Does an Egyptian SIM card get blocked when you leave and re-enter the country?
Based on 2 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: 1 day ago
TL;DR
Egyptian SIM cards (Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat) sometimes get blocked after you leave the country, especially on repeat trips — there's no consistent rule, some travelers keep the same number for years while others get blocked on their 2nd or 3rd visit, even with eSIM.
What the community said
Blocking seems random: one traveler's old phone got amnestied because it had been registered in Egypt since before 2024, so on her new phone she switched straight to eSIM. But her friend's SIM got blocked not on the 2nd but specifically the 3rd visit, and even switching to eSIM didn't help — only wifi calls worked after that.
2 days ago Vodafone/Orange/Etisalat eSIM
Travelers report a real risk that a physical SIM card with data and a phone number may simply stop working on your next trip — some ask whether switching to an eSIM solves this, but there's no guaranteed fix.
8 days ago
Don't assume that because someone's SIM has worked for years, yours will too — one traveler reported that his number, active since 2024, still ended up blocked, along with numbers belonging to friends who live in Egypt full-time.
9 days ago
Many tourists who bought a local SIM on a previous trip hope to be among the lucky ones who avoid blocking, but according to travelers who visit Egypt frequently, it's more of a lottery than a predictable rule.
9 days ago