Arab Republic of Egypt visas
Egypt administers foreign residence through the General Department of Passports, Immigration and Nationality at the Ministry of Interior. Routes include work-based residence, residence granted against a qualifying property investment or a bank deposit, student and family residence, and citizenship by investment under Law 190 of 2019. Egypt does not offer Western-style indefinite permanent residence — ordinary residence permits are renewable and time-limited, though a discretionary 10-year renewable Special Residence exists for some long-term residents.
6 routes · 4 without a sponsor · 0 lead to settlement
Official portal
Regulators of immigration advice
- Egyptian Bar Association (EBA) — Syndicate regulating lawyers in Egypt. There is no dedicated immigration-adviser regulator; verify any representative is a licensed lawyer.
Visa routes (6)
Work-based Residence Permit (Egypt)
An employer-tied residence permit issued by the Ministry of Interior on the back of a work permit, allowing a foreign employee to live in Egypt for the duration of the employment, renewable but never permanent.
Sponsor required · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Residence Permit via Real Estate (Egypt)
A renewable residence permit granted to foreigners who own qualifying property in Egypt, with the validity period scaling by the value of the property; renewable but never permanent.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Residence Permit via Bank Deposit (Egypt)
A renewable residence permit for foreigners who place a qualifying deposit in an Egyptian state-owned bank, with the validity period scaling by the size of the deposit; renewable but never permanent.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Student Residence Permit (Egypt)
A residence permit for foreign nationals enrolled at an Egyptian school, university or institute, valid for the study period and renewable, but never permanent.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Family Residence Permit (Egypt)
A residence permit for the spouse and dependent children of an Egyptian national or a foreign resident, tied to the family relationship and renewable, but never permanent.
Sponsor required · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Citizenship by Investment (Egypt, Law 190 of 2019)
Egypt's programme under Law 190 of 2019 granting naturalisation to foreign nationals who make a qualifying investment - real estate, a bank deposit, a business contribution or a treasury contribution - going straight to citizenship with no permanent-residence step.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Frequently asked questions
How many visa routes does Arab Republic of Egypt have?+
We cover 6 Arab Republic of Egypt visa routes in these categories: sponsored work, general residence, study, family, and investor. Each one links to its primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date.
Which Arab Republic of Egypt visas do not need an employer sponsor?+
4 of the 6 Arab Republic of Egypt routes we cover can be pursued without an employer sponsor, which helps if you do not have a job offer yet. The remaining 2 are employer-sponsored.
Which Arab Republic of Egypt visas lead to permanent residence?+
The Arab Republic of Egypt routes we cover are temporary rather than direct settlement routes.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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