Programme overview
Egypt’s CBI was created by Law No. 173 of 2018 with executive regulations finalised in 2019 — making it one of the newest CBIs and the only one anchored in the Arab world today (Jordan’s earlier CBI is largely dormant). The programme is administered through the General Authority for Investment & Free Zones (GAFI) with final approval by the Egyptian Cabinet (Council of Ministers) and grant by Presidential decree.
The 2023 reforms cut the donation entry-point from USD 1M to USD 250K, the real-estate route from USD 500K to USD 300K, and centralised processing at GAFI to shorten the previously-erratic timeline. Even after reform, the realistic timeline runs 6-12 months — significantly slower than Caribbean (4-6 months) or Türkiye (3-6 months).
The Egyptian passport is the weakest mobility passport of any active major CBI: roughly 53 visa-free destinations, no Schengen, no US, no UK. Its value is therefore not mobility-based but jurisdictional: clients seeking an Arab/African anchor citizenship, regional business access (Arab League free-movement provisions in several member states), or a hedge against home-country political risk in the broader MENA. It is also a route of choice for clients with strong cultural/business ties to Egypt who want formal status.
Investment routes
Non-Refundable Donation — USD 250,000. Direct, irrevocable contribution to the State Treasury. Lowest entry-point. All payments must arrive in USD from outside Egypt and be evidenced through the Central Bank.
Real Estate Purchase — USD 300,000. Acquisition of state-owned property or qualifying private real estate from approved development zones. Title is registered to the investor; the property may be rented during the 5-year minimum hold but cannot be sold. Resale permitted after 5 years.
Bank Deposit — USD 500,000. Non-interest-bearing deposit at the Central Bank of Egypt or designated state bank. 3-year minimum hold. Currency risk: the deposit is converted to Egyptian pounds at maturity, exposing the principal to EGP depreciation — and the EGP has depreciated sharply since 2022 (more than 50% loss vs USD across 2022-2024). Treat this route as a partially recoverable contribution rather than a true capital-recovery instrument.
Business Investment — USD 350,000 + USD 100,000 donation. Direct investment in a new or existing local business plus a non-refundable USD 100K contribution. 5-year hold. Used by clients with genuine operating-business intent in Egypt.
A USD 10,000 mandatory state fee applies on top of all routes.
Due diligence & process
Egypt’s DD is administered by GAFI with Ministry of Interior screening and Cabinet review. The programme is less transparent than Caribbean and Maltese counterparts — there is no published agent licensing register, no independent international DD firm in the standard process, and quoted timelines vary widely between intermediaries. Practical timeline: 6-12 months, with realistic central tendency at 9-10 months. Applications are processed through licensed local Egyptian law firms; foreign concierge firms partner with these locally.
What it gets you
Lifetime Egyptian passport, dual citizenship allowed (Egypt accepts dual nationality with Cabinet permission, granted as part of the CBI grant). Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to ~53 destinations including Jordan, Lebanon, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and several African/Arab League states. No Schengen, no UK, no US — the weakest mobility profile of any active CBI. Right to live, work, and own property in Egypt. Tax-neutral by default — citizenship does not trigger Egyptian tax residency.
Our role on an Egypt file
- Reality-check & framing — confirm the client wants Egypt for jurisdictional/regional reasons, not mobility. If the client wants Schengen or US access, redirect to other programmes.
- Route selection — donation is fastest and cleanest; real-estate suits clients who want Egyptian property; bank deposit only for clients comfortable with EGP currency risk.
- Local counsel appointment — engage a vetted Egyptian law firm; concierge teams partner with Cairo-based law firms experienced in GAFI filings.
- Source-of-funds dossier + payment routing — assemble SOF narrative; coordinate USD wire from foreign bank with Central Bank of Egypt evidencing.
- Application submission & follow-up — file at GAFI; track through Ministry of Interior to Cabinet decree (the longest, least predictable phase).
- Passport collection & post-citizenship — passport issuance through Ministry of Interior; advise on tax planning, banking, and any required Egyptian-language documentation for ongoing use.