Minimum USD 50,000 property purchase or bank deposit. Tiered permit durations: 1 year (USD 50,000+), 3 years (USD 100,000+), or 5 years (USD 200,000+ property only). All funds must be transferred from abroad through authorised Egyptian banks.
⏱️ Duration
1 year (USD 50,000+), 3 years (USD 100,000+), or 5 years (USD 200,000+ property route). Renewable as long as the property remains in the owner's name or the bank deposit is maintained.
👪 Dependants
Yes
Spouse, dependent children, and senior parents can be included in the application. Each family member requires passport copies, photographs, and certified translations of civil documents (marriage and birth certificates). Security clearance is required for each family member.
🛂 Citizenship Path
No direct pathway
This permit is temporary and renewable while the qualifying asset is maintained; it does not by itself lead to permanent residency or citizenship. Holders may separately apply under Egypt's Citizenship by Investment programme or other routes.
Egypt's Real Estate Residence Permit provides renewable temporary residence to foreign nationals who purchase property or maintain a qualifying bank deposit in Egypt. Established by Ministry of Interior Decision No. 977 of 2023, the programme offers tiered permit durations based on investment value, starting at USD 50,000 — making it one of the more affordable residence-by-investment options globally. It is administered by the General Administration of Passports, Immigration, and Nationality (Abbasiya office) under the Ministry of Interior.
Investment Options & Permit Duration
Two qualifying routes are available:
Property purchase route:
USD 50,000+ → 1-year residence permit
USD 100,000+ → 3-year residence permit
USD 200,000+ → 5-year residence permit
Bank deposit route:
USD 50,000 → 1-year residence permit
USD 100,000 → 3-year residence permit
The bank deposit must be held in foreign currency at an Egyptian bank for the full duration of the permit. All qualifying investments must be in fresh funds transferred from abroad through authorised Egyptian banks.
Requirements
Foreign national of any nationality owning qualifying property or maintaining a qualifying bank deposit in Egypt
Full property value paid via bank transfer from abroad with documented SWIFT transfer records
Security clearance from Egyptian security agencies
No education, language, or professional qualification requirements
Government fees payable in foreign currency through authorised banks (per Prime Minister's Decree No. 3326 of 2023)
Property Ownership Restrictions
Foreign property ownership in Egypt is governed by Law No. 230 of 1996, which historically limited foreigners to two residential properties of up to 4,000 m² each for personal residential use:
The 2023 reforms relaxed the numerical property limit where the full price is paid in foreign currency transferred from abroad
Properties in the Sinai Peninsula are generally available to foreigners only as long-term (e.g., 99-year) leasehold rather than freehold
Military/strategic and certain coastal zones carry additional restrictions
Required Documents
Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity)
Registered title deed or notarised sales contract
Certificate from the Real Estate Registry confirming ownership
Proof of bank transfer from abroad through an authorised Egyptian bank (SWIFT transfer records)
Passport copies for all family members included in application
Personal photographs for each applicant
Marriage certificates and birth certificates (with Arabic translations if not originally in Arabic, certified)
Completed residency application forms
Power of attorney (if applicable)
For bank deposit route: bank certificate confirming deposit amount in foreign currency
Application Process
Secure qualifying property ownership or make a qualifying bank deposit.
Obtain a registered title deed or notarised sales contract and a certificate from the Real Estate Registry.
Submit all required documents in person at the General Administration of Passports, Immigration, and Nationality (Abbasiya, Cairo).
Egyptian security agencies conduct clearance checks for the main applicant and each family member.
Property registration and documentation typically takes several weeks. Residency file processing time varies depending on completeness of the application and security clearance. Note: the residence permit is not automatically granted upon property purchase — it must be separately applied for and approved.
Renewal
The permit is renewable as long as the property remains in the owner's name or the bank deposit is maintained. Renewal follows the same application framework. Extended absences from Egypt may affect renewal eligibility, determined by the Ministry of Interior on a case-by-case basis.
Employment Restrictions
The residence permit does not authorise employment in Egypt. A separate work permit is required for any paid employment.
Tax Implications
Residents present for more than 183 days in any 12-month period, or who maintain a permanent home in Egypt, are taxed on worldwide income at progressive rates from 0% (up to EGP 40,000) to 27.5% (above EGP 1,200,000). Property owners are also subject to an annual Real Estate Tax of 10% on the assessed rental value (with standard deductions; units with assessed annual value below EGP 6,000 are exempt) and a capital gains tax of 2.5% on property disposal.
Path to Permanent Residency or Citizenship
This permit is temporary and renewable; it does not directly lead to permanent residency or citizenship. Holders may separately apply for permanent residency or citizenship under other Egyptian programmes, such as the Citizenship by Investment programme (minimum USD 250,000).