EgyptProtection
Asylum in Egypt: registration and refugee status
Asylum and refugee registration with UNHCR in Egypt (Asylum Law No. 164 of 2024)
In short
In Egypt, people seeking international protection register with UNHCR, which has carried out registration and refugee status determination on Egypt’s behalf. Egypt issued its first national asylum law, Law No. 164 of 2024, on 16 December 2024. Registered asylum-seekers and refugees receive UNHCR documents and can obtain a residence permit from the Ministry of Interior.
Apply on UNHCR Egypt Help checked 23 October 2026
Key facts
- Validity
- UNHCR white certificate: 6 months; yellow asylum-seeker card: 18 months; blue refugee card: 3 years. UNHCR-registered refugees are listed for the three-year residence permit.
- Family
- Family members are registered on the same case and each attends the residence appointment.
- Path to permanent residence
- The Ministry of Interior grants refugees legal permits until they are resettled in another country or return to their country of origin.
- Where to apply
- Inside Egypt, with UNHCR. There is no procedure for applying from abroad at an Egyptian embassy.
Who registers and where
Anyone in Egypt who fears returning to their country of origin can ask UNHCR for registration. UNHCR receives people in its offices only with an appointment arranged through its Infoline or online tools; first-time registration appointments can be requested through the UNHCR Egypt help website. Claims are made inside Egypt.
The 2024 asylum law
Egypt issued the Asylum Law for Foreigners No. 164 of 2024 on 16 December 2024, its first national legislation on refugee status. UNHCR has published formal comments on the law. Because the national system is being put in place, check the UNHCR Egypt help site for which body currently registers claims and issues documents before you go to any office.
Registration and documents
At registration UNHCR records the family and issues a document. A person who presents an authentic identity document with photo and nationality receives a yellow asylum-seeker card valid for 18 months; without such an ID, a white certificate valid for 6 months is issued. Recognised refugees receive a blue card valid for three years. Renewal appointments can be requested through the MyUNHCR portal around the time the card expires.
- Request a registration appointment through the UNHCR Egypt help website or Infoline.
- Attend the appointment with all family members and any identity documents you have.
- Receive the white certificate or yellow card and keep it valid by renewing on time.
- Obtain the reference number and residence appointment from UNHCR or Caritas.
- Submit the residence application at the Passports and Immigration office assigned to you and collect the permit on the date given.
Residence permit
UNHCR card holders still need an Egyptian residence permit. It is issued by the Passports and Immigration Administration, at its main office in Abbasiya, Cairo, or at governorate branches allocated for asylum-based residence. UNHCR or its partner Caritas gives a reference number and appointment date; the applicant then submits the application and photos and returns on a later date for the card.
The Ministry of Interior confirms that it grants legal permits to refugees holding UNHCR registration cards, in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and lists UNHCR-registered refugees and political refugees among the groups eligible for the three-year residence.
Where to get help
UNHCR Egypt’s help website and Infoline give appointment, renewal and service information in several languages. People who are not yet registered should not go to UNHCR offices without an appointment, since walk-ins are generally not received.
Documents
Required documents
Identity
- Any identity document with photo and nationality (passport or national ID), if available
- Passport-size photos for the residence permit
Family
- Documents of family members registered on the same case
Other
- UNHCR card and reference number for the residence appointment
Frequently asked questions
Who decides asylum claims in Egypt?
UNHCR has carried out registration and refugee status determination in Egypt. Egypt issued Asylum Law No. 164 of 2024 to set up a national system; check UNHCR Egypt’s help site for the current arrangements.
How long are UNHCR cards valid in Egypt?
The white certificate is valid for 6 months, the yellow asylum-seeker card for 18 months and the blue refugee card for three years.
Does a UNHCR card replace a residence permit?
No. Card holders apply separately to the Passports and Immigration Administration for a residence permit.
Can I apply for asylum at an Egyptian embassy abroad?
No such procedure is published. Registration takes place inside Egypt.
Official sources
- UNHCR Egypt Help — Registration
- UNHCR Egypt Help — Residence permit in Egypt
- UNHCR — Comments on the Egypt Asylum Law No. 164-2024
- Ministry of Interior, Passports, Emigration & Nationality Administration — United Nations refugees
- Ministry of Interior, Passports, Emigration & Nationality Administration — Three-year residence permit
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Egypt
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Processing time: Set by each mission. The Egyptian consulate in Washington allows at least 10 business days, and 6 to 8 weeks for nationalities needing prior security approval.
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Processing time: Set by each mission; the Washington consulate allows at least 10 business days, longer where security approval is required.
- Investor visa Validity: Five years, renewable. During company set-up: one year, renewable for six months or a year through GAFI.
Study and training
- Student visa Validity: One year, renewed each year of study.
Work
- Work visa Validity: Residence permit for work: one year, renewable together with the work permit.
Family
- Family reunification visa Validity: Follows the sponsor’s permit: one, three or five years.
- Spouse and partner visa Validity: Wives and widows of Egyptians: five years. Foreign husbands of Egyptian women: three years, or one year under the wife’s sponsorship. All renewable.
Residence
- Residence permit Maximum stay: Tourist residence: up to one year per permit, renewable.
- Golden visa and residence by investment Validity: One, three or five years depending on property value; renewable while the property is held.
Online travel permits
- Visa on arrival Maximum stay: South Sinai permit: 15 days, limited to the designated areas. For the port-of-entry visa the stay is set at entry; the Ministry page does not publish a fixed number of days.
- e-Visa Processing time: No fixed time is published; the portal asks you to apply at least 7 days before departure and emails you when a decision is made.