Egyptian Citizenship by Investment
Egypt's citizenship by investment program, established under Law 190 of 2020 and administered by the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), offers four distinct investment routes for foreign nationals seeking Egyptian nationality. The real estate route requires a minimum purchase of $300,000 in qualifying Egyptian property. The bank deposit route requires a $500,000 deposit with the Central Bank of Egypt, held for three years and returned without interest — making it effectively a time-cost rather than a permanent outlay. The business contribution route requires a minimum $350,000 direct investment in an Egyptian company or approved economic project that creates local employment. A non-refundable donation route at $250,000 is also available, representing the lowest-entry threshold but with no capital recovery. Processing typically takes six to nine months from completed application submission, covering national security vetting, Ministry of Interior background checks, and GAFI investment verification. Egyptian citizenship is retained alongside the applicant's original nationality; Egypt does not require renunciation, and dual citizenship is accepted in practice for investment-route applicants. Spouse and dependent children are included within the same investment threshold, and children up to approximately age 21 who remain financially dependent may be included. The Egyptian passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 53 destinations, which is limited in comparison to Caribbean or European programs; the program's primary appeal lies in regional business access, property rights, and residency privileges across the Middle East and African markets rather than travel document strength.
Program Details
- Individual Cost
- $300,000
- Family of 4 Cost
- $300,000
- Processing Time
- 7 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate purchase (minimum qualifying value) | $300,000 | Must be held for a minimum period; family included at no additional investment threshold |
| Bank deposit route (Central Bank of Egypt) | $500,000 | Refundable after 3 years without interest; USD-denominated |
| Business investment or company contribution | $350,000 | Direct investment in Egyptian company or economic project creating employment |
| Non-refundable state donation route | $250,000 | Lowest-threshold route; non-refundable contribution to Egyptian state |
| Administrative and application fees | $10,000 | |
| Legal/agent fees (estimate) | $10,000 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate | $300,000 | 5 | Purchase of qualifying Egyptian real estate with a minimum value of USD 300,000 (EGP-equivalent thresholds are periodically adjusted; verify USD equivalent at time of application following Egyptian pound devaluation cycles). Mandatory holding period of approximately 5 years. Egyptian pound devaluation risk: property values in EGP may grow nominally but USD-equivalent returns depend on currency trajectory. Only GAFI-approved or qualifying market-value properties count. Source: gafi.gov.eg; Law 190 of 2020 and amendments. |
| Government Bonds | $500,000 | 3 | Deposit of USD 500,000 with the Central Bank of Egypt, held for a minimum of 3 years and returned without interest on maturity. This is effectively a zero-coupon cost: the applicant loses the time-value of capital for 3 years but recovers the principal in USD. Currency denomination is USD, reducing exchange-rate risk relative to EGP-denominated instruments. Source: gafi.gov.eg. |
| Business / Enterprise | $350,000 | 5 | Direct investment of USD 350,000 in an Egyptian company or approved economic project. Must meet job-creation and compliance criteria set by GAFI. The investment must remain active and operational for a sustained period. Business viability, Egyptian company law compliance, and employment maintenance are ongoing obligations. Applicants should structure through a local legal adviser familiar with Egyptian commercial law. Source: gafi.gov.eg. |
| Government Fund Donation | $250,000 | — | Non-refundable cash contribution to the Egyptian state under Law 190 of 2020. Single-applicant minimum USD 250,000; family included at the same threshold. This is the lowest-cost entry route and requires no holding period. No capital recovery. Threshold is subject to amendment by ministerial decree and should be confirmed directly with GAFI at time of application. Source: Law 190 of 2020; gafi.gov.eg. |
Realistic Total Timeline
6–9 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 + General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (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 (including Israel)
- ⚠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 are included within the same investment threshold at no additional investment cost. Dependent children up to approximately age 21 may be included subject to demonstrated financial dependency. Extended family members (parents, siblings, grandparents) are not covered under the standard investment citizenship route and would need to apply separately through other immigration channels. Egypt's program documentation on extended family inclusion is less transparent than Caribbean programs; confirm current policy with GAFI or a licensed Egyptian immigration lawyer at time of application.
Travel Benefits
- Visa-Free Destinations
- 53
- Schengen
- —
- UK
- —
- US E-2 Treaty
- —
- Canada eTA
- —
Post-Citizenship Tax Implications
Egypt operates 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, not by citizenship. Personal income tax rates are progressive, reaching 27.5% on income above EGP 400,000 per year. Capital gains on Egyptian-listed securities are subject to a 10% withholding tax. Real estate disposals are generally subject to a 2.5% disposition tax. No wealth tax or inheritance tax applies. Holding Egyptian citizenship while residing outside Egypt creates no automatic Egyptian tax obligation. Applicants from countries with citizenship-based taxation (such as the United States) remain liable to their home-country tax system regardless of additional nationalities acquired.
Recent Changes
Egypt amended 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 real estate, bank deposit, business investment, and donation routes.
source →
Programme FAQs
Which Egypt CBI route offers the lowest total cost?
Sources: gafi.gov.eg
Does Egypt allow dual citizenship for investment-route applicants?
Sources: gafi.gov.eg
How strong is the Egyptian passport for international travel?
Sources: gafi.gov.eg
How does Egyptian pound devaluation affect the investment value?
Sources: gafi.gov.eg
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Other CBI Programs
Sources & last verified
- Official source
- Last verified