the flight departs. CargoX charges a one-time verification fee and a fee for each document set it transfers, and the amounts have changed since 2021, so check CargoX's current price list before you quote. Some express courier shipments are exempt within value or weight limits set for couriers; ask the courier before you rely on an exemption.