Minimum USD 50,000 property purchase or bank deposit. Property route permit durations: 1 year (USD 50,000+), 3 years (USD 100,000+), 5 years (USD 200,000+). Bank deposit route: 3 years (USD 100,000). All funds must be transferred from abroad in foreign currency through authorised Egyptian banks.
⏱️ Duration
Property route: 1 year (USD 50,000+), 3 years (USD 100,000+), or 5 years (USD 200,000+). Bank deposit route: 3 years (USD 100,000). Renewable as long as the property remains in the owner's name or the bank deposit is maintained.
👪 Dependants
Yes
Spouse, dependent children, and (per practice) 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), and undergoes security clearance.
🛂 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 foreign-currency 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, Cairo) under the Ministry of Interior. The permit is aimed at foreigners who wish to live in Egypt on the basis of a passive capital investment, without needing employment or an active business.
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 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 fresh funds transferred from abroad in foreign currency through authorised Egyptian banks. (Marketing sites sometimes advertise lower "from USD 30,000" figures, but these are not reflected in the governing decision.)
Requirements
Foreign national of any nationality owning qualifying property or maintaining a qualifying foreign-currency bank deposit in Egypt
Full property value (or deposit) paid via bank transfer from abroad with documented SWIFT 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 and Executive Decree No. 1777 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/registered sales contract
Certificate from the Real Estate Registry confirming ownership and value
Proof of foreign-currency transfer from abroad through an authorised Egyptian bank (SWIFT records)
Passport copies and photographs of the applicant and each dependant
Marriage and birth certificates with certified Arabic translations
Completed residency application forms
For the bank deposit route: bank certificate confirming the deposit amount in foreign currency
Application Process
Secure qualifying property ownership (registered title deed or registered sales contract plus Real Estate Registry confirmation of ownership/value) or place the qualifying foreign-currency bank deposit.
Ensure the full purchase price or deposit is transferred from abroad in foreign currency through an authorised Egyptian bank, with documented SWIFT records.
Submit the residency file in person at the General Administration of Passports, Immigration, and Nationality (Abbasiya, Cairo).
Egyptian security agencies conduct clearance for the main applicant and each dependant, after which the residence card is issued for the tier matching the asset value.
Property registration and documentation typically takes several weeks; residency file processing time varies with the completeness of the application and security clearance. 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 at the qualifying value. Renewal follows the same documentary framework, with fees payable in foreign currency. Extended absences from Egypt may affect renewal eligibility, determined administratively by the Ministry of Interior.
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 up to 27.5% (top bracket above EGP 1,200,000). Property owners are also subject to an annual Real Estate Tax of 10% on the assessed rental value (with statutory deductions and a low-value residential exemption) and a 2.5% tax on gross proceeds upon disposal of real estate.
Path to Permanent Residency or Citizenship
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 other Egyptian programmes, such as the Citizenship by Investment programme (minimum USD 250,000).