A Comprehensive Guide to Registration in the Exporters' Registry (Export Card) in Egypt
The Export Card is an essential and vital document for any establishment or company in Egypt seeking to engage in export activity, whether through exporting locally-made products or goods previously imported for trading purposes. This article aims to be a detailed and comprehensive guide explaining all the necessary conditions and requirements for registration in the Exporters' Registry, in accordance with Law No. 118 of 1975 and its executive regulation No. 770 of 2005.
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1. Registration for Individual Establishments (Individuals)
A. Registration Conditions:
- Commercial Activity: The individual establishment must be registered in the Commercial Register, and the export activity must be included in its purposes, whether it's exporting local products or goods imported for trading purposes.
- Capital:
- For productive projects: The fixed capital in the Commercial Register must not be less than 10,000 EGP.
- For other projects (non-productive): The fixed capital must not be less than 25,000 EGP.
- Certificate of Export Practice: The owner of the establishment or the person responsible for exporting (the insured) must obtain a Certificate of Export Practice after completing an accredited training course.
- Employment Status: The applicant or their authorized agent must not be a government employee, a public sector employee, or an employee of public sector companies or public institutions.
- Investment Law: If the establishment is subject to the provisions of Investment Law No. 72 of 2017, the export activity must be listed among the activities practiced outside the scope of this law.
- Legal Compliance: The establishment must not have been subject to a decision to suspend it for one year or cancel its registration for 3 years due to a violation.
B. Required Documents:
- Registration Application Form: The registration application form for the Exporters' Registry must be filled out and signed by the applicant or their authorized agent.
- Proof of Identity: A copy of the National ID card or a valid passport for the owner of the establishment and the authorized agent (if any), with the original copy to be viewed.
- Commercial Register Extract: A recent official extract from the Commercial Register, issued no more than 90 days ago, showing the capital and export activity.
- Tax Card: A copy of the valid tax card that matches the data in the Commercial Register. (A tax registration certificate is accepted as an alternative to the tax card).
- Certificate of Export Practice:
- The original Certificate of Export Practice for the person responsible for exporting after completing the training course.
- Or, a receipt for the training course fees or a booking letter from an accredited center as a temporary substitute.
- Person Responsible for Exporting: In case the person responsible for exporting is an employee whose name is not mentioned in the Commercial Register, the original recent insurance printout (1S Insurances) showing their job title must be submitted, in addition to a letter from the establishment designating them as responsible.
- Pledge to Provide Documents: In the absence of an original document, a pledge to provide it before receiving the card must be submitted.
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2. Registration for Partnerships and Joint-Stock Companies
A. Registration Conditions:
- Commercial Activity: The company must be registered in the Commercial Register and hold a valid tax card, and the export activity must be confirmed in the Commercial Register.
- Capital:
- For productive projects: The fixed capital in the Commercial Register must not be less than 20,000 EGP.
- For other projects: The fixed capital in the Commercial Register must not be less than 50,000 EGP.
- Certificate of Export Practice: One of the partners or the responsible directors, or the person responsible for exporting, must have obtained a Certificate of Export Practice.
- Employment Status: The general partners or those with the right to manage and sign must not be government employees, public sector employees, or employees of public sector companies.
- Legal Compliance: The company must not have been subject to a decision to suspend it for one year or cancel its registration for 3 years due to a violation.
B. Required Documents:
- Registration Application Form: The form must be filled out and signed by the person with the right to manage and sign.
- Proof of Identity: Copies of National ID cards or valid passports for general partners, responsible directors, and members of the board of directors, with the original copies to be viewed.
- Commercial Register Extract: A recent official extract from the Commercial Register, valid for no more than 90 days, showing the capital and export activity.
- Tax Card: A copy of the valid tax card that matches the data in the Commercial Register.
- Certificate of Export Practice: The original certificate for the person responsible for exporting, or a receipt for the fees or a booking letter for the course as a temporary substitute.
- Person Responsible for Exporting: In case of an employee, the original recent insurance printout (1S Insurances) must be submitted along with a letter from the company designating their role.
- Pledge to Provide Documents: In the absence of an original document, a pledge to provide it before receiving the card must be submitted.
- Special Pledge for New Registration: A pledge is submitted if a temporary copy is desired.
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3. Registration for Public Legal Entities, Associations, or Unions
- Conditions: They must be registered according to their regulating law, and the export activity must be included in their purposes.
- Documents:
- A copy of the Commercial Register.
- A copy of the tax card.
- A document proving registration with the competent administrative body.
- A document showing the names of those with the right to manage and sign.
- A copy of the National ID cards for the directors.
- The original Certificate of Export Practice for the responsible director.
- A pledge of the director's responsibility before regulatory bodies.
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4. Registration for Branches of Foreign Companies
- Conditions:
- It must be registered in the Commercial Register.
- It must have an agent and a legal representative in Egypt.
- The export activity must be included in its purposes.
- It must not have been subject to a decision of administrative cancellation for 3 years.
- Documents:
- A copy of the registration document in the Commercial Register.
- A copy of the tax card.
- A copy of the parent company's articles of incorporation.
- An official power of attorney for the legal representative in Egypt.
- A copy of the Certificate of Export Practice for the responsible director.
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General Notes and Important Procedures
- Validity of Registration: The export card is valid for five years.
- Renewal: The export card can be renewed 90 days before its expiration date. Failure to renew within one year of the expiration date will result in administrative cancellation.
- Amendment: The authority must be notified of any amendment in the Commercial Register or the tax card within 60 days of the amendment taking place.
- Re-registration: Re-registration is not allowed in case of administrative cancellation or upon the exporter's request until a cancellation decision approved by the Chairman of the Board of Directors is issued and recorded in the system.
- Application Locations: Applications are submitted at the relevant branches of the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC) or the relevant Chambers of Commerce.
- Temporary Card: In case a temporary card is obtained from the Investor Services Complex or the Chamber of Commerce, it is replaced with the permanent card from the Ma'rouf branch.
- Customs Dealer Card: After obtaining the Export Card, a Customs Dealer Card must be obtained from the customs computer system.
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