How to Move to Egypt Legally: Visas, Work, Study and Investor Residency

Moving to Egypt requires a permission that matches the purpose and length of your stay. A tourism e-Visa can help an exploratory visit, but it should not be treated as permission to take a local job, run unrestricted operations or settle indefinitely.

Start with your passport and purpose

Check the official e-Visa nationality list or the responsible Egyptian consulate. Eligibility can depend on nationality and other conditions; holding GCC residence does not by itself establish the same entry route for everyone.

The official tourism e-Visa FAQ currently lists US$30 single entry and US$65 multiple entry, with a passport valid at least six months from arrival among its requirements. The portal advises creating the application at least seven days before departure. Confirm the issued conditions and permitted stay; payment is not an admission guarantee.

Employment pathway

A local employment plan needs the relevant work authorisation and residence arrangements. Ask the employer who sponsors or files each stage, which authority handles it and when work may lawfully begin.

Clarify the contract, payroll, professional registration if applicable and what happens if the job ends. Do not start employment on the assumption that a tourism stamp can be converted automatically after arrival.

Business and investor residence

An incorporated business may support an investor-residence application under the applicable rules, but the permit remains a separate decision. GAFI and immigration authorities assess the relevant evidence and conditions.

Ask for the actual current residence period, renewal requirements, family eligibility and work rights in writing. Our business setup guide explains company forms, free zones and cost categories without promising a universal package.

Study and family routes

An educational institution should explain admission documentation and the appropriate study-related status. A course offer does not replace immigration permission, and study should not be marketed as unrestricted employment.

Family applications depend on the sponsor's status, relationship documents and current procedure. Obtain the required civil-certificate authentication and translation instructions before paying for multiple versions of the same paperwork.

Property, retirement and remote work questions

Do not assume buying an apartment automatically grants permanent residence or citizenship. Property-linked permissions and the separate citizenship-by-investment programme have specific conditions and require their own official assessment.

Likewise, a tourism permission is not a general digital-nomad or retirement visa. If your plan involves foreign income or online work, ask the consulate and qualified advisers about immigration permission and tax residence for the actual facts of your stay.

A document and process checklist

• Valid passport, required photographs and entry evidence.
• Purpose-specific employment, study, investment or family documents.
• Civil records and educational evidence when the route requires them.
• Financial, housing, insurance or other supporting evidence requested by the authority.
• Correct authentication and Arabic translation where required.
• A calendar for expiry, re-entry and renewal, plus copies of official receipts.

There is no universal document list for every nationality and permit. Follow the authority's current checklist rather than a consultant's generic brochure.

Settle after the legal route is clear

Compare neighbourhoods by work or school access, transport, noise and practical services before signing a long lease. Budget deposits, utilities, banking, healthcare and possible delays alongside government fees.

Use our country guide for orientation. Do not resign, ship a household or make non-refundable commitments until the approvals needed for your specific purpose are established.