EgyptBusiness and self-employment

Egypt business visa: requirements and application

Business visa (consular entry visa for business purposes)

In short

Meetings, trade fairs, negotiations and other short business trips to Egypt need a business visa issued by an Egyptian embassy or consulate; the tourist e-Visa expressly excludes business activity. The file is built around a company letter describing the trip and a guarantee of expenses.

checked 25 October 2026

Key facts

Processing time
Set by each mission; the Washington consulate allows at least 10 business days, longer where security approval is required.
Work
Business visits only; paid employment in Egypt needs a work permit.
Where to apply
At the Egyptian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence.

Who needs it

Anyone travelling to Egypt for business purposes: attending meetings with Egyptian companies, conferences or exhibitions, or exploring investment. The e-Visa portal states that its visa is for tourism and that business activity on it is an offence, so business travellers go through a mission even if their nationality is e-Visa eligible.

What the file contains

The Egyptian consulate in Washington asks business applicants for the application form with a photo, two photos, the passport with an empty visa page and copies of its data page, copies of a company letter stating the purpose of the trip, travel dates, length of stay and any conference details, together with a guarantee of expenses, and copies of a round-trip ticket or confirmed itinerary.

An invitation from the Egyptian company or the event organiser supports the application. Missions may ask for further company documents, such as a trade registry record; confirm with the mission where you apply.

Required documents

Identity

  • Completed visa application form with a photo, and passport photos

Travel

  • Passport valid for at least 6 months with an empty visa page, plus data-page copies
  • Round-trip ticket or confirmed itinerary

Money

  • Guarantee of expenses for the trip

Work

  • Company letter stating purpose, dates, length of stay and event details

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Work

  • Invitation from the Egyptian company or event organiser

Fees

Fees are set by each mission. For comparison, the Washington consulate charges USD 62 for a single-entry and USD 87 for a multiple-entry business visa. Ask the mission where you apply for its current tariff.

Processing

Allow at least 10 business days. Nationalities on Egypt’s prior security approval list should allow 6 to 8 weeks.

From visit to work or investment

A business visa does not allow employment. Taking a job requires a Ministry of Labour work permit and a residence permit; setting up a company leads to the investor residence, recommended by the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI).

How to apply, step by step

  1. Ask your Egyptian counterpart for an invitation that names you, the dates and the purpose of the visit.
  2. Obtain a letter from your employer covering the trip and the guarantee of expenses.
  3. Contact the Egyptian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence for the current form, fee and document list.
  4. Submit the application with passport, photos and copies, and pay the fee.
  5. Wait for the decision without booking non-refundable travel, especially if your nationality needs security approval.
  6. Travel with the invitation and company letter in your hand luggage.

Frequently asked questions

Can I attend a trade fair in Egypt on an e-Visa?

No. The e-Visa is a tourist visa and the portal forbids business activity on it. Apply for a business visa at an Egyptian mission.

Does a business visa let me work for an Egyptian company?

No. Employment requires a work permit from the Ministry of Labour and a non-tourism residence permit.

Is a multiple-entry business visa available?

Missions issue single and multiple-entry business visas; the Washington consulate, for example, lists both. Ask the mission where you apply whether it will issue multiple entries in your case.

How early should I apply for a business visa?

At least 10 business days ahead, and at least two months ahead if your nationality needs prior security approval, which takes 6 to 8 weeks.

Official sources

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

  • 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

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.

Protection

  • Asylum and international protection 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.

Egypt visa guide