Will my phone get IMEI blocked in Egypt if I use a local SIM card?

Clarification: it's not a fine but a communication tax of roughly 37-38% of the phone's value. In practice: a phone that used a local SIM in Egypt once usually keeps working; a second trip with the same phone carries a high risk of blocking. Exception — phones that were already in Egypt before January 2025 tend not to get blocked. Alternative: a portable modem/router for about $20, or hotel wifi.

The IMEI block carries over between trips: if a phone connected to Egyptian networks with a local SIM in 2025, it may already be blocked in 2026 — even if the total time in Egypt was less than 90 days. Continuous stay does not matter; the clock starts from the very first time the device appeared on Egyptian networks.

Buying a router from an official store in Egypt means its IMEI is already registered, so there's no risk of blocking. This is a reliable way to get local internet access.

When you insert a local SIM, Egypt's system logs your device's IMEI. After 90 days, the device can be blocked on Egyptian networks unless an import duty of roughly 38% of the device's value is paid. Short-stay tourists are technically at risk too, with some reporting blocks before the 90-day mark.

Routers with Egyptian SIMs are technically subject to the same IMEI rule. Rented routers from local providers usually work fine since the owner has already paid the required fees. A personal router brought from abroad may get blocked.

Two reliable ways to avoid blocking: 1) Don't use a local SIM at all — use international roaming (not subject to blocking) or buy a tourist eSIM before arrival. 2) If you need a local SIM, buy a cheap basic phone locally — the 90-day rule rarely applies to low-cost feature phones.

Since January 2025, many travelers have stopped using Egyptian SIM cards due to the real risk of IMEI blocking. The rule takes effect 90 days after a device first connects to Egyptian networks with a local SIM.