EgyptBusiness and self-employment

Egypt investor residence permit

Investor residence (five-year residence for foreign investors, on GAFI recommendation)

In short

Foreign investors in Egypt qualify for a renewable five-year residence permit that also covers their wives and children, and their parents can receive residence on a recommendation letter from the investment authority. Investors still setting up their company can receive a one-year non-tourism residence, renewable through the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI).

Apply on GAFI Investor Services Center checked 25 October 2026

Key facts

Validity
Five years, renewable. During company set-up: one year, renewable for six months or a year through GAFI.
Fee
EGP 2,653.10Ministry of Interior fee for the five-year permit; EGP 533.10 for a one-year non-tourism permit.
Work
The investor manages their own investment; employees of the company need work permits.
Family
Wives and children are included in the five-year permit; parents of investors receive a one-year residence on the investment authority’s recommendation.
Path to permanent residence
No permanent status is attached; the five-year permit is renewed for further five-year periods.
Where to apply
In Egypt: GAFI’s Investor Services Center for the recommendation, then the Passports, Emigration & Nationality Administration.

Who it is for

Foreign nationals who invest in a company or project in Egypt. The Ministry of Interior lists foreign investors, with their wives and children, as the first group eligible for the five-year renewable residence. GAFI, the government investment authority, issues recommendations for granting residence to foreigners through its Investor Services Center.

While the company is being set up

In May 2023 the Ministry of Interior announced that foreign investors establishing companies and economic entities in Egypt receive a one-year residence that is not for tourism purposes, renewable for six months or a year through GAFI. This bridges the period before the investment is fully established.

Investment amount

The Ministry of Interior does not publish a fixed minimum investment for the investor residence; eligibility rests on GAFI’s recommendation for the specific company. Investors who buy real estate rather than set up a business use the property route instead, where the thresholds are USD 100,000, 200,000 and 400,000.

Fees

EGP 2,653.10 for the five-year permit and EGP 533.10 for a one-year non-tourism permit, according to the Ministry of Interior. Company formation costs are charged separately by GAFI.

Family

The investor’s wife and children are covered by the five-year permit. Parents of investors holding the five-year residence receive a one-year non-tourism residence, based on a recommendation letter from the investment authority.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

  • Passport photos

Travel

  • Valid passport

Money

  • Residence fee (EGP 2,653.10 for five years)

Work

  • Company documents showing you as founder, partner or shareholder
  • Residence recommendation from GAFI

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Family

  • Marriage and birth certificates for wife and children

How to apply, step by step

  1. Establish or invest in an Egyptian company through GAFI.
  2. While the company is being set up, request the one-year investor residence and renew it through GAFI as needed.
  3. Request a residence recommendation at GAFI’s Investor Services Center.
  4. Book an appointment with the Passports, Emigration & Nationality Administration.
  5. Submit passport, company papers, GAFI recommendation, photos and fee; include your wife and children.
  6. Apply for your parents’ one-year residence with the investment authority’s letter if they will live with you.

Frequently asked questions

How long is Egypt’s investor residence?

Five years, renewable, for foreign investors and their wives and children. During company set-up a one-year permit is available.

Is there a minimum investment?

No fixed minimum is published by the Ministry of Interior; the residence depends on GAFI’s recommendation for your company.

Can my parents get residence too?

Yes. Parents of investors with the five-year residence can receive a one-year residence based on a recommendation letter from the investment authority.

Which visa do I use to come and set up the company?

A business visa from an Egyptian embassy or consulate for the first trips; the tourist e-Visa does not allow business activity.

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

  • Business visa Processing time: Set by each mission; the Washington consulate allows at least 10 business days, longer where security approval is required.

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