More about residence in Egypt
Types of Residence in Egypt
Egypt offers various residency options for individuals living on its territory, each depending on their status and reason for staying in Egypt. Below are the main types of residence in Egypt:
Tourist Residence: Its legal duration ranges from one month to one year.
Student Residence: It starts from 3 months and can extend up to one year.
Investment Residence: Its duration ranges from one year to five years.
Real Estate Residence: It is granted for a duration of 3 years or 5 years.
Residence for those married to Egyptian citizens: It ranges from one year to three years.
Residence in Egypt for refugees.
In this article, we will discuss each type of residence in Egypt in detail.
Note: The information in this article may not be continuously updated or may not apply to specific cases. Therefore, it is recommended to consult the Immigration Department in Egypt to verify the required documents and legal procedures.
First: Tourist Residence
Tourist residence grants foreigners the legal right to stay in the country. Foreigners can apply for it through the Egyptian Passport Authority.
The duration of tourist residence ranges from one month to one year, and it is renewed based on the decision of the security authorities in the Passport Authority.
However, a foreigner is not allowed to leave the country and re-enter using the same residence unless they apply for a multiple entry residence after obtaining a tourist residence.
Here are the requirements and documents needed to obtain a tourist residence:
A request form from the Passport Authority, to be filled out with the required information.
Original passport and two copies of it.
A rental contract certified by the Real Estate Registration Office.
A recent electricity bill.
Some nationalities require a letter from their embassy to confirm their place of residence, so it is important to verify this point.
Second: Student Residence
Egypt is famous for its universities, and students often come to Egypt to study at Al-Azhar University.
Obtaining a student residence (student visa) requires meeting specific conditions and submitting the required documents. Below are the details of these conditions and documents:
A recent proof of enrollment.
Proof of enrollment for schools or universities affiliated with embassies.
A rental contract dated and certified by the Real Estate Registration Office.
A recent electricity bill.
Visit to the relevant Passport Authority.
Proof of relationship for family members.
These are the requirements and documents necessary to obtain a student residence in Egypt. The student must ensure to submit all the required documents and complete the legal procedures to ensure they obtain the residence legally and regularly.
Third: Investment Residence
Investment residence in Egypt is granted through the Egyptian Investment Authority. It is considered a means to simplify procedures for investors and provide a smooth environment for completing all related procedures through the one-stop-shop system.
To obtain investment residence, the individual needs to:
Entry visa.
A rental contract or proof of residence certified by the Real Estate Registration Office.
The company's commercial register.
The tax card for the investor's business establishment.
The investment residence is issued through the Investment Authority, and there is no need to visit the Immigration and Passport Department in Egypt.
In addition, the investor and their family members benefit from the residence they obtain, as well as any individual who is a partner in the company's commercial register.
Real Estate Residence
The requirements for real estate residency in Egypt include the following:
5-Year Real Estate Residency: A renewable 5-year residency is granted to individuals who own one or more properties in Egypt with a total value of no less than $400,000.
3-Year Real Estate Residency: A renewable 3-year residency is granted to individuals who own one or more properties in Egypt with a total value of no less than $200,000.
Completed Residential Units: Real estate residency is granted for completed residential units in accordance with the decision of the Minister of Interior and Law No. 230 issued in 1996.
Residency for Foreigners Married to Egyptians
Residency for Spouses of Egyptians: Residency is granted to both Arabs and foreigners who can provide proof of marriage to an Egyptian citizen
To obtain residency in Egypt for married couples, both parties must appear in person at the Immigration and Passports Authority and submit the following documents:
Official Marriage Certificate: An officially authenticated marriage certificate must be submitted.
Passport and National ID: The foreign spouse must submit their passport, and the Egyptian spouse must provide their national ID card.
Housing Contract: An authenticated housing contract from the real estate registry must be submitted to confirm the residence address.
Foreigners and Arabs are granted residency for a period ranging from one to three years. Couples must comply with the requirement to submit all necessary documents and fulfill the necessary conditions to obtain residency in accordance with the residency regulations in Egypt.
Residency in Egypt for Refugees
The required documents to obtain refugee residency in Egypt include the following:
UNHCR Registration Cards: Registration cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for each family member must be submitted.
Original passports must be submitted.
Copies of Registration Documents: Copies of the registration document issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and copies of the passports must be submitted.
The reference number obtained from the UNHCR office must be provided.
Two passport-sized photographs must be submitted.
These are the documents required to obtain refugee residency in Egypt according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) requirements. For more information, you can refer to the residency permit page on the United Nations website in Egypt.