Egypt Citizenship by Investment
In 2023 Egypt has radically simplified the conditions of the “Citizenship by Investment” state program . Now this is one of the easiest ways to obtain a second passport quickly. Important advantages: investments may be refundable and profitable, you will not have to renounce your first citizenship, and there are also no оbligations to reside in the country.
Program's details
- From $250,000 Minimum investment
- The right to reside in Egypt no relocation requirements
- The possibility to return your investment after 3-5 years
- A posiibility to generate income from investments upon successful investment
- From 6 months fast time for obtaining a passport
- Minimum requirements no language proficiency exams and other formalities
- Passports for the whole family including children under 21 and spouses
- Second citizenship without giving up the first one
The official website of the program
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About the Program
Egypt launched the government's Citizenship by Investment program in 2020.
The country had created a special department under the Prime Minister's office to manage the program and developed procedures for reviewing applications, and appointed accredited agents to help foreigners collect the documents.
In 2023, the conditions of the program were simplified: the minimum investment amount was reduced, the requirement to invest only in accredited real estate projects was abolished, and the procedures for transferring the money were simplified. For example, the contributions can be made in cash as well.
The applications are accepted from citizens of all countries. There are no quotas for issuing passports.
All investments are made AFTER the foreigner’s application has been approved. The process of obtaining Egyptian citizenship takes about six months.
Investment Options
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$250 000
Non-refundable payment
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The grant is transferred to the state treasury in foreign currency and is non-refundable.
You may also use the installment payment plan of up to one year.
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$300 000
Purchasing real estate -
It is permitted to invest in residential or commercial properties in all regions except the Sinai Peninsula.
You may use the payment plan by installments of up to one year.
The property can be rented out.
The is an obligation to keep the property for 5 years.
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$450 000
Business-investments -
The applicants may Invest in existing or new business
$350,000
(refundable part)
+
$100,000 to the state fund (non-refundable portion).
The company may be fully owned by a foreigner.
The investor is not permitted to sell his share or liquidate the project for 5 years.
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$500 000
Bank deposit -
The applicans are also permitted to open an interest-free deposit in the Central Bank of Egypt in US dollars.
The deposit will be returned after 3 years in Egyptian pounds at the exchange rate established at the time of repayment.
Please pay attention!
All the investments are accepted only in US dollars at the official exchange rate at the time of the transaction. Various payment methods are allowed: both bank transfer and cash deposits legally imported through customs. The amount can be transferred by any third party - individuals or legal entities.
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Family Participation
Unmarried children under 21 years of age receive Egyptian citizenship with the main investor.
The main applicant's legally married spouse becomes eligible for citizenship after two years. Until this period, the spuse is permitted to live in Egypt with a residence permit.
Polygamy is allowed in Egypt. Accordingly, a male investor can include up to four wives and children in the application.
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Admission Requirements
- older than 18 years of age
- no criminal record
- Good health
The applications are accepted from citizens of all countries. There are no language, history or cultural requirements for participation.
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Documents
To obtain Egyptian citizenship, you must fill out an application with all the required information and provide copies of the following documents:
- A copy of the applicant's foreign passport and the original birth certificate or an official extract from it.
- 6 recent passport-size photographs.
- Statement of any other citizenship of the applicant (if any).
- Documents of spouses and children: copies of passports or identity cards, marriage and birth certificates.
- A certificate of good conduct from the applicant's country of origin, certified by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Certificate of no criminal record issued by the Egyptian authorities.
- A certificate confirming the applicant's movements from his country of residence over the past five years, certified by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Medical certificate from a public hospital in Egypt.
- Statement by the applicant of the desire to maintain the confidentiality of his application and related decisions.
- Receipt of payment of the state duty for consideration of the application for citizenship.
After approval of the investor's candidacy, you will need to make investments and provide supporting documents. For example, in the case of purchasing real estate you will need:
- a copy of the purchase and sale agreement,
- a copy of the permission to use the property,
- act of acceptance and transfer,
- a certificate from the bank stating that the money for the purchase came from abroad,
- a statement that the investor intends to retain ownership of the property for 5 years.
Please note: this is not the full list . We recommend submitting documents through accredited agents - they will help you collect and correctly complete the full package of papers.
Additional Expenses
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State fees
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The applications are considered after the payment of the state fee of $10,000.
The amount is fixed and does not depend on the number of family members and the chosen investment option.
If your application is rejected, the application fee is not refundable, so it is important to be pre-screened by a licensed agent to reduce the risk of rejection.
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Other payments
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The investor will have associated costs for legal support, translation and forwarding of documents, purchase of real estate or registration of a business.
Also, to complete the process, you will need one visit to Egypt - at the last stage to submit biometrics.
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Rights and Obligations
The rights:
- The right to live in the country for an ulimited period of time. There is no need to comply with temporary residence rules, as well as restrictions on entry and exit from Egypt. There are no minimum stay requirements in the country.
- Visa-free entry to 50+ countries, including Jordan, Iran, Malaysia, Hong Kong.
- The right to buy real estate and open a business without restrictions that apply to foreigners. For example, you can register full private ownership of villas and apartments on the Sinai Peninsula (Sharm el-Sheikh).
- Access to the labor market, free healthcare and education - from primary school to universities.
- Access to all banking services in Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries. An investor can open accounts in any currency, store funds on them at interest, or use them for international payments.
- The opportunity to participate in immigration programs that are closed to citizens of certain countries.
- The possibility to keep your first passport and pass on Egyptian citizenship by inheritance.
The obligations
- The obligation to pay state fees, take medical tests and fulfill all the conditions of the program before obtaining your citizenship.
- After obtaining citizenship: to maintain ownership of assets for a minimum period (real estate and business - 5 years, deposit - 3 years). At the same time, you can benefit from your investments, for example, by renting out real estate.
