Egypt offers multiple structured pathways for foreign investors to obtain legal residency — each linked to a different form of investment commitment and carrying different capital thresholds, documentation requirements, and renewal conditions. This article explains the three main pathways accurately, so that investors and their advisors can identify the right route before any application begins.

Pathway 1 — Residency Through Company Ownership

The most operationally relevant pathway for international investors is residency linked to ownership in a company incorporated and registered in Egypt with GAFI.

Capital requirements are structured by the number of investors seeking residency from the same entity:

  • USD 35,000 (or equivalent in EGP) → residency for one investor
  • USD 50,000 (or equivalent in EGP) → residency for two investors
  • USD 100,000 (or equivalent in EGP) → residency for up to six investors

Capital must be verified through an official bank certificate — not self-declared. The company must be genuinely operational, with business activities aligned to what is stated in its incorporation documents. Contracts, invoices, and evidence of real operations may be required both at the initial application stage and at each renewal.

Two sub-pathways exist depending on the company’s activity. Companies operating under Investment Law No. 72 of 2017 in eligible sectors — tourism, industrial activity, renewable energy, logistics, and selected technology services — may qualify with lower paid-up capital, often EGP 50,000. Companies outside these sectors fall under the general investor residency system, which requires higher USD-denominated capital based on the number of applicants.

Residency under this pathway is renewable and directly tied to the company’s compliance status. Companies with lapsed filings, unresolved tax positions, or apparent inactivity risk refusal at renewal.

Pathway 2 — Residency Through Real Estate Purchase

Foreign nationals who purchase property in Egypt qualify for residency under Minister of Interior Decision No. 8180 of 1996, with the duration determined by the value of the property:

  • USD 50,000 minimum → one-year renewable residency
  • USD 100,000 minimum → three-year renewable residency
  • USD 200,000 minimum → five-year renewable residency

The property must be registered in the real estate registry or with the city authority. The purchase amount must be transferred from outside Egypt in foreign currency through an Egyptian bank — proof of this transfer is a mandatory document in the residency application. Properties in areas restricted from foreign ownership — certain military zones and agricultural lands — do not qualify.

Applications are submitted to the Passports and Immigration Authority of the Ministry of Interior and typically take 30 to 60 days to process.

Pathway 3 — Residency Through Bank Deposit

Under Ministerial Decree No. 977 of 2023, foreign nationals can secure residency by maintaining a qualifying deposit in an Egyptian bank:

  • USD 50,000 (or equivalent in foreign currency) → one-year renewable residency
  • USD 100,000 (or equivalent in foreign currency) → three-year renewable residency

The deposit must remain in the Egyptian bank account for the full duration of the residency period. This pathway suits investors who want a legal Egyptian presence without yet committing to company formation or property purchase — for example during a market evaluation phase.

What All Pathways Have in Common

Security clearance. All investor residency applications are subject to security review by Egyptian authorities. This is routine but adds processing time and must be factored into planning.

Family inclusion. Investor residency permits can extend to immediate family members, including spouses and children, under the primary investor’s application.

Renewal is not automatic. Residency is renewed based on continued compliance with the conditions of the original pathway — whether that means maintaining the company’s operational status, keeping the property registered, or sustaining the bank deposit.

No residency requirement for citizenship. Egypt’s citizenship-by-investment programs operate separately from residency and do not require the investor to physically reside in Egypt.

How Consortio Manages the Residency Process

Consortio assists international investors across all three pathways — from selecting the right route based on the investor’s situation and timeline, through documentation preparation, capital verification, authority submissions, and renewal management.

For investors entering Egypt as part of a broader market entry strategy, we integrate residency planning into the corporate setup from the outset — ensuring that the entity structure, capital level, and operational activities satisfy both the business objectives and the residency requirements simultaneously. This avoids the common problem of discovering residency eligibility gaps only after incorporation is complete.

Contact Consortio Law Firm: 📞 +20 102 880 6061 ✉️ Info@consortiolawfirm.com 🌐 www.consortiolawfirm.com