Essential Guide to Egypt Business Visa Application Process

For American passport holders, they must complete and sign the Egyptian business visa application form with a US passport photograph stapled to it. They must include two 2” x 2” high-definition passport photos with a white background taken less than six months ago. They must submit two copies of the letter from the company mentioning the purpose of the travel and financial guarantees for the applicant. They must include two copies of the information page of their passport alongside the actual passport.

For non-American passport holders, they must complete and sign the Egyptian business visa application form alongside one photo, and one copy of the application form should be submitted. They must include two 2” x 2” HD passport photographs with white backgrounds not older than 6 months. Two copies of the information page of their passport alongside the actual passport. Two photocopies of a valid U.S. Visa or green card. Two copies of a letter from the company indicating the purpose of the trip as well as a financial guarantee for the applicant. This letter should state the name of the applicant, the company they work for, the work they will be doing in Egypt, and the travel/return dates. They must include TWO photocopies of a round-trip ticket. There are also some medical requirements that the applicant must satisfy, such as presenting a yellow fever certificate for travelers who have traveled through a yellow fever risk area. A polio vaccination certificate is also a requirement for travelers coming from polio-infected countries.

Foreign companies planning to open a branch in Egypt must get a contract as per the Companies Law of the country. This law allows foreign ventures to open a branch in the country and carry out works that are contractual in nature, like construction. They have to register at the nearest commercial registration office in the country and appoint a manager who will represent the company in Egypt. The manager can be of any nationality. Foreigners can start a Limited Liability Company (LLC) provided they pay the capital in full at the time of application. There should be a minimum of two partners to establish an LLC. The recent amendment to the Companies Law also allows a single-person company to start a business in the country. Many international companies, such as TMG Holding and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, are successfully operating in Egypt, making it a promising landscape for foreign investments.