SIM Card and Mobile Internet in Egypt for Foreigners

Which mobile operators work in Egypt

Egypt has four mobile operators: Vodafone, Orange, e& (formerly Etisalat, and many people still call it that) and WE. WE belongs to the national operator Telecom Egypt, which also runs landlines and most home internet in the country.

There is no clear leader: coverage and speed depend a lot on the area and even the building. So the best advice is simple: ask neighbours and classmates which network works well in your flat and at your university.

Since June 2025 Egypt has had 5G, starting in the big cities. To use it you need a 5G phone and a suitable package.

What documents you need for a SIM card

In Egypt every SIM card is registered to a specific person. Under the rules of the telecom regulator NTRA, a foreigner must come to an operator store in person with an original passport and a document proving legal stay in the country (a visa or a residence permit). The agent checks that your permitted stay has not expired and makes colour copies of the documents, then you sign the contract and receive your copy.

• Limit. A foreigner can register up to five voice lines and five data-only lines with each operator.
• Validity. Your number is tied to your permitted stay. If you do not bring the operator a new document within a month after your visa or residence permit expires, the line is disconnected.
• Renewal. Got a new residence permit? Take it to the operator store so your number keeps working.
• What may change. In August 2026 NTRA said that the numbers of foreigners will be linked even more closely to passport data and the period of legal residence, and will be suspended automatically when it ends. No start date has been announced yet, so follow the news on the official NTRA website and from your operator.

Where to buy a SIM card and how to top up

SIM cards are sold in the arrivals hall of Cairo airport and in official operator stores in town. At the airport you get connected right away, while in a town store it is easier to choose a plan and ask questions. Operators also sell special tourist SIM cards.

Most people use prepaid service: you put money on your balance and activate a monthly bundle of minutes and gigabytes. You can top up at kiosks and shops, in the official operator app, through Fawry terminals or with a bank card. Bundle prices change often, so compare them in the operator apps before you buy.

Why you should not use a number registered to someone else

Sometimes a friend or the seller registers a SIM card for a student in their own name. This is risky. In August 2026 NTRA referred the operators to the Public Prosecution over lines registered to people without their knowledge and announced urgent measures: holders will receive SMS messages asking them to sign a new contract in the name of the actual user at an operator store, and lines not updated by the deadline will be cancelled permanently.

So register your number only with your own passport. If you get such an SMS, do not put off the visit: losing the number can also mean losing access to bank codes, WhatsApp and Telegram.

How to get an eSIM in Egypt

Since December 2024 all four Egyptian operators have offered eSIM. A new eSIM is usually issued at an operator store under the same rules as a regular SIM card, and with some operators existing customers can switch to eSIM in the app. Each operator sets its own fee.

Before going to the store, check that your phone supports eSIM. Another option is a tourist eSIM from an international service, bought online before the trip. It usually gives data only, without an Egyptian number, and for living in the country it is generally more expensive than a local SIM card.

A phone from home and an Egyptian SIM card

If your phone was not bought in Egypt, keep the phone registration rules in mind. Since 21 January 2026 the exemption for phones brought in by passengers has ended: the duty is paid through the official Telephony app, and a phone whose duty is not paid within 90 days is disconnected from Egyptian networks. Under the announced rules, tourists who buy a tourist SIM card with their passport get 90 duty-free days for each trip.

Students and everyone staying in Egypt for a long time should sort this out in advance. Read more in how to buy a phone in Egypt and avoid an IMEI block. The rules change, so check the current terms in the Telephony app and on the NTRA website.

Home internet in your flat

Home internet in Egypt almost always runs over a Telecom Egypt landline. You can buy the package from WE or from Vodafone, Orange and e&, which also sell home internet. You need a landline in the flat, and often it already exists and is registered to the landlord. A foreigner usually needs a passport for a contract with WE.

• Quota. Packages come with a monthly gigabyte limit. When it runs out, the speed drops sharply until you buy extra data or a new month starts.
• Speed. On an old copper line it depends on the distance to the exchange and the state of the cable. New districts and compounds increasingly have fibre, where the internet is faster.
• No landline. You can get a 4G router with a SIM card from a mobile operator. It is handy for a short stay, but gigabytes usually cost more.
• Renting. Before paying for a flat, ask the landlord whether there is a line and a router and whose name the contract is in. For other things to check, read how to rent an apartment in Cairo.

Useful tips

• Your phone must be unlocked for all networks, otherwise an Egyptian SIM card will not work in it.
• Going home for the holidays? Ask the operator what happens to a number that is not topped up for a long time, and leave some credit for SMS messages from your bank.
• Lost your SIM card? You can restore the number at an operator store with the passport it is registered to.
• Free Wi-Fi is available in many cafes and malls, but it is better to open banking apps over mobile data.

Phones and electronics on Tullab

On Tullab, Russian-speaking residents of Egypt sell phones, routers and other electronics, and you can contact the seller by phone or Telegram. If you have a spare phone, post a free listing and say right away whether it is registered in Egypt.