EgyptWork

Egypt work permit and work residence

Work permit (Ministry of Labour) and one-year residence permit for non-tourism purposes

In short

Foreigners employed in Egypt’s private or investment sector need a work permit from the Ministry of Labour, obtained through the employer, and then a temporary residence permit for non-tourism purposes from the Ministry of Interior. The residence permit is issued for one year, covers the worker’s wife and children and is renewed after the work permit is renewed.

Apply on Ministry of Interior — residence permit appointments checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Validity
Residence permit for work: one year, renewable together with the work permit.
Fee
EGP 533.10Ministry of Interior fee for a one-year non-tourism residence permit (EGP 503.10 for less than a year). The Ministry of Labour work permit fee is charged separately; in 2025 it announced reduced annual permits of EGP 2,500 for domestic workers and EGP 3,000 for staff of small establishments.
Work
Yes, for the employer named in the work permit.
Family
The Ministry of Interior extends the one-year work residence to the worker’s wife and children; adult children may hold their own work-based residence.
Path to permanent residence
No general route to permanent residence is published for employees; five-year permits are reserved for listed groups such as investors and spouses of Egyptians.
Where to apply
Work permit: by the employer in Egypt. Residence permit: in person at the Passports, Emigration & Nationality Administration after arrival.

Who needs a work permit

Any foreigner taking paid employment with a company or organisation in Egypt. The Ministry of Interior grants the one-year non-tourism residence permit to private and investment-sector employees who hold a work permit from the Ministry of Labour. Government, public authority and public business-sector employees qualify for residence through their employer as well, with three-year permits available to them.

A new Labour Law took effect in September 2025. In October 2025 the Ministry of Labour announced a campaign against unpermitted foreign employment, recording more than 7,000 violations in 17 days, alongside reduced-fee permits to regularise domestic workers and staff of small establishments.

Fees

The Ministry of Interior lists EGP 533.10 for a one-year non-tourism residence permit and EGP 503.10 for a shorter period. The work permit fee is set by the Ministry of Labour; the reduced annual rates announced in 2025 are EGP 2,500 for foreign domestic workers and EGP 3,000 for workers in small establishments such as restaurants, while larger employers and higher earners stay under the standard rules.

Two stages: work permit, then residence

The employer files the work permit application with the Ministry of Labour. Once the permit is issued, the employee applies to the Passports, Emigration & Nationality Administration of the Ministry of Interior for a temporary residence permit for non-tourism purposes, booking an appointment through the Ministry’s residence appointment system.

Entry for the purpose of work is on a visa from an Egyptian mission; the Egyptian consulate in Washington asks for employment verification with such applications. The tourist e-Visa cannot be used to start work.

  1. Agree the job with an employer in Egypt; the employer prepares the work permit file.
  2. The employer applies to the Ministry of Labour and receives the work permit.
  3. Travel to Egypt on a visa issued by an Egyptian mission for the purpose of work.
  4. Book a residence appointment through the Ministry of Interior system.
  5. Attend the passport office with your passport, work permit, photos and fee, adding your family’s documents if they are included.
  6. Before the permit expires, renew the work permit and then the residence permit.

Travel and renewal

Holders of a non-tourism residence permit do not need a re-entry visa when they travel and return during its validity, provided they spend no more than 6 months abroad (or the remaining validity of the permit, whichever is shorter). For a longer absence of 6 months to a year a re-entry visa is obtained before leaving (EGP 411.10 single, EGP 511.10 multiple). Renew the work permit first, then the residence permit.

Spouse and children

The one-year residence for private and investment-sector employees covers their wives and children. Adult children can hold a residence based on their own work permit. Husbands and minor children of a foreign woman who holds temporary residence in her own right can also be granted residence.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

  • Passport photos

Travel

  • Valid passport with the entry visa

Money

  • Residence permit fee (EGP 533.10 for one year)

Work

  • Work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour
  • Employer letter or contract confirming the job

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Family

  • Marriage and birth certificates for a spouse and children included in the permit

Frequently asked questions

Can I look for a job in Egypt and then change status?

Egypt has no job-seeker visa. Work starts only once the employer has obtained a work permit and you have a non-tourism residence permit; working on a tourist visa or e-Visa is not allowed.

How long is an Egyptian work residence valid?

One year. It is renewed after the work permit has been renewed.

Can my wife and children live with me?

Yes. The Ministry of Interior extends the work residence of private and investment-sector employees to their wives and children.

Do I need a re-entry visa for a holiday abroad?

Not if you hold a non-tourism residence and return within 6 months and within the permit’s validity.

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.
  • 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.

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