Egypt digital nomad visa: requirements (2026)
Digital nomad visa in Egypt: via other route.
Egypt does not offer a purpose-built digital-nomad visa; remote workers instead use adjacent routes such as the 5-year multiple-entry visa (now allowing up to 180 days per stay) and the property-ownership residence permit tied to foreign real-estate investment. Foreigners working locally still technically require a Ministry of Manpower work permit, and the legal position of foreign freelancers/self-employed is not clearly codified. Egypt also runs a citizenship-by-investment program under Law 190/2019, but no framework specifically endorses onshore remote work for a foreign employer.
Legal framework
Egypt has no dedicated digital-nomad visa. Foreigners rely on general residency and long-stay entry rules under Law No. 89 of 1960 on Entry and Residence of Foreigners (as amended) and Law No. 26 of 1975 on Nationality, administered by the Ministry of Interior's Passports, Immigration and Nationality Administration (PENA). Recent additions include the five-year multiple-entry visa (Minister of Interior Decision No. 1919 of 2025) and the citizenship-by-investment framework under Law No. 190 of 2019.
Key points: digital nomad & residency in Egypt
No dedicated digital-nomad visa
Egypt has not enacted a digital-nomad or remote-worker visa as of 2026; industry guides consistently note the absence of a bespoke program and point remote workers to tourist or residence alternatives.
Five-year multiple-entry visa ($700)
Under Minister of Interior Decision No. 1919 of 2025, holders of the 5-year multiple-entry visa may now stay up to 180 days per visit (raised from 90) and can obtain a tourist residence card; the fee is roughly USD 700. It is aimed at frequent visitors, business travelers and expats but is not a work authorization.
Standard residence permits via PENA
Foreigners must formalize stays beyond the short tourist period through PENA under the Ministry of Interior, applying within one month of arrival; categories include Special (10-year), Regular (5-year), Temporary, Ownership and Investor residences, typically issued for 1 year and renewable.
Property-based residence (informal 'golden' route)
Foreign real-estate buyers can obtain renewable residence permits scaled to investment (commonly cited tiers of ~USD 50k/1yr, USD 100k/3yr, USD 200k/5yr) under Prime Ministerial decrees; Egypt does not label this a 'golden visa' and it confers residence, not citizenship.
Citizenship-by-investment (Law 190/2019)
Law No. 190 of 2019 with 2023 amendments (Prime Ministerial Decree 876/2023) offers naturalization through routes including USD 300,000 real estate, USD 350,000 business investment plus USD 100,000 non-refundable deposit, USD 250,000 central-bank deposit, or USD 250,000 government donation.
Freelance/self-employment position unclear
The Foreign Work Permit Decree acknowledges self-employment but does not lay out a clear framework for foreign freelancers; practically, foreigners must obtain a Ministry of Manpower work permit before performing work locally, and freelancer registration typically requires forming an OPC or LLC.
Timeline of decisions
- Decision · officialPM decree mandates hard-currency fees and a window to legalize residency
A Prime Ministerial decree gave undocumented foreign residents a grace period to legalize their stay (later extended to June 2024) on payment of US$1,000 in hard currency, and required residency-application fees to be paid in foreign currency through licensed banks.
Library of Congress
- DecisionEgypt launches five-year multiple-entry visa
Egypt introduced a US$700 five-year, multiple-entry visa allowing stays of up to 180 days per visit for citizens of 180 countries, the closest practical long-stay option for remote workers absent a dedicated digital nomad visa.
Ahram Online
- Law · officialParliament approves new amendments to the citizenship law
The House of Representatives passed amendments easing terms for foreigners to acquire Egyptian citizenship through investment, reinforcing the investment-to-citizenship track that sits above the residency framework.
Library of Congress
- DecisionCabinet expands citizenship-by-investment options (PM Decree 876/2023)
Egypt added and clarified investment routes to citizenship, including bank deposits, real estate, business investment, and a non-refundable contribution, explicitly aimed at attracting hard currency amid an FX crunch.
Al Arabiya
- Law · officialParliament approves law allowing citizenship by investment (Law 190/2019)
Egypt enacted a framework empowering the Prime Minister to grant citizenship to foreign investors via property purchase, business investment, deposit, or donation, the legal foundation of the current investment-migration system.
Library of Congress
- Law · officialLaw 173/2018 introduces deposit-based residency
Amending the 1960 aliens law, this measure let foreigners who deposit at least EGP 7 million (or FX equivalent) in a state bank apply for a renewable residency permit, establishing the money-for-residency model later expanded for remote and wealthy migrants.
Library of Congress
- Law · officialLaw No. 89 of 1960 on Entry and Residence of Aliens
Egypt's foundational immigration statute set the categories of foreign residency (temporary, ordinary, and special) and the permit system that every later remote-worker and investor pathway still operates within.
UN ESCWA Migration Policies in the Arab Region
Sources
- english.ahram.org.eg/News/508759.aspx
- cairo.gov.eg/en/news/news-eng/2025/921a059a4fae42b99093fb988f937693
- egyptianstreets.com/2025/09/21/egypt-extends-stay-for-five-year-visa-holders-to-180-days/
- thenationalnews.com/mena/egypt/2023/03/27/egypt-to-offer-five-year-visa-for-700-in-bid-to
- citizenremote.com/visas/egypt-digital-nomad-visa/
- immigrantinvest.com/blog/countries-digital-nomad-visa/
- help.unhcr.org/egypt/en/residence-permit-in-egypt/
- ellaithylawyers.com/residence-of-foreigners-in-egypt-their-types/
- thehorizonrealestate.com/residency-golden-visa-hurghada/
- sandsofwealth.com/blogs/news/egypt-property-residency
- loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2023-05-07/egypt-house-of-representatives-a
- africanews.com/2023/03/09/egypt-eases-citizenship-terms-for-foreigners/
- remote.com/blog/set-up-as-independent-contractor-egypt
- expatfocus.com/egypt/guide/egypt-self-employment
- playroll.com/work-permit-visas/egypt
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