Egypt's Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system requires shipment data before the goods leave the export country. The importer registers on NAFEZA and requests an ACID; the foreign exporter registers on CargoX and uploads the shipment documents; the carrier shows the ACID on the transport document. ACI has been mandatory for sea cargo since October 2021 and for air cargo since January 2026.
Shipping out of Egypt instead? Exports use a different number: see the UCR number guide.
New supplier? See our CargoX registration guide for the exporter's verification steps, documents and fees.
Watch: Egypt's ACI System in 70 Seconds
Chapters
- 0:00 Your cargo is ready. Is your ACI?
- 0:06 ACI: Advance Cargo Information
- 0:11 ACID: the shipment reference
- 0:16 The importer or broker requests the ACID in NAFEZA
- 0:23 The exporter sends documents through CargoX
- 0:29 The carrier verifies and records the ACID
- 0:36 Match names, goods, values and documents
- 0:44 Prior approvals, and why an ACID is not release
- 0:52 Three habits that prevent delays
- 1:01 Review your ACI readiness with Al-Rouby
Read the transcript
Your cargo is ready. Is your ACI?
For Egypt, ACI is advance cargo information.
ACID is your shipment’s reference.
The importer, or authorized broker, requests it through NAFEZA.
The overseas exporter sends shipment documents through CargoX.
The carrier verifies the reference and records it on shipping documents.
Before departure, align names, goods, values and documents.
Check requirements for your shipment, including any prior approvals. An ACID is not customs release.
Start early. Match the details. Make every responsibility clear.
Al Rouby. Shipping to Egypt? Let’s review your ACI readiness. Your Cargo. Our Responsibility.
ACI preparation works best when importers, suppliers, and banks treat the process as part of shipment planning from the start. Most avoidable problems appear when one party assumes another party has already validated the file details.
Who starts the ACI process?
The importer should take the lead because importer-side readiness determines whether supplier documents can be aligned in time. However, the exporter, bank-facing parties, and logistics partners all influence whether the file is practical and complete.
Who does what in NAFEZA and CargoX?
Importers should define who is responsible for commercial documents, shipping details, registration data, and any banking references. Many problems appear when each party assumes another party is handling the detail.
- Importer-side registration and authority
- Supplier-side commercial documents
- Transport details that match the shipment plan
- Banking and supporting references where needed
Scroll horizontally to compare all columns.
| Party | Registers on | Does |
|---|---|---|
| Egyptian importer | NAFEZA, with an electronic signature | Enters the shipment data and requests the ACID |
| Customs broker | NAFEZA, with the importer's authorisation | Can request the ACID and handle the declaration |
| Foreign exporter | CargoX, once | Uploads the invoice and shipment documents; identified by its tax or commercial-register number |
| Carrier | — | Checks that the ACID is valid and shows it on the B/L or air waybill and the manifest |
When must ACI data be submitted?
ACID timing matters because corrections become more disruptive once loading or sailing is near. ACI should be treated as part of the shipment launch plan, not as a document pack assembled at the last safe moment.
For sea cargo, ACI data is due at least 48 hours before shipment from the export country. An ACID cannot be obtained after the goods have been shipped.
For air cargo, the ACID must be issued before the flight departs and entered in the Other Customs Information (OCI) field of the electronic air waybill.
Single express courier parcels of up to 50 kg are generally handled under the courier regime without their own ACID; heavier shipments follow the ACI process. The conditions were adjusted during 2026, so confirm them with the courier before shipping.
What should be ready before booking?
- The importer's NAFEZA account and electronic signature are active.
- The exporter is registered and verified on CargoX.
- Any required prior import approval has been obtained; the ACID is not issued without it.
- Invoice data is final: parties, items, HS codes and values.
- The carrier has the ACID before the bill of lading is issued.
How do supplier documents reach NAFEZA?
Many delays occur because supplier documents were issued, but not in the format or sequence the importer and Egyptian process actually need.
- The importer, or a broker it has authorised, enters the shipment data in NAFEZA and receives the ACID.
- The importer sends the ACID to the exporter, who must already be registered and verified on CargoX.
- The exporter composes an ACI envelope in CargoX, assigns it to the ACID and sends the documents to NAFEZA: the commercial invoice and the transport document, plus any other documents the shipment requires, such as a packing list or a certificate of origin.
- The importer reviews the received documents in NAFEZA and signs them electronically before the customs declaration.
Al-Rouby checks the envelope documents against the data in the ACID request before the exporter sends them, so a mismatch is corrected while the goods are still in the export country.
Does an ACID mean the goods are cleared?
No. The ACID is the shipment's reference: it links the importer's data, the exporter's documents and the carrier's records before the goods leave. Customs release comes later, after the customs declaration, any inspection, payment of duties and taxes, and any approvals the goods need. Prior approvals, where they apply, must be in place before the ACID is issued.
What are the most common ACI mistakes?
Importers usually struggle when they start the file too late, assume supplier documents are correct without checking them, or separate ACI work from the broader customs and delivery plan.
- Starting the file only when loading is already close
- Leaving shipment details ambiguous
- No clear ownership between importer, supplier, and logistics parties
- Treating ACI as separate from the wider clearance plan
A more reliable import workflow starts with earlier review, clearer ownership of each document, and realistic timing assumptions before cargo reaches the port.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions importers ask before moving cargo into Egypt.
Yes. ACI has been mandatory for air cargo since 1 January 2026.
No. The foreign exporter uploads the documents through CargoX, and the importer cannot open a CargoX account on the exporter's behalf.
Yes, with a power of attorney or an electronic authorisation from the importer.
No. Where a prior import approval is required, the ACID is issued only after it has been submitted.
Before the flight departs. The ACID is entered in the Other Customs Information (OCI) field of the electronic air waybill.
Single express courier parcels of up to 50 kg are generally handled under the courier regime without their own ACID; heavier shipments follow the full ACI process. Confirm the current conditions with the courier before shipping.
No. The ACID is the shipment's reference before loading. Release still depends on the customs declaration, any inspection, payment of duties and taxes, and any approvals the goods need.
Need practical support?
Discuss your shipment, file status, or port timing with our team.
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