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Arab Republic of Egypt · investor

Citizenship by Investment (Egypt, Law 190 of 2019)

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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 sponsorship requiredDoes not lead to permanent residencyLeads to Egyptian citizenship rather than a residence permit; processing typically runs several months. Confirm current routes on the official page.In flux
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
Reviewed General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) ↗

In short

As of 9 July 2026, the Citizenship by Investment (Egypt, Law 190 of 2019) for Arab Republic of Egypt is an unsponsored Egypt immigration route. Sources: official Arab Republic of Egypt government pages, reviewed 9 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/egypt/citizenship-by-investment#answer

What is the Citizenship by Investment (Egypt, Law 190 of 2019) in Arab Republic of Egypt?

Citizenship by Investment (Egypt, Law 190 of 2019) is an unsponsored Egypt route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - qualifying investment thresholds and government fees apply and were amended in 2024; confirm current amounts on the official GAFI page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official GAFI citizenship-by-investment page; typical duration is Leads to Egyptian citizenship rather than a residence permit; processing typically runs several months. Confirm current routes on the official page. This route does not lead to permanent residence.

Verified against General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) on 1 June 2026.

Overview

Egypt does not grant Western-style indefinite permanent residence, 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

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm which Law 190 investment route suits you and the current threshold on the official GAFI page.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Prepare proof of the qualifying investment, evidence of the foreign-currency transfer and your civil documents.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Apply through the official GAFI citizenship-by-investment channel and complete the required checks.

  4. After approval

    On approval you are naturalised as an Egyptian citizen; maintain any conditions attached to the underlying investment.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Citizenship by Investment (Egypt, Law 190 of 2019), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Citizenship by Investment (Egypt, Law 190 of 2019) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Egypt

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Egypt. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

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.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use 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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Frequently asked questions

Is this a permanent-residence programme?+

No. Egypt does not grant Western-style indefinite permanent residence. 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.

Is there an Egyptian investment route that gives a passport rather than just renewable residence?+

Yes. Because Egypt does not grant Western-style indefinite permanent residence, its investment-migration programme under Law 190 of 2019 leads directly to Egyptian citizenship rather than to a residence permit, with no intermediate permanent-residence step. Confirm the current qualifying routes and thresholds on the official GAFI page.

How long does the Egyptian citizenship-by-investment process take?+

Processing for the Law 190 of 2019 citizenship-by-investment programme typically runs several months, and final approval rests with the authorities. Confirm current timelines on the official GAFI citizenship-by-investment 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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How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI)

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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