Arab Republic of Egypt · residence general
Residence Permit via Bank Deposit (Egypt)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
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.
- Processing time
- Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official Ministry of Interior residence services portal.
- Government fees
- Indicative only - government fees and minimum deposit amounts apply; confirm current amounts on the official Ministry of Interior portal.
- Typical duration
- Renewable validity that scales with the deposit size (commonly one or three years); never permanent.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- No
Overview
Egypt grants residence permits to foreign nationals who deposit a qualifying amount of foreign currency in one of the state-owned banks, with longer renewable periods tied to larger deposits. The permit allows the holder to reside in Egypt while the deposit is maintained and the permit is renewed. It is a residence route only - it does not by itself authorise employment, and it is not a route to permanent residence because Egypt has no permanent-residence status. The deposit-based residence route is separate from, and below the thresholds of, the citizenship-by-investment programme. The permit is administered by the Ministry of Interior.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓A qualifying foreign-currency deposit placed in an Egyptian state-owned bank meeting the minimum for the chosen residence tier.Ministry of Interior (Egypt) ↗
- ✓Evidence that the deposit is maintained for the duration of the permit.Ministry of Interior (Egypt) ↗
- ✓A valid passport and a residence permit application to the Ministry of Interior.Ministry of Interior (Egypt) ↗
- ✓Source-of-funds evidence as required for the deposit.Ministry of Interior (Egypt) ↗
Common blockers
- !Deposit below the minimum threshold for any residence tier.Ministry of Interior (Egypt) ↗
- !Deposit placed in a bank that does not qualify, or not maintained for the required period.Ministry of Interior (Egypt) ↗
- !Expecting the permit to authorise employment, which it does not by itself.Ministry of Interior (Egypt) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Bank certificate evidencing the qualifying deposit in a state-owned bank.Ministry of Interior (Egypt) ↗
- ·Evidence of the source of the deposited funds.Ministry of Interior (Egypt) ↗
- ·Valid passport and completed residence permit application.Ministry of Interior (Egypt) ↗
- ·Confirmation the deposit is maintained at renewal.Ministry of Interior (Egypt) ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm the deposit amount meets the threshold for the residence tier you want and check current terms on the official portal.
Build the evidence pack
Place the deposit in a qualifying state-owned bank and gather the bank certificate and source-of-funds evidence.
Submit through the official channel
Apply for the residence permit through the Ministry of Interior on the basis of the bank deposit.
After approval
Keep the deposit in place and renew the residence permit before expiry; the permit never becomes permanent.
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 Residence Permit via Bank Deposit (Egypt) route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Residence Permit via Bank Deposit (Egypt).
Ministry of Interior (Egypt) · 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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Does a bank deposit give me permanent residence in Egypt?+
No. A qualifying deposit in a state-owned bank can give you a renewable residence permit whose length scales with the deposit, but Egypt has no permanent-residence status, so the permit is never permanent. Confirm current thresholds on the official Ministry of Interior residence portal.
Is the deposit refundable?+
The deposit underpins your residence and the terms (including whether and when it can be withdrawn) are set by the bank and the authorities; withdrawing it can end the basis for the permit. Confirm the current rules on the official Ministry of Interior portal and with the bank.
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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