Egypt Citizenship by Investment

The Egypt Citizenship by Investment Programme, established under Law No. 190 of 2019, provides foreign nationals with a pathway to Egyptian citizenship through a government-sanctioned economic contribution. Applicants may choose from four qualifying investment options: a non-refundable USD 250,000 donation to the public treasury, a USD 300,000 real estate acquisition held for 5 years, a USD 350,000 business investment with an additional USD 100,000 donation, or a refundable USD 500,000 bank deposit. A mandatory State Fee of USD 10,000 applies to all routes. Dual citizenship is permitted and processing typically takes 6 to 12 months.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have no criminal record, be able to demonstrate the legal source of their investment funds, and successfully complete due diligence checks. The full investment must be made in compliance with Egyptian law, with all payments completed within one year of receiving government approval.

The four qualifying routes are: (1) Direct Revenue Contribution - a non-refundable donation of USD 250,000 to the public treasury plus a USD 10,000 State Fee; (2) Real Estate Investment - a minimum USD 300,000 purchase of registered real estate held for 5 years plus a USD 10,000 State Fee; (3) Business Investment - a USD 350,000 business investment plus a non-refundable USD 100,000 donation to the state treasury and a USD 10,000 State Fee; and (4) Bank Deposit - a USD 500,000 deposit via bank transfer, refunded after 3 years in local currency, plus a USD 10,000 State Fee. All options allow payment by instalment, with the full amount due within one year of approval.

The Bank Deposit route is the only partially refundable option. A deposit of USD 500,000 is made via bank transfer and is returned after 3 years, although the refund is made in Egyptian local currency rather than in the original foreign currency. The mandatory USD 10,000 State Fee is non-refundable across all routes.

The spouse and dependent children under 21 years old of the main applicant can be included in the Egypt citizenship by investment application. All included dependants receive Egyptian citizenship upon approval of the main application.

Egyptian passport holders enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 50 countries and territories, spanning regions including the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe. Egyptian citizens are also eligible to apply for the US E-2 Investor Visa, which allows them to invest and work in the United States, a significant benefit for investors from countries without an E-2 treaty with the US.

There is no ongoing residency requirement. However, at least one physical visit to Egypt is mandatory as part of the process. Upon initial pre-approval, the applicant is granted temporary residency to travel to Egypt to complete the remaining citizenship requirements, including finalising the investment and fulfilling any in-person documentation steps.

Yes. Egypt permits dual citizenship under Egyptian law, allowing investors to retain their original nationality while acquiring Egyptian citizenship through the investment programme.