Commercial Invoice for Egypt

Commercial Invoices for Exports to Egypt

Egypt is one of the most document-intensive import markets in the region. Customs, banks and the importer each examine the commercial invoice, and many Egyptian importers and banks still require it to be certified by a chamber of commerce and legalized by the Embassy of Egypt. Getting the invoice right before it is stamped saves far more time than fixing it after the goods arrive.

The ACID number and Egypt’s advance cargo system

Egypt’s Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system requires the Egyptian importer to obtain an ACID number for each shipment before it is loaded. The ACID number must appear on the commercial invoice and the certificate of origin, and foreign exporters are generally expected to register on the platform used to exchange shipping documents electronically under the system. Get the ACID number from your importer before you issue the invoice. A missing or wrong ACID number is one of the most common reasons shipments are delayed in Egyptian ports.

What the invoice must show

Issue the invoice on company letterhead, signed by an authorized person whose name is clearly printed, and show the Egyptian importer’s full name and tax details as your importer provides them, the ACID number, a precise description of each item with its HS code, quantities, unit prices, total value, currency, Incoterm and country of origin. The invoice must match the certificate of origin, the packing list and the bill of lading exactly, including the consignee, quantities and weights. Under a letter of credit, follow the bank’s wording to the letter.

Chamber stamp and embassy legalization

The Arab American Chamber of Commerce reviews the invoice and certifies it, normally within one business day. The certified invoice is then presented to the Embassy of Egypt for legalization, which takes about six business days. The full price per document is $267: a $100 service fee, the $35 chamber stamp and the $132 Embassy of Egypt fee, with return shipping added at checkout. If your Egyptian buyer needs only the chamber stamp, the $35 stamp alone is available, and the order can be moved to embassy legalization later if customs or the bank asks.

Never apostilled

Egypt does not accept apostilles for any document, and commercial invoices are in any case excluded from the Apostille Convention. The chamber-and-embassy route is the only one that works.