Guidance

Living in Egypt

Information forabout British citizens moving toto, living or livingretiring in Egypt,Egypt – including guidancevisas, onworking, residency, healthcare and employment.  driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
15 January 2014
Last updated
303 DecemberFebruary 20252026 — See all updates

This

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Help forfrom Britishthe citizensEgyptian government

For any questions about moving to or living in Egypt.Egypt, Readyou aboutmay howbe ourable Consularto Sectionget in Cairo,help Egyptfrom canthe helpEgyptian Consulate General in London.

ThisThe informationUK isgovernment providedand asthe aBritish guideEmbassy only.in YouCairo shouldcannot getgive definitivepersonalised informationadvice fromon themoving Egyptianto, authorities.living Theor Foreign,retiring Commonwealthin &Egypt.

Professional Developmenthelp Officein (FCDO)Egypt

You iscan notalso liableget forhelp anyfrom inaccuraciesEnglish-speaking professionals in thisEgypt, information. including:

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  • translators
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  • funeral directors

Help from the UK government

TheRead Supportthe travel advice for BritishEgypt nationalsto abroad:understand athe guiderisks setsyou outmay howface Britishif nationalsyou canlive stayin safeor abroadvisit andEgypt. howThis includes the FCDOlatest caninformation helpon:

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  • safety and security

Read generalour guidance on movingon moving, living or retiring abroad.

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BeforeVisas, youresidency goand citizenship

SeeMake oursure Egyptyou travelmeet advice forthe up-to-date information on entry requirements,requirements localfor lawsEgypt andbefore customs,you safety and emergencies. travel.

Visas

Police andsometimes residency

Checkcheck entryID requirementsand inthey ourmay traveldetain advice.

Touristyou visasif canyou becannot purchasedshow atyour anyvisa portor ofresidency entrypermit and arepassport.

Visas onlyand validresidence permits

You must apply for a singlevisa entry.from Forthe furtherEgyptian informationConsulate onGeneral touristin visas,London checkbefore our travelyou advice pages.leave the UK.

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YouRead canabout applythe fordifferent ortypes renewof yourresidence Britishpermits passportissued fromby EgyptPENA.

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Healthcarewhich inpermit Egypt

Theyou Egyptianshould healthapply carefor, systemcontact:

Long-term providers.

residency

TheYou qualitymay ofbe hospitalable careto inapply Egyptfor islong-term notresidency alwaysin upEgypt toif NHSyou standards.meet Privateone hospitalsof usuallythe offervaried asets higher level of medicalqualifying carecriteria.

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Citizenship

Egypt healthcarerecognises insurance.dual Pleasecitizenship. noteThis means that UKyou Traveldo insurancenot providershave willto notgive generallyup cover(renounce) your healthcareBritish costscitizenship ifto youbecome livean overseas.Egyptian Internationalcitizen.

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For toany seekquestions facilitiesor attachedissues, tocontact:

Passports hospitalsand istravel

Read generallyour free.guidance Followon upmoving, treatment,living however,or mayretiring beabroad. chargedThis andcovers canhow be expensive.to:

Expats

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  • travel illnesses,urgently however,without areyour common.British Newcomerspassport

Dual oftencitizens suffertravelling fromto stomachthe upsetsUK

When andtravelling longer-termto residentsthe doUK, notBritish expectcitizens completemust immunitycarry froma them.valid ThoseBritish susceptiblepassport toor uppercertificate respiratoryof illnessentitlement. mayRead sufferguidance fromon bronchitis,dual sinusitiscitizenship.

Resident andchildren haytravelling feverwithout duea toparent airor pollution,legal particularlyguardian

Children inaged the17 centreand ofunder townsmust wherecarry traffica densityletter isof theauthority highest.if Remediesthey’re aretravelling availableout fromof localEgypt pharmacieswithout whichtheir areparent plentifulor andlegal usually well stocked.guardian.

ForContact furtherthe usefulEgyptian informationConsulate onGeneral healthcare in EgyptLondon visitor the HealthPassports, sectionEmigration ofand ourNationality travelAdministration advice(PENA)..  

Healthcare You may also wish to check a list of medical facilities in Egypt,

Read and informationour forguidance Britishon nationalsmoving, hospitalisedliving or inretiring need of medical help in Egyptabroad,. collatedThis forcovers thehow convenienceto:

  • plan ofyour Britishhealthcare
  • take nationalsmedicine in the country.

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Medicine

IfEgypt youdoes arenot onhave a prescriptionreciprocal forhealth anyagreement medication,with youthe shouldUK.

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There (includingis majora brandswide readilyrange availableof inpublic the UK), and youprivate mayhealth beproviders prohibitedand fromhospitals takingin themEgypt.

Public intohospitals theattached country.to Youuniversity shouldmedical consultschools yourare GPgenerally beforebetter travellingequipped toand Egypthave tobetter findtrained outstaff aboutthan anymost alternativeother medication.public hospitals.

SomeMost prescribedemergency andtreatment overin thepublic counterhospitals medicinesis free. There may be controlleda substancescharge infor Egypt.follow-up Iftreatment youand arethis usingcan prescribedbe drugs,expensive.

To itfind isout advisablemore, toincluding carryhow ato doctor’sget note.medical Iftreatment:

Working in Egypt

BritishRead Nationalsour intendingguidance toon workmoving, inliving Egyptor needretiring toabroad. obtainThis workcovers permits.working Beforeabroad, Britishincluding Nationalsdocuments andyou theirmay employersneed canfrom begin the processUK ofgovernment.

To applyingwork forin aEgypt, workyou permit,need theya willwork needpermit. toTo get securitya clearancework inpermit Egypt.you They will alsofirst need to provideget:

  • security clearance
  • proof of a clean bill of health which includes undergoing an HIV test.

    Worktest

  • proof permitof applicationsacademic canqualifications be(where obtainedapplicable)

The from the Ministry of Manpower and Migration andexplains canthe beapplication processedprocess byand eitherall the employeedocuments oryou thewill employer.need. Proof Your ofemployer academicmay qualificationsbe needsable to behelp submittedyou alongsidewith otherthe documents.process.

Recognition For recognition of UK educational qualifications

If andyou detailswant ofto theirwork verification services, check with the British Council in Cairo.Egypt, Foryou precisemay detailsneed onto allget documentsyour requiredforeign forqualifications workrecognised. permitContact applications and the correctBritish procedure,Council visitin the MinistryCairo offor Manpower and Migration portal.guidance.

StudyingDriving in Egypt

EducationalRead facilitiesour offeringguidance theon Britishmoving, andliving theor Americanretiring curriculum,abroad. mostlyThis internationalcovers schools,how areto:

  • drive widelyabroad locatedlegally
  • take throughoutyour Egypt.UK Thevehicle curriculaabroad
  • get varydriving inlicence qualityletters

You andcan contentdrive fromin oneEgypt schoolfor toup another. Admissions to such6 schoolsmonths mustusing notyour beUK takendriving forlicence granted.or Thean admissions process for international anddriving languagepermit. schools After is6 verymonths, intense.you Schoolsmust requestuse recordsan ofEgyptian academicdriving performancelicence.

To fromget previousan schoolsEgyptian anddriving itlicense isyou quitedo commonnot forneed the parents and child to betake asked to attend a personaldriving interviewtest withif theyou Schoolalready Superintendent.have Finala registrationUK procedureslicence. areTo oftenapply notfor completeda untillicense, earlyyou August.should:

You

  • read mayguidance needon tothe showMinistry aof letterthe ofInterior’s noGeneral objection (PDF,Directorate 31.1of KB,Traffic 1FAQ page)
  • visit asthe partlocal ofTraffic theDepartment schooloffice orin universityperson
  • download admissionand process.

    Thoseshow interestedthe inTraffic learningDepartment Arabicthe canrelevant finddriving alicence wideletter rangeif ofyou institutionsare providingasked opportunities to learnget botha Egyptianletter Colloquialof andidentity Modernfrom Standardthe Arabic.

    British Embassy or Consulate

ForFind detailedout informationmore onabout Educationdriving, inroad Egypt,travel visitand thedriving officiallicence portalrules ofin the EgyptianEgypt Ministryby ofreading Education.the:

The British

Money

Insurance and banking

vehicle registration

AYou largemust numberget ofthird localparty Egyptianliability andinsurance internationalwith banksyour operateannual throughoutvehicle Egypt.registration. BanksIts requirelimited thatcover means you haveshould aconsider residenceadditional permitinsurance thatthrough islocal validor forforeign atinsurance leastcompanies.

You sixmust monthscarry beforeyour youdriver’s openlicence, ancar account.registration Theyand usuallyinsurance requirepapers awith minimumyou depositin ofyour severalvehicle thousandat Egyptianall pounds.times.

Disabled Policiesdrivers

If mayyou varyhave froma bankUK toBlue bankBadge and canlive evenin varyEgypt, betweenyou individualmust branches.

Forreturn furtherit informationto visit the Moneyoriginal sectionUK inissuing our travel advice.authority.

Accommodation and buying propertyTax

SeeRead buyingour propertyguidance inon Egypt.

Buyingmoving, propertyliving inor Egyptretiring isabroad. neitherThis easycovers nortax, straightincluding forward.paying TheUK Egyptiantax legaland systemNational isInsurance.

The veryUK differenthas froma thedouble UK.taxation Aagreement lawyerwith wouldEgypt beso bestthat placedyou todo advisenot youpay tax on the legalsame system,income proceduresin andboth anycountries.

Contact precautionsthe youEgyptian needTax toAuthority take.for Youmore needguidance toon pursuepaying residencytax if you intend to buy property in Egypt.

Consider Withoutgetting residency,professional youadvice willon notpaying betax ablein toEgypt. delegateTo powerdo ofthis, attorneyfind toan aEnglish-speaking lawyer toin registerEgypt.

Pensions

Claiming your property.

UK pension

MakeRead sureour yourguidance Lawyeron preparesmoving, bothliving anor Englishretiring andabroad. ArabicThis versioncovers:

  • how ofto theclaim contract.your Repairs,UK additionalState work,Pension
  • where andthe remainingUK constructionalgovernment workpays shouldan beannual includedincrease in the contractState withPension

Claiming aan clearEgyptian timeline.pension

Contact Finesthe forMinistry delaysof inSocial theseSolidarity timelines(in shouldArabic) alsoor beread clearlythe specifiedministry’s inFAQs the(in contract.Arabic) A listto offind localout lawyers ismore providedabout forthe BritishEgyptian Nationalspension in Egypt.system.

See

Benefits

Claiming our buyingUK propertybenefits

Read inour Egyptguidance guide foron detailedmoving, information.living Thisor guideretiring setsabroad. outThis essentialcovers informationhow for British nationals wanting to buyclaim propertyUK inbenefits Egypt,abroad, including adviceChild onBenefit.

Claiming legalEgyptian advice,benefits

Contact fraud,the residenceMinistry requirements,of complaintsSocial andSolidarity more.(in ItArabic) shouldor be read togetherthe withministry’s the HowFAQs to(in buyArabic) propertyto abroadfind guide.

Drivingout inwhether Egypt

If you staycan inclaim Egyptbenefits forin longer than six months you:Egypt.

  • must

    Buying getand anrenting Egyptianproperty driver’sin licenceEgypt

    Read (Britishour nationalsguidance withon amoving, UKliving drivingor licenceretiring areabroad. exemptThis fromcovers thebuying drivingand test)

  • cannotrenting useproperty an International Driving Licence
abroad.

If,Generally, whenforeign applyingnationals forcannot anown Egyptianland license,in youEgypt areunless askedthey toare getofficially evidenceresident fromthere. theContact Britishan EmbassyEnglish-speaking orlawyer Consulatein ofEgypt yourif identity,you’re downloadconsidering thebuying relevantproperty drivingor license letter.land.

ThirdRead partyour liabilityguide insuranceto isbuying compulsoryproperty in Egypt andfor hasdetailed toinformation.

Voting bein obtainedEgypt

UK withelections

Read theour mandatoryguidance annualon vehiclemoving, registration.living Thisor insuranceretiring isabroad. cheapThis butcovers veryhow limitedto:

  • vote andin settlementsUK canelections takefrom aabroad
  • register veryas longan time.overseas Britishvoter

Egyptian nationalselections

You maycannot wishvote toin considerEgyptian additionalelections insuranceunless throughyou localhold insuranceEgyptian companiescitizenship. 

Studying or a very limited number of foreign insurance providers operating in Egypt.

Egypt

Driver’sIf licence,you carplan registrationto andstudy insurancein papersEgypt, you must bemeet carriedall invisa yourrequirements vehicle,before oryou with you, at all times.travel.

ReadFor themore information:

Disabled drivers

IfYou youmay haveneed to show a UKletter Blueof Badgeno objection and(PDF, live31.1 inKB, Egypt,1 youpage) mustas returnpart itof to the originalschool UKor issuinguniversity authority.admission process.

TaxChildren

YouRead shouldour getguidance professional advice on payingmoving, taxliving inor Egypt.retiring Findabroad. anThis English-speakingcovers lawyermoving inabroad Egypt.

Readwith guidancechildren, on:including:

Schools Nationaland insuranceeducation

The whileEgyptian abroad toMinistry protectof yourEducation provides Stateinformation Pensionabout andthe entitlementschool tosystem otherin benefits and allowances Egypt.

Benefits

CheckAll whichchildren UKaged benefits4 youto can14 claimmust whileattend abroad andschool howin to claim them.Egypt.

ManyThere income-relatedare benefitsinternational suchschools, asoffering Pensionthe CreditBritish and Housingthe BenefitAmerican cannotcurriculum, bethroughout paidthe ifcountry. you’reAs abroadpart forof morethe thanrigorous 4admissions weeks.process you should expect:

Pensions

If

For Centre formore furtherinformation information.

Lifeon certificatesthe forEgyptian UKeducation Statesystem, Pensionsread guidance from the British Council in Egypt.

Childcare

IfThe youNational getCouncil a request for a lifeChildhood certificateand fromMotherhood theis UKresponsible Pensionfor service,state-funded youchildcare mustservices respondin asEgypt.

Most soonBritish aspeople possible.living Yourin paymentsEgypt mayuse beprivate suspendednurseries ifand youchildcare do not.services.

VotingBirths, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

YouRead mayour beguidance ableon tofamily votelaw in someEgypt UKfor elections.advice You can:on:

Births, deaths and marriages

Births

Births If your child is born in Egypt, you should register the birth withat the local authoritieshealth office or civil registry  within 15 days fromof the datebirth. of birth.  You canneed thena registerresidency withpermit theto UKregister authoritiesa andbirth applyas for a UKforeigner birthin certificate. Egypt.

IfRead yourour childguidance hason Britishmoving, nationality, youliving door notretiring needabroad. toThis covers how to:

  • register the birth with the UK authoritiesUK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
  • apply for ayour child’s first British passport. Seepassport

Deaths

Read https://www.gov.uk/get-a-child-passport/first-child-passportour guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.   . This covers:

Deaths

  • what to do after someone dies abroad
  • how to register the death with the UK authorities

If someone dies in EgyptEgypt, read our guidance on:

Marriage

Marriages and civil partnerships

See:

Emergencies

Dial:abroad.

Egypt. 

Divorce and separation

DialRead 16000our toguidance reporton childmoving, abuse

Dialliving 19654or forretiring anyabroad. touristThis relatedcovers issues

Dialhow 16328to forget mentala healthdivorce emergencyor servicesend a civil partnership.

IfTo youget havea beendivorce in Egypt contact the victimEgyptian ofFamily aCourt. rapeYou orshould sexualseek assaultlegal inadvice Egypt,from readan moreEnglish-speaking information forlawyer victimsin ofEgypt.

Read aour rapeguidance oron sexualfamily assaultlaw in Egypt.  Seefor alsomore https://www.gov.uk/guidance/victim-of-rape-and-sexual-assault-abroad.information.

Documents for British people in Egypt

IfRead you’reour theguidance victimon ofdocuments afor crime,British havepeople beenabroad. arrested,This orcovers: 

Lawyers, translators and notaries

ForTo informationfind onan EgyptEnglish-speaking familylawyer, law,translator inheritance,or wills,notary etcin Egypt, read theguidance familyon lawprofessional inservices Egyptif you’re abroad.

Pets

ReadIf you want to bring your pet with you to Egypt, read guidance onon:

Returning to the UK

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which. This includes information on bringing family members,members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

Disclaimer

We provide this information as a guide only.  For definitive information, contact the Egyptian authorities.

Read our consular information disclaimer.

Updates to this page

Published 15 January 2014
Last updated 303 DecemberFebruary 20252026 + show all updates

  1. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand. Includes new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK ('Passports and travel' section).

  2. Added letter of no objection for schools and university admissions ('Studying in Egypt' section). Added link to consular letter for use when applying for an Egyptian driving license ('Driving in Egypt' section).

  3. In the 'Studying in Egypt' section, a downloadable letter has been removed. The letter explained that the British Embassy in Cairo has no objection to British nationals enrolling in Egyptian schools and universities. This letter is no longer required.

  4. Added a downloadable school and university letter.

  5. Updated guide in full.

  6. Updated information on where in Cairo to apply for extension and residency visas

  7. Education section updated with a new link to the Ministry of Education.

  8. Coronavirus section added with a link to guidance on vaccines

  9. First published.

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