NAFEZA Explained: Registering Your Shipment on Egypt’s Single Window System

Every commercial shipment entering Egypt now passes through one portal first: NAFEZA, the National Single Window for Foreign Trade. Before goods leave the export country, the Egyptian importer logs the shipment on NAFEZA, the system issues a 19-digit ACID number, and that number has to appear on the invoice, the bill of lading and the certificate of origin. Skip the registration, or get the data wrong, and customs will not clear the cargo. This guide walks through what NAFEZA is, how to register an account, how to file the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) declaration, and the timing and document rules that decide whether a container moves or sits.

Compliance note: Procedures, fees and pathways described here are on record with the Egyptian Customs Authority and Misr Technology Services (MTS) as of June 2026. Customs rules in Egypt change by ministerial decree, often at short notice. Confirm the current requirement on nafeza.gov.eg or with your customs broker before you file.

What NAFEZA actually is

NAFEZA (نافذة, Arabic for “window”) is Egypt’s single-window platform for foreign trade. The idea behind a single window, as defined by UN/CEFACT Recommendation No. 33, is that traders submit standardized information once, through one entry point, to satisfy every agency involved in import, export and transit. Before NAFEZA, an Egyptian importer dealt with customs, GOEIC, the ports and other control bodies separately, on paper. NAFEZA collapses those touchpoints into a single online account.

The platform is operated by Misr Technology Services (MTS) on behalf of the Ministry of Finance and the Egyptian Customs Authority. Its legal backbone is Ministry of Finance Decree 38/2021, issued on 1 February 2021, which established the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) pre-shipment registration regime. Decree 38/2021 requires consignment documentation for the agencies at Egyptian ports of entry to be submitted through NAFEZA 48 hours prior to shipment arrival (Source: U.S. International Trade Administration, Egypt – Import Requirements & Documentation, last published 2025-11-21, trade.gov).

Two terms get used loosely and should be kept apart:

• NAFEZA is the platform — the website, the account, the e-services layer.
• ACI (Advance Cargo Information) is the customs procedure you carry out on NAFEZA: declaring cargo data before it ships.
• ACID (Advance Cargo Information Declaration number) is the unique 19-digit number the procedure produces for each shipment.

You register once on NAFEZA as a company. You then file an ACI declaration per shipment and receive an ACID number per shipment. The company account is durable; the ACID is single-use. (For the ACID number in depth — its structure, validity and the reasons cargo stalls without it — see our companion guide, The ACID Number: What It Is, How to Get One, and Why Cargo Stalls Without It.)

The timeline NAFEZA replaced

ACI rolled out in two phases on the seafreight side:

• Phase 1 — Pilot: from 1 April 2021, beginning at the Port of Alexandria. Importers could file voluntarily.
• Phase 2 — Mandatory: from 1 October 2021, ACI filing became obligatory for sea shipments. The requirement was then extended to airports and inland ports.

(Source: NAFEZA, Advance Cargo Information System, nafeza.gov.eg/en/pages/15; ITA, trade.gov.) Air-cargo ACI has its own implementation track on a separate NAFEZA page; confirm the current air requirement directly if you ship by air.

Who has to use NAFEZA

The ACI procedure touches four groups, according to the NAFEZA system pages:

(Source: NAFEZA, nafeza.gov.eg/en/pages/15.)

The point of entry into the whole chain is always the Egyptian importer. A foreign exporter cannot start an ACI declaration; only the Egyptian side can generate the ACID. The exporter’s job comes second — transmitting documents against an ACID the importer has already obtained.

Step 1 — Create and upgrade a NAFEZA account

NAFEZA distinguishes a basic electronic account from a commercial account with e-services activated. Importing requires the commercial account.

1. Open a new account. Go to nafeza.gov.eg and select New Account. Enter the required identity data. Terms and conditions of use apply (NAFEZA publishes a PDF of them at account creation).
2. Upgrade to a commercial account. A basic account does not let you file ACI. You must upgrade it to activate the portal’s e-services.
3. Match your data at a Logistics Services Center. After upgrading, you go in person to one of NAFEZA’s Logistics Services Centers to verify and match your data and finalise registration. NAFEZA lists the centers under Logistics Services Centers.

(Source: NAFEZA homepage and Welcome to NAFEZA, the Unified Registration System, nafeza.gov.eg/en/pages/15.)

The digital signature (e-token)

ACI filing requires a digital signature. NAFEZA states that the importer must “obtain the electronic signature pad from competent authorities to access NAFEZA.” In practice this is an e-token / digital certificate issued by an accredited Egyptian certification provider, tied to the person authorised to sign on the company’s behalf. NAFEZA offers a smart-login route (“النفاذ الذكي — NAFEZA e-Token”) for holders. Without a valid digital signature you can browse the portal but cannot lodge a declaration. NAFEZA’s dedicated page on this is Digital Signature.

What you need before you file, in short: a commercial-tier NAFEZA account verified at a Logistics Services Center, a valid digital signature/e-token, your importer record (importers must hold a valid Egyptian importer registration to trade — confirm yours is current), and the shipment’s commercial documents in the accepted formats.

Step 2 — File the ACI declaration and request the ACID

Once the account is live and the e-token is in hand, the per-shipment workflow runs on NAFEZA roughly as follows. NAFEZA publishes the canonical “Phase 1 Steps” here: nafeza.gov.eg/en/pages/16.

1. Log in to the NAFEZA portal with your username and password (or e-token).
2. Select “Request ACID.”
3. Importer data appears automatically — pulled from your verified account.
4. Enter the foreign exporter’s data.
5. Enter key shipment data.
6. Complete the detailed data entry, which NAFEZA breaks into three blocks:

A) Inventory and item data: approved value; customs system; submission system; cargo delivery site / arrival customs; customs item number and item data (item type, item description, operations number, country of origin); statistical customs quantity and weight.

B) Initial bill of lading data (if available): bill number; port of loading; port of arrival; shipping company; freight number; shipping agency (optional); name of means of transport; gross/net weight; number of parcels.

C) Invoice information: invoice / PO number; invoice date; type of contract; invoice value; freight number; billing currency; nationality of the foreign exporter; invoice items (tariff item, description, gross/net weight, unit weight, statistical customs quantity, item price).

1. Select “Request to issue ACID.”
2. NAFEZA emails the ACID automatically to both the Egyptian importer and the foreign exporter.

(Source: NAFEZA, Advance Cargo Information (ACI) Phase 1 Steps, nafeza.gov.eg/en/pages/16.)

The ITA’s summary of the customs sequence aligns with this and adds what happens after issuance: the customs authority issues the ACID within 48 hours, notifies importer and exporter, the exporter transmits documentation referencing the ACID, the importer certifies the exporter’s data is correct, the vessel loads and sails, duties and fees are paid, the vessel arrives, a joint committee inspects, and customs clear the shipment (Source: ITA, trade.gov).

Step 3 — Documents and accepted formats

NAFEZA lists the documents that most ACI filings require, plus a longer list that depends on the commodity.

Required for most filings:

File size limit: any single document uploaded to NAFEZA or the CargoX platform must not exceed 5 MB.

Commodity-dependent documents (PDF), which may include: bill of materials, certificate of analysis, certificate of fumigation, certificate of inspection, certificate of insurance, delivery note, EUR.1 movement certificate, halal certificate, health certificate, material safety data sheet (MSDS), phytosanitary certificate, cover letter, veterinary certificate, and others.

(Source: NAFEZA, Documents required to create an ACI file, nafeza.gov.eg/en/pages/32.)

The structured commercial-invoice template matters: NAFEZA does not just want a scanned invoice, it wants the invoice data in its machine-readable Excel form so it can be parsed against the declaration. NAFEZA publishes the template and its layout under Invoices Structured Data Form. Sending a flat PDF where the structured Excel is expected is one of the more common reasons a filing bounces back for correction.

Step 4 — The blockchain document layer (CargoX)

NAFEZA pairs the importer’s declaration with an exporter-side document transfer that runs on blockchain, through an accredited service provider. The certified provider named on the NAFEZA system pages is CargoX, which operates a Blockchain Document Transaction System.

The division of labour:

• The importer declares cargo data on NAFEZA and obtains the ACID.
• The exporter registers (once) on the CargoX platform, completes a mandatory verification, and uses it to transmit the shipment documents — referencing the ACID — onto the blockchain so they reach NAFEZA upon the vessel’s departure.

(Source: NAFEZA, nafeza.gov.eg/en/pages/15.)

What the exporter side costs

CargoX states its ACI fees are paid by the exporter and, as of 5 January 2026, consist of:

(Source: CargoX Help Center, Egypt ACI pricing, updated 5 January 2026, cargox.help/en/articles/398409-egypt-aci-pricing; What is the ACID number, updated 22 September 2025, cargox.help/en/articles/398421.) CargoX prices in its own “units (𝕌)”; confirm the current unit-to-currency conversion at the time you file, as the figures change. These are CargoX platform charges and are separate from Egyptian customs duties and taxes.

The rules that decide whether cargo moves

Three timing and accuracy rules sit underneath everything above. Get them right and the green pathway is open; get them wrong and the shipment stalls.

1. The 48-hour rule. ACI data and documents (pro-forma invoice and draft bill of lading, where they exist) must be submitted at least 48 hours before the cargo ships from the export country, so the Risk Management System can screen it (Source: NAFEZA, nafeza.gov.eg/en/pages/15). The ITA frames the corresponding 48-hour rule on the arrival side; treat 48 hours as the minimum lead time and build in more.
2. The ACID must appear on the documents. The ACID number has to be referenced on the shipping documents — invoice, certificate of origin, bill of lading / air waybill. If it is missing, the goods will not clear and can be returned at the carrier’s or agent’s expense.
3. The data has to match. NAFEZA applies a risk-based inspection model: each commodity is routed onto a pathway (for example, a “green” pathway skips routine sampling and gets expedited clearance, though green shipments are still subject to random audit). Discrepancies between the declared data and the actual documents pull a shipment off the fast lane (Source: ITA, trade.gov).

NAFEZA, GOEIC and NFSA — how they connect

NAFEZA is the window; it is not the only authority behind the glass. Three things commonly trip up first-time importers:

• Importer registration is separate from NAFEZA. You must hold a valid Egyptian importer record to import commercially. NAFEZA does not grant that — confirm your registration is current before you rely on the portal.
• GOEIC registration of the foreign factory. For many product categories, the foreign factory and brand must be registered with the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) before the goods can be imported (the relevant framework includes Decree 43/2016). GOEIC inspection and registration sit alongside ACI, not inside it. We cover this in GOEIC Inspection and Registration: Getting Goods Cleared Without Surprises.
• NFSA for food. Food, food ingredients and food-contact materials add a National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) layer on top of customs. See NFSA Registration & Food Import Approval in Egypt.

NAFEZA’s value is that it coordinates these agencies in one declaration flow — but each agency’s own requirement still has to be satisfied.

How Innovote sources this

For clients importing flavourings, food additives, packaging resins, aquarium hardware or machinery into Egypt, the NAFEZA layer is where a clean order can still go wrong on a technicality. Here is how we handle it.

• We file as, or alongside, the importer of record. The ACI declaration is the Egyptian importer’s responsibility. We set up and verify the NAFEZA commercial account, hold the digital signature, and lodge the declaration — or work in lockstep with your in-house team or broker so the ACID is requested with the right lead time.
• We brief the supplier before they ship. A large share of NAFEZA delays start abroad: the exporter ships without the ACID on the documents, or transmits the wrong invoice format. We send the foreign supplier the ACID, the structured commercial-invoice template, and a checklist of which commodity-specific certificates (phytosanitary, health, halal, MSDS, COA) their shipment needs.
• We pre-match the data. Before the ACID request goes in, we reconcile HS code, declared value, weights, origin and item descriptions across the invoice, packing list and draft B/L so the figures agree. Mismatches are the quiet reason shipments fall off the green pathway.
• We track the 48-hour clock and the certify step. We monitor that the exporter transmits documents after departure and that the importer’s certification of the exporter’s data is completed, so nothing waits on an un-actioned step.

Tell us the spec and the origin, and we will come back with the grade, MOQ, lead time, the NAFEZA/ACI path and a landed-cost view for your shipment.

FAQ

Is NAFEZA registration the same as getting an ACID number?
No. NAFEZA registration is a one-time company account setup (basic account → commercial upgrade → data matching at a Logistics Services Center). The ACID number is issued per shipment through the ACI declaration you file inside that account. One account, many ACIDs.

Can a foreign exporter register the shipment on NAFEZA?
No. Only the Egyptian importer (or a customs broker acting for the importer) can file the ACI declaration and request the ACID. The exporter’s role is to register on the accredited blockchain platform (CargoX) and transmit the documents against an ACID the importer has already obtained (Source: NAFEZA, nafeza.gov.eg/en/pages/15).

How long before shipment does the ACI declaration have to be filed?
NAFEZA states cargo data and documents must be submitted at least 48 hours before the cargo ships from the export country. The ACID itself is issued within 48 hours of the request. Build in more than the minimum to absorb data corrections (Source: NAFEZA, nafeza.gov.eg/en/pages/15; ITA, trade.gov).

What documents do I need to upload, and in what format?
At minimum: a commercial invoice (PDF plus the structured XLS/XLSX NAFEZA template), a packing list (PDF), a copy of the bill of lading (PDF, copy not original) and a certificate of origin (PDF). Each file must stay under 5 MB. Commodity-specific certificates (phytosanitary, health, halal, veterinary, MSDS, COA and others) may be required depending on the goods (Source: NAFEZA, nafeza.gov.eg/en/pages/32).

Do I still need a customs broker if I use NAFEZA?
NAFEZA is a filing system, not a clearance service. Many importers use a broker to lodge the ACI, classify HS codes correctly and manage the GOEIC and inspection steps. You can file yourself if you hold the account, the e-token and the in-house expertise — but the broker’s role of getting the data right and the goods through inspection does not disappear.

Does NAFEZA replace GOEIC and NFSA approvals?
No. NAFEZA coordinates these agencies in one flow, but each retains its own requirement. GOEIC factory/brand registration and NFSA food approvals must still be satisfied. See GOEIC Inspection and Registration and NFSA Food Import Registration.

Keep reading

• Hub: The Complete Guide to Importing into Egypt: NAFEZA, ACID, GOEIC, NFSA, Incoterms & QC
• Next: The ACID Number: What It Is, How to Get One, and Why Cargo Stalls Without It
• Related: GOEIC Inspection and Registration: Getting Goods Cleared Without Surprises

Sources: NAFEZA / Misr Technology Services — Advance Cargo Information System, ACI Phase 1 Steps, Documents required to create an ACI file; U.S. International Trade Administration — Egypt: Import Requirements & Documentation (MoF Decree 38/2021); CargoX Help Center — Egypt ACI pricing, What is the ACID number. Rules and fees verified June 2026; Egyptian customs procedures change by decree — verify before filing.

— Innovote Trade Desk

Tell us the spec; we’ll come back with grade, MOQ, lead time and a landed-cost path. Talk to the Trade Desk →