Living in Egypt

Introduction

This guide sets out essential information for British citizens moving to or living in Egypt. Read about how our Consular Section in Cairo, Egypt can help

This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Egyptian authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information. 

The Support for British nationals residingabroad: a guide sets out how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if you do get into difficulty.

Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.

To stay up to date: follow the British Embassy in Egypt includingon Facebook and Twitter.

Before you go

See our Egypt travel advice for up-to-date information on health,entry education,requirements, residencelocal requirementslaws and more.customs, Wesafety areand unableemergencies. 

Visas toand provideresidency

Check entry requirements in our travel advice.

Tourist visas can be purchased at any guidanceport of entry and are only valid for a single entry. For further information on generaltourist lifestylevisas, enquiriescheck apartour travel fromadvice pages.

If a British National is coming to Egypt for work or study purposes, the informationprocess andmay linksbe listedsignificantly below.more Seecomplicated. ‘OurIt Services’is sectionadvisable to have the correct visa before arriving to avoid spending hours or even days in government offices trying to meet local requirements. This can be done by applying for the appropriate visa at the Egyptian Consulate in the UK. For more information on residency visas and renewal of tourist visas, please visit the servicesPassport weand Immigration Office at:

or the relevant passport office nearest to your location.

Security checkpoints are common and a British national will not be allowed to pass if the passport and visa are not in order. More serious consequences such as arrest or deportation may follow.

Further information on entry requirements can providebe found on the Ministry of Interior website.

Passports and travel

You can apply for or renew your British nationals.passport from Egypt.

Check the Egypt travel advice for passport validity requirements.

HealthHealthcare in Egypt

The Egyptian health care system is varied and diverse with a wide range of public and private providers.

The quality of hospital care in Egypt is not always up to NHS standards. Private hospitals usually offer a higher level of medical care than government ones, most have outpatient clinics. Consistently using private clinics and hospitals can be very costly. Resident British Nationals may wish to consider investing in healthprivate healthcare insurance. Please note that UK Travel insurance providers will not generally cover your healthcare costs if you live overseas. International providers offer a variety of plans geared towards expats;foreign residents ranging from comprehensive packages to emergency insurance only. Prices vary accordingly and the packages can be obtained for the length of stay in Egypt.

If you decide to seek care at a public hospitalhospital, then it is advisable to seek facilities attached to university medical schools. These usually have higher quality equipment and better trained staff. Emergency treatment in government hospitals is generally free. Follow up treatmenttreatment, however, may be charged and can be expensive.

Expats remain generally healthy in Egypt; minor illnessesillnesses, however, are common. Newcomers often suffer from stomach upsets and longer-term residents do not expect complete immunity from them. Those susceptible to upper respiratory illness may suffer from bronchitis, sinusitis and hay fever due to air pollution, particularly in the centre of towns where traffic density is the highest. Remedies are available from local pharmacies which are plentiful and usually well stocked.

For further useful information on healthcare in Egypt visit the Health section of our Traveltravel Adviceadvice. You may also wish to check a a list of Medicalmedical facilities in Egypt, and and information for British nationals hospitalised or in need of medical help in Egypt, collated for the convenience of British nationals in the country.

Education

Medicine

EducationalIf facilitiesyou offering the British and the American curriculum, mostly international schools, are widelyon locateda throughoutprescription Egypt .The curricula vary in quality and content from one school to another. Admissions to such schools must not be taken for granted.any Themedication, admissionsyou processshould forensure internationalyou andhave languagea schoolssupply is very intense. Schools request records of academicit, performanceor fromare previousable schoolsto andobtain it iswhen quitein commonEgypt. forCertain themedicines parentsmay andnot child to be askedavailable to attend a personal interview with the School Superintendant. Final registration procedures are often not completed until early August.

Those interested in learningEgypt Arabic(including canmajor findbrands areadily wideavailable range of institutions providing opportunities to learn both Egyptian Colloquial and Modern Standard Arabic.

For detailed information on Education in Egypt, visit the officialUK), portaland ofyou themay Egyptianbe Ministryprohibited offrom Education.Thetaking Britishthem Councilinto portal on Education also provides valuable information on the Egyptiancountry. EducationYou Systemshould includingconsult Higheryour education.

EntryGP andbefore residencetravelling requirements

Touristto visasEgypt canto befind purchasedout atabout any portalternative of entry and are only valid for a single entry. For further information on tourist visas, check our travel advice pages.medication.

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Most foreigners begin by applying for a one-year residence visa, which can be done in Cairoany at:

This office supplies British Nationals with the necessary application materials. Three-year residence visas are more common for foreigners with valid work permits, as are five-year residence visas. An employer will sponsor such applications with the relevant authorities.

Marriage to the Egyptian citizensDrug usuallyAuthority portal. qualifies British Nationals for a resident visa. The Egyptian spouseDrug willAuthority need to approach the relevant authorities in the first instance.

As a general rule it is safest to follow proper procedures as closely as possible and obtain the properpharmaceutical visaregulatory andbody permits.of Due to the delicateEgyptian securityMinistry situationof inHealth someand areas,it securitypublishes checkpoints are common and a Britishlist nationalof willcontrolled notmedicine be allowed to pass if the passport and visa are not in order. More serious consequences such as arrest or deportation may follow.annually.

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EmploymentWorking andin recognised qualificationsEgypt

British Nationals intending to work in Egypt need to obtain work permits. Before British Nationals and their employers can begin the process of applying for a work permit, they will need to get security clearance from National Security in Egypt. They will also need to provide proof of a clean bill of health which includes undergoing an HIV test.

Work permit applications can be obtained from the Ministry of Manpower and Migration and can be processed by either the employee or the employer. Proof of academic qualifications needs to be submitted alongside other documents. For recognition of UK educational qualifications and details of their verification services, check with the the British Council in Cairo. For precise details on all documents required for work permit applications and the correct procedure, visit the the Ministry of Manpower and Migration portal.

DrivingStudying licencesin and vehiclesEgypt

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FinanceMoney and banking

A large number of local Egyptian and international banks operate throughout Egypt. Banks require that you have a residence permit that is valid for at least six months before you open an account. They usually require a minimum deposit of several thousand Egyptian pounds. Policies may vary from bank to bank and can even vary between individual branches.

In terms of daily life Egypt is very much a cash-driven country. You will not find many grocery stores or local shops that take credit or debit cards. You will find however, that the trendier, upscale shops, restaurants, bars and clubs may take major credit and debit cards.

Traveller’s cheques are not normally accepted in stores and restaurants in Egypt but a bank will cash them for a fee. The same applies to personal cheques; they are rare and unlike the UK, cannot be used to settle household bills.

Banks may transfer funds to overseas accounts for you. Fees for this service vary from bank to bank, and you may find yourself charged several fees depending on the two banks’ policies toward international transfers and currency exchange. More importantly, this is not an option without an Egyptian bank account. Another relatively cheaper option is wire money transfers; MoneyGram and Western Union both operate in Egypt. All the funds have to be in US Dollars however.

For further information visit the Money section in our our Traveltravel Adviceadvice.

PropertyAccommodation and propertybuying disputesproperty

ItSee wasbuying illegal, until recently, for foreigners to own property in Egypt.Egypt.

Buying This is no longer the case but buying property in Egypt is neither easy nor straight forward. The Egyptian legal system is very different from the UK. A lawyer would be best placed to adviceadvise you on the legal system, procedures and any precautions you need to take. You need to pursue residency if you intend to buy property in Egypt. Without residency, you will not be able to delegate power of attorney to a lawyer to register your property.

Make sure your Lawyer prepares both an English and Arabic version of the contract. Repairs, additional work, and remaining constructional work should be included in the contract with a clear timeline. Fines for delays in these timelines should also be clearly specified in the contract. A A list of local lawyers is is provided for British NationalNationals in Egypt.

See our our buying property in Egypt guide for for detailed information. This guide sets out essential information for British nationals wanting to buy property in Egypt, including advice on legal advice, fraud, residence requirements, complaints and more. It should be read together with the the How to buy property abroad guide .

GuidanceDriving onin bringingEgypt

It medicationis intomandatory Egypt.to obtain an Egyptian Driver’s licence if you are staying in Egypt for longer than six months. An International Driving Licence cannot be used after that period. British nationals with a UK driving licence are exempt from the driving test.

SomeThird prescribedparty liability insurance is compulsory in Egypt and overhas to be obtained with the countermandatory medicinesannual vehicle registration. This insurance is cheap but very limited and settlements can take a very long time. British nationals may bewish controlledto substancesconsider additional insurance through local insurance companies or a very limited number of foreign insurance providers operating in Egypt.

Driver’s licence, car registration and insurance papers must be carried in your vehicle, or with you, at all times.

Read the guidance on driving abroad.

If you’re asked for a letter authenticating, certifying or validating your UK driver’s licence, you areshould usingcontact prescribedyour drugsUK itissuing isoffice.

If advisableyou wish to carrytake ayour doctor’svehicle note.with you, see https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk.

Disabled drivers

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in anyEgypt, doubtyou checkmust return it to the Egyptianoriginal DrugUK Authorityissuing portal.authority.

Tax

You Theshould Egyptianget Drugprofessional Authorityadvice ison thepaying pharmaceuticaltax regulatoryin bodyEgypt. ofFind an English-speaking lawyer in Egypt](https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find?serviceType=lawyers).

Read guidance on:

• tax if you leave the EgyptianUK Ministryto oflive Healthabroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• tax if you get pension and itlive publishesabroad
• paying aNational listinsurance ofwhile controlledabroad to medicineprotect annually.

  Localyour lawsState Pension and customsentitlement to other benefits and allowances

Benefits

OurCheck Travelwhich AdviceUK benefits you can claim while abroad and offershow anto extensiveclaim overviewthem.

Many ofincome-related thebenefits Egyptiansuch culture,as traditionsPension Credit and socialHousing ethicsBenefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

Pensions

If you retire in theEgypt, country.you Thecan officialclaim portalyour UK ofState thePension or new EgyptianUK MinistryState ofPension. Contact Tourismthe International Pension Centre for alsofurther offersinformation.

Life informationcertificates onfor EgyptianUK historyState Pensions

If you get a request for a life certificate from the UK Pension service, you must respond as wellsoon as apossible. guideYour onpayments popularmay touristicbe sites.suspended if you do not.

Voting

TheYou vastmay majoritybe ofable Britishto expatriatesvote havein asome troubleUK freeelections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote
• check voting and enjoyableelections
• register timeas whilean stayingoverseas invoter

Births, Egypt.deaths Foreign,and Commonwealthmarriages

Births &If Developmentyour Officechild researchis showsborn thatin Egypt, you should register the majoritybirth ofwith difficultiesthe thatlocal Britishauthorities nationalswithin find15 themselvesdays infrom abroadthe date of birth.  You can bethen avoided.register Respectingwith localthe lawsUK authorities and customsapply canfor helpa youUK avoidbirth gettingcertificate. 

If intoyour trouble.child Havehas aBritish greatnationality, you timedo innot Egyptneed butto makeregister the necessarybirth preparationswith the UK authorities to ensureapply youfor area well-informedBritish andpassport. See knowhttps://www.gov.uk/get-a-child-passport/first-child-passport.   

Deaths

If someone dies in Egypt read our guidance on:

• bereavement guidance for Egypt
• what isto expecteddo ofif yousomeone asdies aabroad
• English-speaking residentfuneral directors in thisEgypt

Marriage

Read country.https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/marriage-in-egypt.

See also:

• how you can get married or get a civil partnership abroad

DisclaimerEmergencies

ThisDial:

• police: information122 is(or provided112 ason mobile)
• ambulance: 123
• fire brigade: 180

Dial 16000 to report child abuse

Dial 19654 for any tourist related issues

Dial 16328 for mental health emergency services

If you have been the victim of a generalrape guideor andsexual isassault basedin uponEgypt, read more information for providedvictims toof thea embassyrape byor thesexual relevantassault localin authoritiesEgypt.  andSee mayalso behttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/victim-of-rape-and-sexual-assault-abroad.

If subjectyou’re tothe changevictim atof anya timecrime, withhave littlebeen arrested, or noare notice.affected Theby FCDOa andcrisis, contact the British Embassy willin notEgypt.

For beinformation liableon forEgypt anyfamily inaccuracieslaw, inheritance, wills, etc read the family law in thisEgypt.

Read information.guidance Britishon nationalsinternational wishingparental child abduction if your child may be at risk of this.

Returning to obtainthe anyUK

Read furtherthe informationguidance muston contact[returning to the relevantUK localpermanently] authority.(https://www.gov.uk/guidance/returning-to-the-uk) which includes information on bringing family members, tax and access to services.