I. Main Visa and Work Permit Types

The table lists only the principal types covered in this guide and is not an exhaustive list of all Egyptian visa categories.

1. Short-Term Tourism and Business Visits

Tourism and business visits should use a visa matching the purpose of travel. E-visas and visas on arrival are subject to nationality and entry conditions and are not universal rules for all passports. Meetings and negotiations must be distinguished from performing a local role; permission to enter is not permission to work.

Whether an activity qualifies as a visit depends on the actual duties, not merely the itinerary label or where salary is paid. Installation, repair, training and on-site client services should be checked carefully to determine whether a work permit or a specific exemption is required.

2. Employer-Sponsored Work Permit and Residence

This pathway applies to foreign employees continuously employed in Egypt by an Egyptian-registered entity acting as the genuine employer.

The employer must meet entity, sector, tax, social-insurance, foreign-worker ratio, local-assistant and training requirements. As a general rule, foreign employees normally may not exceed 10% of Egyptian employees, subject to statutory exceptions. The employee generally needs at least three years of matching experience, while regulated professions also require a licence. Contract salary and benefits must comply with labour law and sector rules.

A work permit is generally valid for one year or less and may be renewed according to law. Renewal should be completed before expiry; arrangements for accepting a late renewal should not be interpreted as additional work authorization. A change of employer, occupation or work location requires the applicable new permit or amendment. The basis for stay and the basis for work after employment ends must be assessed separately.

3. Short Professional Assignment Approval

This approval applies to a specified installation, commissioning, training, acceptance or expert assignment completed over one or several days, up to 14 days.

The Egyptian receiving party must apply for written approval before the assignment begins and identify the specific task, number of days, salary or remuneration, location and personnel qualifications. Work may not begin before approval. If the assignment exceeds 14 days or constitutes ongoing duties, the ordinary work-permit route should be used.

Written approval is valid only for the stated assignment and for no more than 14 days; it is not a renewable long-term status. A change to the assignment, receiving party, location or duration requires new approval. Work must stop when the assignment ends.

II. Entry, Dependants and Other Arrangements

Visas, work approvals and residence documents should correspond to the actual activities and to one another's validity periods. An employer-sponsored work permit or short professional assignment approval does not automatically grant work rights to family members.

A family member who intends to work in Egypt generally needs their own employer to apply separately for a work permit. Study, transit and other personal statuses must also independently satisfy their corresponding conditions. The principal applicant's permit or assignment approval cannot be used directly as a family member's entry or employment document.

III. Renewals, Changes, Termination and Status Maintenance

IV. Support sailglobal Can Provide

If a company plans to send personnel to Egypt for business visits, local employment or short-term projects, or to arrange accompanying family members, it can contact sailglobal to understand the applicable pathway and application requirements based on the person's status, duties and itinerary.

Visa, work-permit and residence applications are independently assessed by the relevant authorities. sailglobal does not guarantee approval or a fixed issuance date.