Card foreign currency limits in Egypt: what they mean for online payments
The limit you hit on Meta isn't Meta's. It's your card's.
If you pay for ads, AI tools or software from Egypt, you've probably seen a payment fail with no clear reason. Very often the reason is a foreign currency limit your bank sets on the card.
Where the limits come from
The Central Bank of Egypt sets the framework, and each bank sets its own limits within it. Limits tightened sharply from late 2022 as foreign currency got scarce, with some standard cards cut to as little as USD 50 a month (Business Today Egypt, 13 Aug 2025). Some banks stopped debit and prepaid card use outside Egypt in October 2023 (Banque Misr usage limits, Sep 2026).
What the limits look like today
In August 2025, following CBE directives, major banks eased the rules. The CBE dropped the requirement for banks to check that a cardholder had travelled within 90 days of activating overseas limits. Some banks raised international card limits to as much as USD 10,000, and major banks cut their credit card FX fee from 5% to 3% (Business Today Egypt, 13 Aug 2025). A July 2026 survey of banks found some allow foreign purchases of up to USD 10,000 a month, while cash withdrawals abroad are mostly capped at USD 150 to 250 a month (Al Arabiya Business, 7 Jul 2026, in Arabic).
Credit cards are the main option for foreign payments. At some banks, debit and prepaid cards are still blocked for use outside Egypt.
Limits differ by bank and by card type, and banks change them. Check your own bank's current terms in its app or on its website before you plan a month of ad spend around them.
How ad and software payments count
A payment to a foreign merchant like Meta or Google is a foreign currency transaction, even when you make it from Cairo. Some banks apply a lower monthly limit to these payments unless you've told the bank you're travelling (CIB international limits). Ask your bank how it treats online foreign purchases.
A month of Meta and Google spend plus a few subscriptions can use up a limit faster than you expect. Ads also bill in many small charges, so you often hit the limit mid-campaign rather than at the start.
What it costs on top
FX fees. Major banks cut their credit card FX fee from 5% to 3% in August 2025 (Business Today Egypt, 13 Aug 2025). That 3% is charged on top of the exchange rate.
VAT on ads. Meta and Google add 14% VAT to Egyptian ad accounts that haven't added both a Tax Registration Number and a Unique Identification Number. Google started in July 2024 and Meta in November 2024 (Google Ads Help; Meta Business Help).
Planning around the limits
- Know your card's monthly foreign currency limit and track spend against it.
- Pay fixed subscriptions early in the month, before ad spend uses up the headroom.
- Keep a backup payment method on every ad account.
- Set ad accounts to bill in the same currency your card pays in.
Spending USD you earned abroad
If you earn in USD from foreign clients or platforms, there is another way to pay for USD costs. nsave gives you USD account details and a USD international Visa card. The card is funded with money you receive from abroad by ACH, or to a USD, GBP or EUR IBAN. You don't buy dollars from a local bank to fund it.
- 0% fee to top up.
- 0% fee to spend in USD.
- 1% to 1.5% FX fee on non-USD transactions.
- No card limits.
For setup, see How to get an ACH as a freelancer from Egypt. For the full guide to paying for ads, see How to pay for Facebook, Google and TikTok ads from Egypt.
FAQ
Who sets the foreign currency limit on my Egyptian card?
Your bank, within the framework the Central Bank of Egypt sets. That's why limits differ between banks and card tiers.
Do Facebook ads count towards my card's foreign currency limit?
Yes. A payment to Meta is a foreign currency transaction, so it counts like any other online purchase abroad.
Does the nsave card have a limit?
There are no card limits.
Is this financial or legal advice?
No. Rules change, and your bank's terms are what apply to your card. Check with your bank.
