This information may change. Always check the official source.Last verified: August 2026 by

Bringing things into Egypt

Leave at home

  • Drones without a permit

Egypt confiscates satellite phones and drones, and taking anything old or anything off the reef out is a criminal matter.

  • Satellite phones and radio equipment are confiscated unless you have prior clearance from the Ministry of Telecommunications, and high-value electronics and recording equipment should be declared on arrival.
  • Drones may not be brought in. They are seized at Cairo and Hurghada with or without paperwork, and are rarely returned.
  • Antiquities may not be exported. This covers coins, fragments and anything a seller describes as ancient; the penalty is a prison sentence rather than a confiscation.
  • Coral, shells and marine life from the Red Sea are protected. Taking a piece of coral from Sharm or Dahab is an offence, and dive bags are checked.
  • You may carry no more than 5,000 Egyptian pounds in or out, and foreign currency worth more than USD 10,000 must be declared on arrival - there is no limit on how much of it you bring, only on not declaring it.

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Sources (1)

What this guide was checked against. Rules and prices change — follow the official link before you rely on a detail.