Egyptian Citizenship by Investment
Egypt introduced its citizenship by investment program in 2019, offering four investment routes: a non-refundable deposit of $250,000–$300,000 with the Central Bank (returned after 3 years without interest), a real estate purchase of $500,000 or more, a direct investment of at least $400,000 in an Egyptian company, or a contribution to a state investment fund. The program is primarily aimed at attracting Arab and regional investors. Egyptian citizenship grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 53 destinations. The passport's travel utility is limited compared to Caribbean or European programs, but Egyptian nationality provides regional business and residency access.
Program Details
- Individual Cost
- $300,000
- Family of 4 Cost
- $300,000
- Processing Time
- 6 months
- Residency Required
- No residency required
- Due Diligence
- Standard
- Visa-Free Destinations
- 53
- Dual Citizenship
- Accepted
- Renunciation Required
- No
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Amount (USD) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Non-refundable deposit to Central Bank of Egypt | $300,000 | Most common route; family included; held for 3 years, then returned without interest |
| Administrative and application fees | $10,000 | |
| Legal/agent fees (estimate) | $10,000 | |
| Alternative: real estate investment route | $500,000 | Requires purchase of qualifying property |
Nationality Restrictions
This program does not accept applications from nationals of: Israeli nationals ineligible; some nationalities face enhanced review
Investment Routes
| Route | Amount (USD) | Lock-up (years) | Exit-Value Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government Fund Donation | $250,000 | — | Non-refundable cash deposit to the Egyptian state: USD 250,000. This was the threshold as originally set under Law 190 of 2020 and has been subject to periodic amendment. Rates are published in official gazettes and may be adjusted; confirm current threshold with GAFI or a licensed legal adviser. Source: Law 190 of 2020; gafi.gov.eg |
| Real Estate | $300,000 | 5 | Real estate investment in GAFI-approved projects or Egyptian real estate. Minimum investment approximately USD 300,000 (EGP equivalent thresholds have shifted with currency devaluation — verify USD equivalent at time of application). 5-year mandatory holding period. Egyptian pound devaluation risk: property values in EGP may grow nominally but USD-equivalent returns depend on currency trajectory. |
| Government Bonds | $500,000 | 5 | Investment in Egyptian treasury bonds or government-approved financial instruments. Minimum approximately USD 500,000 equivalent. 5-year hold. Returns may partially offset the investment cost but are subject to EGP/USD exchange rate risk. Source: gafi.gov.eg |
| Business / Enterprise | $400,000 | 5 | Investment in an Egyptian company or economic project creating employment, minimum approximately USD 400,000. Must meet job-creation criteria set by the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI). Business viability and compliance with Egyptian company law required. |
Realistic Total Timeline
3–9 months
End-to-end from application submission to passport issuance, based on recent reported timelines. Times assume a complete file; source- of-funds gaps or refusals can extend significantly.
Due Diligence
- Provider
- Egyptian National Security apparatus + Ministry of Interior background checks + relevant investment authority (e.g., GAFI)
- Depth Level
- standard
Common Disqualifiers
- ⚠Criminal record under Egyptian or international law
- ⚠Presence on Egyptian national security watch lists
- ⚠Nationals of states with which Egypt has no diplomatic relations
- ⚠Failure to demonstrate clean funds from permissible sources
- ⚠Application from individuals with unresolved legal proceedings in Egypt
- ⚠Misrepresentation of identity, nationality, or financial information
Approved Agents
Direct applications are permitted; licensed agents are not required.
Official approved-agents directory →Family Inclusion
- Siblings
- Not included
- Parents Min Age
- —
- Max Child Age
- 21
- Grandparents
- Not included
Spouse and dependent minor children included. Dependent children up to approximately age 21 may be included; exact age limits depend on dependency status. Extended family members are not covered under the standard investment route. Egypt's program is less transparent on extended family inclusion than Caribbean programs; confirm with GAFI at time of application.
Travel Benefits
- Visa-Free Destinations
- 50
- Schengen
- —
- UK
- —
- US E-2 Treaty
- —
- Canada eTA
- —
Post-Citizenship Tax Implications
Egypt has a residence-based income tax system. Egyptian citizens residing outside Egypt are not subject to Egyptian income tax on foreign-source income. Tax residency in Egypt is triggered by habitual residence or domicile. Personal income tax rates in Egypt are progressive, up to 27.5% on income above EGP 400,000/year. Capital gains on Egyptian-listed securities are subject to a 10% withholding tax. Real estate capital gains are generally subject to a 2.5% disposition tax. No wealth tax or inheritance tax. Holding Egyptian citizenship while residing outside Egypt creates no automatic Egyptian tax obligation.
Recent Changes
Egypt amended the citizenship-by-investment thresholds following significant Egyptian pound devaluation. USD-denominated minimums were adjusted upward to maintain equivalent real-value requirements. Applicants should confirm current thresholds directly with GAFI as EGP-denominated figures have changed multiple times.
source →Law 190 of 2020 formally established Egypt's citizenship-by-investment framework, creating the legal basis for the donation, real estate, bonds, and business investment routes.
source →
Programme FAQs
Is the Egyptian passport travel-document strong?
Sources: gafi.gov.eg
How does currency devaluation affect the Egypt CBI investment value?
Sources: gafi.gov.eg
Does Egypt allow dual citizenship?
Sources: gafi.gov.eg
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