Why does my phone get locked/bricked after using a local Egyptian SIM card for 90 days?

From messages by 2 participants in 3 sources · Last activity: 18 days ago

TL;DR

Inserting a local Egyptian SIM into an unregistered phone triggers a network lock after about 90 days, turning the device into a 'brick' — unless the phone was already registered in Egypt with a local SIM before January 2025. To avoid this, use an eSIM (e.g. via Trip.com) instead of a physical Egyptian SIM.

What the community said

To avoid putting an Egyptian SIM in the phone and risking an IMEI block, get a mobile Wi‑Fi router in Egypt, use the local SIM in the router, and tether the phone to it.

18 days ago Mobile Wi‑Fi router with a local SIM

One user reported their phone was blocked due to an Egyptian SIM, but after registering a new SIM under an Egyptian citizen's name, the phone started working again — they weren't sure exactly why it worked.

SIM registered to an Egyptian citizen

In practice, enforcement of the 90-day block can be inconsistent: some phones have continued working with an Egyptian SIM since 2024, while others have been blocked. This should not be treated as a guarantee.

The 90-day lock applies if the phone wasn't already registered in Egypt with a local SIM before January 2025 — check your device history before buying an Egyptian SIM.

90-day lock rule

Leaving Egypt and returning later with the same phone doesn't reset the lock timer — the cumulative time using the Egyptian SIM will still eventually brick the device.

If your phone has never had an Egyptian SIM before, it's safer to get an eSIM through a service like Trip.com — this avoids the risk of device lock during an extended stay in Egypt.

eSIM via Trip.com