The Advance Cargo Information – ACI system has become an essential part of the import cycle into Egypt. Its purpose is to make shipment data and documents available to customs and regulatory authorities before the goods are shipped from abroad, enabling a preliminary risk assessment before they arrive at Egyptian ports of entry.
The system is based on Article 39 of Customs Law No. 207 of 2020, the Executive Regulations issued by Minister of Finance Decree No. 430 of 2021, as amended, and the decisions and instructions regulating the ACI system.
Mandatory implementation for maritime shipments began on 1 October 2021, and the system was subsequently extended to air freight, with the Aviation ACI system becoming mandatory as of 1 January 2026.
Accordingly, ACI is no longer merely a procedure that begins once the goods arrive in Egypt. It has become part of the contracting, purchasing, and shipping process itself. The fundamental rule is that registration procedures and obtaining the correct identification number must precede shipment of the goods.
First: What Are the ACI System and the ACID Number?
The ACI system is a customs procedure based on the advance submission of shipment data and documents through the “Nafeza” platform, integrated with the approved electronic channels used to receive documents from the foreign exporter.
Once the shipment data is accepted, an identification number known as ACID is issued, which is used to link the parties to the transaction, shipping documents, and customs data relating to the consignment.
ACID is not a permanent number assigned to the importer or supplier for use in all transactions. Rather, it is linked to the registered import transaction in accordance with the applicable rules. There are also specific rules for consolidated shipments and master and house bills of lading, and the actual structure of the shipment must therefore be taken into account when registering it.
Second: The Legal Basis Under Article 39 of the Customs Law
Article 39 requires the importer or its agent to submit the documents relating to the goods to the Egyptian Customs Authority before they are shipped to the country in order to obtain the preliminary customs registration number. It also requires the importer to notify the shipper of this number so that it can be included in the shipping documents.
In return, the law requires the carrier, masters of vessels, aircraft commanders, other means of transport, and their agents or representatives to include the number in the shipping documents relating to goods imported into Egypt.
This means that operational responsibility for ACI is distributed among several parties and does not rest solely with the importer.
Third: What Is the Consequence If the Goods Arrive Without the Required Number?
The Customs Law establishes a direct consequence where the preliminary customs registration number is not included in the shipping documents, namely reshipment of the goods outside the country without discharging them at Egyptian ports or points of entry, at the expense of the carrier or its representative.
Customs instructions concerning maritime shipments have also emphasized notifying port authorities and discharge companies not to discharge consignments that do not contain the required number and taking the necessary steps to reship them.
In 2024, the Egyptian Customs Authority again confirmed that maritime consignments would not be permitted to enter or be released unless they had obtained an ACID number before shipment, and that exceptions undermining the substance of the system would not be permitted.
Fourth: Does Every ACI Violation Result in a Fine?
Reshipment should not be confused with a customs fine.
The direct consequence established by Article 39 where the number is absent from the shipping documents is reshipment of the goods abroad under the conditions described above.
However, where the incident is accompanied by another violation—such as submission of inaccurate information in the manifest, breach of manifest rules, or other acts criminalized or penalized under the Customs Law—separate consequences or fines may arise under the provision governing that specific violation.
Accordingly, it is incorrect to state that every technical error in an ACI file automatically results in a fixed monetary fine.
Fifth: Maritime and Air Freight Implementation
The pilot implementation of ACI for maritime shipments began on 1 April 2021, and the system became mandatory for shipments dispatched from abroad as of 1 October 2021.
For air freight, the pilot phase continued until 31 December 2025, after which mandatory implementation began on 1 January 2026.
Companies relying on air freight must therefore integrate ACI into their procurement and logistics procedures, while observing the specific operational instructions applicable to aviation and air freight companies.
Sixth: Registration on the Nafeza Platform and Electronic Signature
The Egyptian importer or its representative must complete registration on the “Nafeza” platform and activate the necessary electronic services.
Transactions requiring electronic authentication also require an electronic signature certificate and e-Token issued by one of the entities licensed to provide the service and activated on the Nafeza system.
One of the most common practical errors is waiting until shortly before shipment to complete this step, only to discover that the account or electronic signature is not ready for issuance of the ACID number.
Seventh: The Role of the Foreign Exporter and the CargoX Platform
The foreign exporter has a direct role in the ACI system, as the CargoX platform is used among the approved channels for electronically transmitting shipment documents to the Nafeza system.
The foreign exporter must register and complete the required verification on the platform before sending the ACI file.
The importer should preferably verify the supplier’s readiness for these procedures before booking the shipment, rather than after manufacturing has been completed and the goods have reached the port of export.
Eighth: Applying for Issuance of an ACID Number
The importer, cargo owner, or its customs broker enters the preliminary and basic data relating to the shipment through Nafeza.
Depending on the nature of the consignment, this may include:
- Details of the Egyptian importer.
- Details of the foreign exporter.
- Country of export and origin.
- Description of the goods.
- HS Code.
- Value and currency.
- Weight and quantity.
- Invoice or purchase order details.
- Preliminary bill of lading details, if available.
- Prior import approvals required for the goods.
After the data is completed, the system conducts an initial assessment of risks and applicable import and regulatory restrictions, after which a decision is issued either approving the application and issuing the ACID number or rejecting it with reasons.
Ninth: The 48-Hour Rule – What Does It Mean?
Article 39 itself requires the documents to be submitted before shipment, without referring to “48 hours” in its wording.
However, the Nafeza platform explains that the advance registration system is based on making preliminary data or documents—such as the pro forma invoice or purchase order and the preliminary bill of lading, where available—available at least 48 hours before shipment to allow for risk assessment.
The procedures also provide that the Authority’s response, whether by issuing the ACID number or rejecting the application, must be made within a maximum period of 48 hours after completion of the required registration procedures.
In practice, the 48-hour period should not be treated as the target time for starting the file. An error in the HS Code, supplier data, or import restrictions may result in rejection of the application and disruption of the shipment.
Tenth: Rejection of ACID and Grievance Procedures
If the Egyptian Customs Authority refuses to issue an ACID number, the reason for rejection should first be reviewed, and the goods should not be shipped on the assumption that the position can be corrected after arrival.
The Executive Regulations allow the importer, cargo owner, or customs broker to submit a grievance against the rejection decision within three working days from its issuance, supported by relevant documents.
The Authority examines the grievance within two working days in accordance with the published procedures and either accepts it and issues the number or rejects it while stating the reason.
Eleventh: ACID Validity and Amendment of Shipment Data
Under the applicable rules, the ACID number remains valid for six months and may, for justified reasons, be extended for a similar period after obtaining the required approval.
Issuance of the number does not mean that all data in the file may subsequently be changed without restriction. Pre-shipment amendments are subject to the rules governing ACID data, and certain fundamental information cannot be treated as an ordinary correction, particularly the details of the parties to the commercial transaction.
Amending data that may lawfully be changed also results in reassessment of the file under the applicable risk management, regulatory, and import restriction systems.
Accordingly, any material change in the transaction should be addressed before shipment through the proper procedure on Nafeza, and a number issued for a transaction should not be used for another transaction involving different parties or materially different elements.
Twelfth: ACID Must Not Be Reused for an Independent Shipment
Using an ACID number that has previously been used for another shipment is a serious error.
Customs instructions have emphasized the obligation of the carrier or its agent to verify the number before shipment and to take reshipment procedures in non-compliant cases in accordance with the applicable rules.
The safe internal procedure is to link each import file or purchase order to its own ACID reference and electronically verify its validity before issuing final shipping instructions.
Thirteenth: ACI Documents and Their Electronic Transmission
Nafeza currently identifies the following among the basic documents for an ACI file:
- The commercial invoice.
- The packing list.
- A copy of the bill of lading.
- The certificate of origin.
Depending on the nature of the goods, additional documents may be required, such as inspection or analysis certificates, insurance documents, health certificates, phytosanitary certificates, and others.
It is important to distinguish between preliminary data and documents required before shipment and final documents completed during the shipment cycle as they become available. It is therefore incorrect to assume that every final document must already have been issued 48 hours before loading.
Fourteenth: Duties of the Carrier and Freight Forwarder
It is not sufficient for the exporter merely to send the ACID number to the shipping line or freight forwarder.
The validity of the number should be verified before the shipment is accepted, and it must be included in the prescribed shipping documents, particularly the bill of lading and manifest, in accordance with the applicable system.
The carrier at the port of export or its representative is also required to transmit the electronic shipment manifest to Nafeza within no more than 24 hours from the time the means of transport departs the port of export under the prescribed maritime process, including the basic data for each shipment, such as the bill of lading number, ACID number, and details of the parties.
One of the most serious errors is where the ACID number is correct in the importer’s file but is missing or incorrectly stated in the bill of lading or manifest.
Fifteenth: Approval of Documents by the Importer
After shipment data and documents are received, the importer or its agent must access the ACID file and review the documents before approving them using the electronic signature.
The following should be matched:
- The ACID number.
- The importer and exporter.
- The invoice.
- The packing list.
- The bill of lading.
- The goods, quantities, and weights.
- The HS Code.
A material inconsistency between these elements may disrupt the file even if the number itself is correct.
Sixteenth: Recurring Practical Errors and How to Address Them
The Foreign Supplier Is Not Ready on CargoX
Solution: Verify registration and completion of electronic verification before booking the shipment.
The ACID Number Is Expired or Incorrect
Solution: Electronically verify the validity of the number before issuing final loading instructions.
Use of a Previous Number
Solution: Prevent manual entry of ACID numbers from old files or spreadsheets and link each shipment to a separate reference within the company’s system.
Invoice Data Differs from the ACI File
Solution: Amend the data that may lawfully be changed before shipment and reassess the file rather than transmitting final documents that conflict with the registered data.
The Number Is Missing from the Draft Bill of Lading
Solution: Do not approve the draft bill of lading before reviewing the ACID number digit by digit and character by character.
Delay in Approving Documents
Solution: Appoint a clearly identified internal person responsible for monitoring ACI files rather than leaving the process divided between procurement and logistics without a designated owner.
Seventeenth: Does an ACI Violation Automatically Result in Loss of AEO Benefits?
No.
The Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program has separate rules concerning accreditation, continuity, monitoring, suspension, and cancellation.
Customs violations or a history of non-compliance may form part of risk and compliance assessments, but it is incorrect to establish a rule that every ACID error automatically results in cancellation of AEO accreditation or loss of the facilities granted to the company.
The outcome depends on the nature, frequency, and seriousness of the violation, the rules governing the program, and the decision issued by the competent authority.
Eighteenth: Allocation of ACI Responsibilities in Supply Agreements
ACI obligations should preferably not be left solely to day-to-day correspondence, particularly in recurring import arrangements.
The supply agreement or purchase order should appropriately regulate:
- The supplier’s obligation to complete the requirements of the approved platform.
- Use of the correct ACID number for the specific shipment.
- Inclusion of the number in the required documents.
- Transmission of electronic documents within the agreed timeframes.
- Not handing over the goods to the carrier before confirming ACI readiness.
- Notifying the importer of any change in quantity, price, or goods before shipment.
- Allocation of expenses resulting from an error by either party within the limits permitted by law.
Nineteenth: Allocation of Responsibility with the Carrier and Freight Forwarder
It is also useful to regulate ACI in shipping instructions and the shipping agreement so that they include:
- Not accepting the shipment before receiving a valid ACID number.
- Verifying the number before shipment.
- Including it in the bill of lading and manifest.
- Sending the Draft B/L for review before final issuance.
- Notifying the importer immediately upon discovering any inconsistency in the data.
- Regulating contractual responsibility for expenses arising from error.
However, an agreement between the parties cannot override obligations imposed directly on the carrier or its representative by the Customs Law before the Egyptian Customs Authority.
Twentieth: What Should You Do If the Problem Is Discovered Before Shipment?
This is the best stage at which to address any error.
If an incorrect ACID number or inconsistent data is discovered, shipping instructions should be temporarily suspended and it should be determined whether the error concerns data that may be amended or whether another procedure or a new file is required, depending on the circumstances.
The goods should not be allowed to depart on the assumption that correction will be possible after arrival, because the essence of the system is that registration and assessment precede shipment.
Twenty-First: Pre-Shipment Checklist
- Confirm that the importer’s Nafeza account is active.
- Confirm that the electronic signature is valid.
- Verify that the foreign exporter is ready on CargoX.
- Review the description of the goods, HS Code, and import restrictions.
- Obtain the ACID number before shipment.
- Verify the validity of the number and its connection to the transaction.
- Send the number to the exporter and the carrier or freight forwarder.
- Review the Draft Bill of Lading before approval.
- Match the invoice, packing list, and bill of lading against the ACI file.
- Monitor transmission of the electronic documents.
- Approve the required documents using the electronic signature.
- Maintain an electronic record showing the procedures, dates, and person responsible for each step.
Conclusion
Advance cargo registration has become part of the legal and operational infrastructure governing imports into Egypt and is no longer limited to maritime freight. Since 1 January 2026, ACI has also become mandatory for air freight shipments.
The most important rule remains that proper registration and obtaining the ACID number must precede shipment. If the number is absent from the shipping documents, the goods may be reshipped outside Egypt without discharge and at the expense of the carrier or its representative.
Compliance is not complete merely by obtaining the number. It is also necessary to verify the validity of the ACID number, ensure consistency between the importer, exporter, goods, invoice, and bill of lading data, and complete the electronic transmission and approval of documents in accordance with the applicable procedural cycle.
The Office of Dr. Mostafa El Rouby – Attorneys and Legal Consultants advises importing companies and freight forwarders to treat the ACI system as a compliance framework beginning at the stage of contracting with the foreign supplier, with responsibilities clearly allocated among the importer, exporter, carrier, and customs broker in order to reduce the risks of reshipment, delay, disputes, and unexpected costs.