Travelling with Silver to and from Egypt
Egypt asks arriving travellers to list gold and precious metals on the customs arrival declaration. Personal effects with no commercial character are exempt, but silver jewellery above personal use is charged 30% customs duty plus 14% VAT on the official making charge, according to customs practice reported in 2024, and, according to the same reports, silver items not for personal use are held for stamping by the assay authority. Foreign currency above USD 10,000 must be declared, and Egyptian pounds are limited to EGP 5,000 each way. These are the rules as of October 2026; check with Egyptian Customs before you travel.
Reviewed October 2026 from official sources (listed below). Rules change — check with customs before you travel.
Estimate
Valued at today's silver price. The duty shown is the 30% reported for silver jewellery above personal use, before VAT on the making charge. An estimate, not a customs assessment.
Duty-Free Silver Allowance in Egypt
| Traveller | Duty-free allowance | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Silver jewellery you own and wear | Exempt as personal effects | Declare precious metals on the arrival form. No official weight limit is published. |
| New silver jewellery above personal use | 30% customs duty plus VAT | 14% VAT on the official making charge and the duty (customs practice reported in 2024). |
| Silver bars | Declare; dutiable | We could not confirm the duty rate on silver bars. |
Duty and stamping on silver
Customs Law No. 207 of 2020 exempts travellers' personal effects with no commercial character. Above personal use, silver jewellery brought by passengers is charged 30% customs duty (against 10% for gold), plus 14% VAT on the official making-charge value and the duty, according to customs practice reported in May 2024. The official making-charge averages for silver rose by 10% from 1 July 2026. Under Law No. 68 of 1976, silver, like gold and platinum, may not be sold in Egypt without the government stamp, and imported items not for personal use are held until the assay authority stamps them, as customs still did in 2024 according to press reports.
Customs Circular No. 37 of 2023 asks customs to make sure the arrival declaration lists what passengers carry, especially gold and precious metals. The 2023–2024 duty exemption for precious-metal jewellery brought by travellers ended on 10 May 2024.
Taking silver out of Egypt
Egypt publishes no weight limit on silver you take out. Keep the invoice and buy stamped silver. Foreign currency above USD 10,000 can leave only if it was declared on arrival, and Egyptian pounds are limited to EGP 5,000. On arrival, India, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have their own allowances and declaration limits.
Silver price in Egypt today
Live rates →| Fine silver (999) | E£983.93 / 10 g | E£98,393 / kg |
|---|---|---|
| Sterling (925) | E£911.05 / 10 g | E£91,105 / kg |
Bringing Silver to Egypt: FAQ
How much is 1 kg of silver worth in Egypt today?
About E£98,393 for 1 kg of fine (999) silver at the international price converted to EGP (Oct 27, 2026, 15:40 UTC). Customs use their own notified or assessed value, and shops charge more, so treat this as an estimate.
What duty do I pay on silver jewellery brought into Egypt?
Above personal use, customs practice reported in 2024 is 30% customs duty plus 14% VAT on the official making charge and the duty. Personal jewellery you wear is exempt.
Do I need to declare silver at Cairo airport?
Customs instructions say the arrival declaration must list items carried, especially gold and precious metals. Declare silver beyond personal jewellery.
Does silver need to be stamped in Egypt?
Yes, to be sold in Egypt. Silver items imported for sale or not for personal use are held until the assay authority stamps them.
Silver Travel Allowance in Other Countries
Sources: Customs Law No. 207 of 2020 (English, Andersen Egypt) · Al Mal News: customs duty and VAT on gold and silver brought by passengers (May 2024, Arabic) · Egypt Independent: official making charges for gold and silver from July 2026 · Egypt Independent: EGP 5,000 limit for travellers. Information, not legal advice: customs officers decide on the spot, and rules change. See also: silver price in Egypt · gold allowance for Egypt · where silver is cheapest.