EgyptResidence permit by investment

Residence permit through investment in Egypt

The programme grants temporary residence to foreign nationals who invest in Egyptian property or place a foreign currency deposit with a state bank. The term of the permit depends on the size of the investment and may be extended so long as the investment conditions are maintained. This is a standalone programme, separate from the route to citizenship by investment. The benefits include the ability to own property, freedom of movement and lawful status, but this permit does not allow you to work without a separate employment permit.

Visa term

1, 3 or 5 years

Renewal: yes, for the same term

Processing time

Not standardised; depends on the authority

Work

Not provided automatically

Residence

Maintaining the investment and the security clearances

Source: gafi.gov.eg — rules for granting residence permits to foreign investors

Who it suits and how to start

The programme is designed for foreign nationals ready to invest in the Egyptian economy through property or a bank deposit. There are several main routes depending on the type and size of the investment.

Investment in property

Buying residential or commercial property from a licensed developer
Transferring funds from abroad through a state bank, with a documented source
Obtaining a residence permit matching the size of the investment: from 1 to 5 years
Retaining ownership rights for the whole period of the permit

Foreign currency deposit

Placing foreign currency in an account with an Egyptian state bank
Formal registration of the deposit with the source documented
Obtaining a temporary residence permit for a term matching the size of the investment
The ability to top up or re-register the deposit on renewal

Investment in a company

Participation as a partner in an Egyptian company with a share of at least the set amount
A bank certificate confirming the deposit of capital into the company's account
An amendment to the constitutional documents and up-to-date registration in the Register
Renewal of the permit while the business is actively operating

When the programme will not suit

You are looking for a work permit — the programme gives no automatic right to employment

File a separate application for a work permit through an employer or the Ministry of the Interior

You want citizenship quickly — this residence permit does not lead automatically to naturalisation

Consider the citizenship by investment programme (it requires a different scale of investment and a different process)

You have no documents proving the source of funds from abroad

Approach a bank or a law firm for legal advice on evidencing the source

You are planning a short stay (weeks) with no investment

Use a tourist visa or a business visa through the embassy

What it costs

Investment in property for a 1-year residence permitThe minimum amount for a one-year permit	50,000 USD
Investment in property for a 3-year residence permitThe investment required for a three-year permit	100,000 USD
Investment in property for a 5-year residence permitThe minimum for a five-year permit	200,000 USD
Advance deposit before filing the applicationThe part of the investment that has to be placed before the documents are filed	+100,000 USD
Foreign currency bank deposit (alternative to property, 1 year)Placement with a state bank as an alternative to buying property	50,000 USD
Foreign currency bank deposit (alternative to property, 3 years)A bank deposit for obtaining a three-year permit	100,000 USD
Minimum share in an Egyptian companyA partner's share confirmed by a bank certificate	35,000 USD
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Advance deposit before filing the application” adds 100,000 USD; the “Foreign currency bank deposit (alternative to property, 1 year)” branch replaces the “Investment in property for a 1-year residence permit” line — 350,000 USD; the “Foreign currency bank deposit (alternative to property, 3 years)” branch replaces the “Investment in property for a 3-year residence permit” line — 350,000 USD; the “Minimum share in an Egyptian company” branch replaces the “Investment in property for a 1-year residence permit” line — 335,000 USD. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	350,000–450,000 USD

Paid separately

Intermediaries' and agents' commissions — Not part of the official fees; paid separately when working through third parties
Property taxes or tax on rental income — Part of the owner's future obligations, not of the initial cost of the residence permit
The services of legal advisers and translators — Additional costs borne by the applicant themselves

Documents to gather

The documents differ according to the investment route, but the basic set stays the same. All foreign documents must be notarially attested and translated into Arabic.

A valid passport (at least 6 months before expiry) with a copy of the main page
The original and a copy of the property sale contract or the title certificate
A bank statement confirming receipt of the funds from abroad through an official channel
The receipt for the deposit paid to the developer or the bank before the application was filed
A colour passport photograph measuring 4x6 cm (usually 2–4 prints)
Proof of residential address (an electricity, water or internet bill, or a bank statement)
A certificate of no criminal record from the country of origin (where the Egyptian authorities require it)
A medical certificate on the state of health (a certificate of freedom from infectious diseases)
The application form in the prescribed format (issued by the Immigration Department)
Family members' documents filed together with the application: marriage certificate, children's birth certificates and their passports (for inclusion in the residence permit)

How the process runs

The process takes from several weeks to several months depending on how complete the documents are and how quickly the administrative bodies work.

1
Choosing approved property or setting the size of the deposit
1–2 weeks
Find residential or commercial property from a licensed developer that fits the investment budget. Make sure the property is on the official list of permitted projects of GAFI or the Ministry of Investment. Alternatively, choose a bank for the foreign currency deposit.
2
Transferring funds from abroad and placing the deposit
1–2 weeks
Transfer the money from a foreign bank to an account with one of Egypt's state banks (the National Bank of Egypt, for instance). At least 100,000 dollars must be paid to the developer or the bank before the application is filed. Obtain the supporting documents: the bank statement and the deposit receipt stating the source.
3
Gathering and preparing the documents
2–3 weeks
Prepare the passport and a copy, the property contract, proof of address, photographs, the health certificate and any other required documents. If family members are being included in the residence permit, prepare their passports, the marriage certificate and the birth certificates. All foreign documents must be translated into Arabic by a notary.
4
Filing the application with the Immigration Department
1 day
File the set of documents in person or through an authorised representative with the Passports, Immigration and Nationality Administration of the Egyptian Ministry of the Interior. In Cairo the reception offices are usually in Nasr City. Obtain a receipt for the documents with the case number.
5
Security check and review
4–8 weeks
The security bodies (the Egyptian State Security Agency) examine the form and the applicant's history. This is the critical stage and may take up most of the processing time. Further documents or clarifications are requested where necessary. The applicant waits without any right to obtain information on the status.
6
Receiving notice of approval
1–2 days
Once the security bodies have decided in your favour you will receive a notification (usually a letter or an SMS). It states the date and place for collecting the residence permit.
7
Issue and registration of the residence permit
1 day
Attend the designated Immigration Department with your passport and the approval notice. Your passport will be marked with a residence permit stamp. Obtain the official residence permit certificate. That completes the process; the permit runs from the date of issue for the set term (1, 3 or 5 years).

Who you can bring with you

Family members (spouse and children) may be included in the investor's residence permit subject to additional documentary requirements.

Spouse

A notarially attested marriage certificate with an apostille is required, together with a copy of the spouse's passport with at least 6 months' validity and a medical certificate. The spouse is included in the same residence permit for the same number of years as the principal investor. The spouse receives a separate residence permit, but the investment is treated as shared.

Minor children (under 21)

A birth certificate for each child with an apostille is required, together with a passport or a birth certificate bearing a note of citizenship, and a medical certificate. The children are included in the principal investor's residence permit for the same term. On reaching majority a child may continue the residence permit by showing their own investment interests or by moving to another permit category.

Adult children (over 21)

They are not automatically included in a parent's residence permit. Each adult child must file their own application on the basis of a personal investment (if there is one) or another residence category. They may be able to obtain a family residence permit as dependants, if policy at the time of filing allows it.

Renewal and the grace period

The investor residence permit is renewed for a similar term (1, 3 or 5 years depending on the original permit) provided the investor retains ownership of the property or maintains the deposit in full. It is advisable to start the renewal process 2–3 months before the current permit expires. For renewal, updated documents are filed: the passport, a statement confirming that the property is still held, a certificate of no outstanding debts (where required) and a medical certificate. Where the investment conditions continue, renewal is approved on an accelerated basis (usually 2–4 weeks). If the investor sells the property or withdraws the deposit, the residence permit may not be renewed.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Not automatically; through CBI or general naturalisation

Route to citizenship

There is no direct route; citizenship comes through CBI or naturalisation

Frequently asked questions about Residence permit through investment

Does the investor residence permit give an automatic right to work in Egypt?

No. Ministerial Decree No. 977/2023, which introduced this route, governs only the grounds for the residence permit itself — owning property or holding a bank deposit of a set amount — and says nothing about the right to work. Working in Egypt requires a separate permit from the labour authorities for any foreign national, whatever the ground of their residence permit. Many holders of investor residence do not work at all — they live on rental income from the property or on dividends.

What happens to the residence permit if I sell the property?

Decree No. 977/2023 has no rule directly covering this case. It sets out two equivalent grounds for residence — owning property of the required value or holding a bank deposit of the same amount — and leaves the conditions and documents for renewal to the director of the General Directorate of Passports, Immigration and Nationality, set by an internal, unpublished act. Since both grounds require an active asset at the time of the decision, it is reasonable to expect that renewal after a sale will call for either a fresh investment or a bank deposit in its place. There is no official confirmation of this — check with a licensed agent before the sale.

How long does it take to obtain the investor residence permit?

There is no official processing time in the legislation. Decree No. 977/2023 sets out only the conditions for the permit (the value of the property or deposit) and the length of the permit itself — 1, 3 or 5 years; the procedure, the list of documents and, with them, the real processing time are set by an internal act of the director of the General Directorate of Passports, Immigration and Nationality, which is not published.

Is a minimum annual income or financial guarantee required for the period of residence?

No. Investment Law No. 72/2017 (article 3) sets a single condition: the state grants the foreign investor residence for the whole term of the investment project — the law contains no requirement for a separate annual income or a financial guarantee to live there. What has to be maintained is the investment itself: continued ownership of the property, or the bank deposit left untouched.

How are the investor residence permit and citizenship by investment (CBI) related?

These are different mechanisms. The ordinary investor residence permit (under Decree No. 977/2023 or Investment Law No. 72/2017) is a standalone status for 1–5 years, renewable, and does not by itself lead to citizenship. Citizenship by investment is a separate procedure run by a unit under the Cabinet of Ministers (the applications unit at GAFI): unlike Cyprus or Spain, Egypt does not require living in the country for a set period beforehand. Prime Minister's Decree No. 876/2023 sets four routes: buying state-owned real estate from USD 300,000; an investment project from USD 350,000 plus a non-refundable USD 100,000 payment to the treasury; a bank deposit of USD 500,000, refunded after three years with no interest; or a direct non-refundable payment of USD 250,000 to the treasury. The first and fourth routes may be paid in instalments over up to a year, during which the applicant holds non-tourist temporary residence; citizenship is granted only once payment is complete. Separately, the applicant transfers USD 10,000 from abroad to the Central Bank of Egypt as an administrative fee and files the application with documents; the decision takes 3–6 months. Once the security services approve, the applicant is granted six months of temporary residence to complete the chosen investment, and only then is citizenship granted to them and to their minor children up to the age of 21, by decision of the Prime Minister.

Is there a minimum period of residence in Egypt to maintain the permit?

No. Investment Law No. 72/2017 (article 3) ties residence only to the length of the investment project itself — the law sets no requirement to be physically present in the country for a given number of days a year.

Other ways to move to Egypt

Work and study residence permitWork / student residence permit

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Egypt.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 3 September 2026.