Arab Republic of Egypt · investor
Citizenship by Investment (Egypt, Law 190 of 2019)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
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.
- Processing time
- Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official GAFI citizenship-by-investment page.
- Government fees
- Indicative only - qualifying investment thresholds and government fees apply and were amended in 2024; confirm current amounts on the official GAFI page.
- Typical duration
- Leads to Egyptian citizenship rather than a residence permit; processing typically runs several months. Confirm current routes on the official page.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
Overview
Egypt has no permanent-residence status, so its investment-migration programme leads directly to naturalisation rather than to a permanent residence permit. Under Law 190 of 2019, foreign nationals who make a qualifying investment - such as buying real estate, placing a refundable deposit, investing in a business, or making a non-refundable contribution to the state treasury - can apply for Egyptian citizenship. The programme is administered with the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), and final approval rests with the authorities. Because the outcome is citizenship and there is no intermediate permanent-residence status, leadsToSettlement is recorded as false here. The investment thresholds and routes were amended in 2024.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓A qualifying investment under one of the Law 190 of 2019 routes (real estate, bank deposit, business investment or treasury contribution).General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) ↗
- ✓Funds transferred from abroad in foreign currency as the programme requires.General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) ↗
- ✓A valid passport and the documentation the authorities require for naturalisation.General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) ↗
- ✓Satisfaction of security and character checks.General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) ↗
Common blockers
- !Investment below the qualifying threshold for the chosen route.General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) ↗
- !Inability to evidence that funds were transferred from abroad as required.General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) ↗
- !Assuming the programme offers permanent residence - it offers citizenship, with no permanent-residence status in Egypt.General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Proof of the qualifying investment (property, deposit, business or treasury contribution).General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) ↗
- ·Evidence that funds were transferred from abroad in foreign currency.General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) ↗
- ·Valid passport and civil-status documents.General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) ↗
- ·Police clearance and other documents the authorities require for naturalisation.General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm which Law 190 investment route suits you and the current threshold on the official GAFI page.
Build the evidence pack
Prepare proof of the qualifying investment, evidence of the foreign-currency transfer and your civil documents.
Submit through the official channel
Apply through the official GAFI citizenship-by-investment channel and complete the required checks.
After approval
On approval you are naturalised as an Egyptian citizen; maintain any conditions attached to the underlying investment.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantUse official Citizenship by Investment (Egypt, Law 190 of 2019) route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Citizenship by Investment (Egypt, Law 190 of 2019).
General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) · verified
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Related routes
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a permanent-residence programme?+
No. Egypt has no permanent-residence status. The Law 190 of 2019 programme leads directly to Egyptian citizenship rather than to a permanent residence permit, so there is no intermediate permanent-residence step. Confirm the current routes and thresholds on the official GAFI citizenship-by-investment page.
How much do I have to invest?+
There are several routes (real estate, refundable bank deposit, business investment and a non-refundable treasury contribution) with different thresholds, and they were amended in 2024. We do not quote a fixed figure - confirm the current threshold for your route on the official GAFI page.
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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