Egypt Immigration


Residence permit for Ukrainians
Family reunification
Multiple entry visa
Acquisition of citizenship
How can women get a residence permit in Egypt?
For women, emigration to an Arab country is most often associated with marriage. Moreover, to obtain a residence permit, you need to go through several stages.
First, you need to register not just an official marriage with a citizen of the country, but one that will be recognized in Egypt. To do this, a document called an ORFI contract is usually drawn up first - it is a preliminary marriage contract that confirms the couple's intentions.
It also gives grounds for obtaining a six-month bride's visa, which is necessary to collect and submit all the necessary documents.
Secondly, after the marriage is registered, you can apply for a two-year visa. If the marriage is not dissolved during these two years, then it will be possible to obtain a residence visa for five years. The death of a husband does not deprive a woman of the right to obtain such a visa and then citizenship.
Egypt has approved the launch of a new program "Residence Permit for Investment", which provides for renewable residence permits for a period of one to five years, subject to an investment of USD 50,000 or more.
Thus, foreign nationals can now apply for a residence permit in Egypt under the following conditions:
Real estate investment
- Acquisition of one or more real estate properties in Egypt with a total value of at least USD 200,000 (5-year residence permit);
- Acquisition of one or more properties in Egypt with a total value of at least USD 100,000 (residence permit for 3 years);
- Acquisition of one or more properties in Egypt with a total value of at least USD 50,000 (1-year residence permit).
Bank deposit
- A deposit of USD 100,000 or more in an Egyptian state-owned bank (residence permit valid for 3 years);
- A deposit of USD 50,000 or more in an Egyptian state-owned bank (1-year residence permit).
In each case, the residence permit can be extended indefinitely as long as the investment is maintained. This program does not impose any physical presence requirements in Egypt.
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A family reunification visa is issued to foreign nationals to obtain a long-term residence permit in Egypt as family members of Egyptian citizens.
Documents required to obtain a family reunification visa to Egypt:
1. Application form
- Completely filled out in English, signed and dated by the applicant personally (in the case of minors under 18 years of age - by both parents)
2. Passport
- Valid for at least six months after the date of your departure from Egypt.
- Signed to the bearer
- Passport issued within the last 10 years
- At least one or two blank "visa pages"
- Undamaged photos pasted into the passport
3. Two photographs
- Frontal view, covering 70-80% (32-26 mm) of the photo.
- Uniform and white background.
- Clear facial features and eyes - not covered by hair or glasses
- Size 3x4
4. A copy of the identity card
- Valid for at least two months after the date of departure from Egypt.
5. Residence permit / copy of visa (if the country of residence and citizenship are different)
- Valid for at least two months after the date of departure from Egypt.
6. Photocopies
- Copy of the first page of the passport
- Copies of previous visas / residence permits in Egypt
7. Data of the spouse
- Copy of the passport
- Spouses of foreign nationals must submit a copy of their partner's residence permit in Egypt.
- Certificate of residence of the spouse living in Egypt
8. Marriage certificate
- Egyptian marriage certificate along with certified copies.
9. Proof of residence in Egypt
- A copy of the rental certificate of an apartment in Egypt or a certificate of ownership of real estate if the partner already lives in Egypt.
- If the host party provides housing, a document proving the right of ownership/use (e.g., a lease agreement), which clearly allows guests to stay at this place.
10. Confirmation of sufficient means of accommodation
- A copy of the employment certificate of a foreigner who intends to reside in Egypt
- Salary for the last two months, if you are residing in Egypt.
- In case of self-financing: personal bank statement showing your financial movements (at least for the last 3 months), credit card, cash, travel bills, payment receipts, certificate from the place of work, document confirming the sponsor's willingness to cover the expenses during the stay, proof of advance payment for accommodation, document on private housing, certificate of advance payment for travel.
- In case of sponsorship: a current account statement of the sponsor for the last 3 months (indicating the sponsor's name, final balance and date of issue), a sponsorship letter, a copy of the first page of the sponsor's passport with data.
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How long does it take to apply for a family reunification visa to Egypt?
The average time for obtaining a long-term visa to Egypt is 3-20 calendar days. It depends on the country in which the visa is issued.
Where to apply for a visa to Egypt for family reunification?
Documents for a visa to Egypt for family reunification are submitted to visa centers, embassies or consulates of Egypt.
After the consultation, you can ask us additional questions. We are interested in the complete resolution of your case. Get a full range of legal services conveniently and quickly - order a consultation right now!
The Egyptian multi-entry visa, also known as a multiple-entry visa, is a type of visa that allows eligible travelers to visit the country for 5 years. This visa allows multiple entries and exits, which means that there is no limit to the number of times a traveler can enter or exit Egypt using the same visa.
The advantage of a multi-entry visa is its extended validity and multiple entry capability, which eliminates the need for visitors to re-apply for a new visa each time they plan to visit Egypt within a 5-year period.
How to get a long-term visa to Egypt: Step-by-step instructions
For those who are interested in obtaining a multiple-entry 5-year visa to Egypt, it can be conveniently applied for upon arrival at all major Egyptian airports. The process is relatively simple, but may vary slightly depending on the port of entry.
- Queue at the immigration office: Upon arrival, you will need to get in line at the immigration office.
- Fill out the application form: Fill out the visa application form provided by the immigration officers.
- Submit the required documents: Be prepared to submit all the necessary documents to obtain your visa.
- Pay the visa fee: Once the documents are submitted, you will need to pay the visa fee.
- Wait for approval: After paying the fee, you need to wait for your visa application to be approved.
The application process for a 5-year Egyptian visa includes a fee of $700, which is paid upon arrival. This fee is required for individuals who need long-term access to the country. The cost of the visa is USD 700 (21,630 Egyptian pounds).
However, for those who do not need a 5-year visa, there are other cost-effective options, including obtaining an electronic visa to Egypt. In this case, a multiple-entry e-Visa may be the best choice.
The multiple-entry visa is mainly intended for investors and real estate owners.
After the consultation, you can ask us additional questions. We are interested in the complete resolution of your case. Get a full range of legal services conveniently and quickly - order a consultation right now!
In March 2020, the Egyptian government passed a new citizenship law. It allows wealthy individuals to obtain a passport for an investment of $250,000 or more.
The Citizenship by Investment program was officially launched in Egypt on March 14, 2020. This is the date of the publication of Parliamentary Law No. 190, which defines the conditions and procedure for issuing a passport for contribution to the country's economy.
By April 2021, the Egyptian government has set up a special department that will accept and review investor applications. By the summer, the department plans to launch the official website of the program.
The program is not limited by time or number of passports. The terms of the program and the procedure for obtaining a passport are set by the program department.
Dual citizenship is allowed in Egypt. However, the intention to obtain a second citizenship must be notified to the authorities, and in case of its obtainment, it is prohibited to perform military service, be elected to the parliament and study at police academies
What are the ways to obtain citizenship in Egypt?
1. Investment of funds:
- Purchase of real estate in the amount of $300,000 or more. This amount may include the purchase of several properties. In this case, the transaction can be paid in installments throughout the year. It is allowed to buy housing, commercial real estate, and land plots. The property can be already commissioned or under construction. Only transactions involving state-owned property are accepted for participation in the program.
- Investments in business from $350,000. The investor opens a new company in Egypt or invests in an existing local business. Under the terms of the program, the investor must also own at least 40% of the shares of the company in which he or she invests.
- A charitable contribution of $250,000, which the investor transfers to the account of the program's department at the Central Bank of Egypt. The non-refundable contribution to the Egyptian treasury can be made in installments throughout the year.
- Bank deposit. To obtain Egyptian citizenship, an investor opens an interest-free deposit with the Central Bank. Individuals can deposit USD 500,000 and return the interest-free deposit after three years. The minimum deposit amount is set in US dollars, but the money must be converted into Egyptian pounds before being credited to the bank account.
- In addition, there are other fees. In particular, the investor also pays a state fee of USD 10,000 regardless of the chosen investment option. The fee must be paid before submitting an application.
How do I pay for participation in the program by choosing one of the above investment options?
By law, the investor must pay for the investment from abroad: the department will not accept transfers made from Egyptian bank accounts. The sponsor can be the investor's spouse or friend. Transfers are accepted from the investor's or sponsor's personal account or from the account of a company he or she owns. The investment condition must be fulfilled only after the department approves the investor's application.
The investment is valid for 5 years. If the investor sells the real estate, declares the company bankrupt, or closes the deposit before the specified period, he or she may be deprived of citizenship. However, there is an opportunity to retain the country's passport: for this, the investor needs to pay a charitable contribution of $250,000.
Who can obtain Egyptian citizenship through investment?
An adult investor who has a legal source of income, good health, and no criminal record can apply for participation in the investment program and obtain Egyptian citizenship. In this case, the investor will not need to renounce his/her citizenship to obtain Egyptian citizenship.
How long does it take to obtain Egyptian citizenship through investment?
Citizenship by investment can be obtained, as a rule, for a period of 6 to 9 months.
Which family members can an investor include in the application for citizenship?
An investor may indicate in the application
- a spouse who is officially married to the investor;
- children under the age of 21 who are not married.
- Children receive citizenship at the same time as the investor, and the spouse - two years after the investor.
- Egyptian citizenship obtained under the investment program is inherited by the investor's children. This means that newborn children become Egyptian citizens automatically by birthright.
Egyptian citizens have the right to live, work, do business and study in the country without restrictions. They can also obtain an E2 business visa to the United States and travel visa-free to 90 countries, including Iran, Jordan, and Hong Kong.
2. "Right of blood"
A child born to an Egyptian man or woman and categorized as an abandoned or orphaned child whose parents are unknown can become an Egyptian citizen.
If a man is an Egyptian citizen, his children can automatically obtain citizenship, even if they were born in any other country. Children of Egyptian mothers acquire citizenship only if the father's citizenship is not established or is absent.
3. Naturalization
This method is suitable for most people who want to move to Egypt and stay there for permanent residence, especially from countries where dual citizenship is allowed.
In order to become a full-fledged citizen, you need to legally live in the country for 10 years. Or have Arabic as your native language and Islam as your religion.
Naturalization may be granted to persons who have lived in Egypt for a sufficient period of time to demonstrate that they understand the Arabic language, customs and traditions of the society. The general provisions are that applicants must have a good reputation and behavior; have no criminal record; be in good mental and physical health; and be economically self-sufficient.
In addition to foreigners who meet the above criteria, there are other persons who can be naturalized:
- The legal spouse of an Egyptian citizen after two years of marriage and submitting an application to the Minister of Interior stating their desire to obtain Egyptian citizenship;
- Persons born in Egypt who have the citizenship of a Muslim country or a country where the majority of the population speaks Arabic and who have lived in Egypt for one year;
- Egyptian-born foreigners who have been permanently residing in Egypt at the time of reaching the age of majority may be naturalized without meeting the residency requirement if they apply within one year of reaching the age of majority;
- Persons born in Egypt, whose father was also born in Egypt and has Arab or Muslim roots, can be naturalized after five years of residence in the country;
- Minor children can be automatically naturalized when their parents become citizens;
- Persons who have made an exceptional contribution to the development of the country, including as the head of a religious organization, may be naturalized without other requirements;
- persons who have invested certain funds in the development of the country may be naturalized after five years of residence in Egypt.