Egypt Work Permit Guide for Employers. 2026
Ministry decision: 48 hours | End-to-end: 2–4 months. Authority: Ministry of Manpower. New law effective: 1 September 2025. Last reviewed: May 2026
Major change: Egypt’s Labour Law No. 14 of 2025, effective 1 September 2025:
- Supersedes Labour Law No. 12 of 2003 — Egypt’s labour framework for over 20 years
- Work permit fees updated: now range from EGP 5,000 to EGP 150,000 under the new law
- Short-term foreign work: Ministerial Decree No. 279/2025 expressly limits task-based assignments to a maximum of 14 days
- Reciprocal condition: Requirement to only hire from countries that hire Egyptians may now be waived at the Labour Minister’s discretion
- Minimum wage: EGP 7,000/month private sector from 1 March 2025
- Contracts in Arabic: Must be signed in Arabic; 4 copies required (employer, employee, social insurance, Labour Office)
- Maternity leave: Increased to 4 months paid
Egypt’s work permit system is built on three pillars that must all be in place simultaneously: an entry visa, a residence permit, and a work permit from the Ministry of Manpower. The framework is employer-anchored — foreign nationals cannot self-sponsor or enter to search for work.
The 10% workforce quota (maximum foreign workers relative to insured Egyptian staff) and the 20% payroll cap create hard eligibility constraints that must be checked before any application begins. The system was substantially reformed under Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 effective 1 September 2025, with updated fees, a 14-day cap on short-term foreign work, and new contract requirements.
Quick answer
Employer checks 10% quota (foreign ≤ 10% of insured Egyptians; ≤ 20% of payroll) → submits to Ministry of Manpower (manpower.gov.eg) — decision in 48 hours from complete application → State Security clearance (sequential) → employee gets entry visa at Egyptian embassy → enters Egypt → medical exam at approved facility + police registration → work permit issued (1 year, renewable) → residence permit from immigration authorities. Fee: EGP 1,000 initial (official rate) / EGP 5,000–150,000 under new law. Renewal: before expiry or within 14 days of expiry. All documents in Arabic. All three authorisations must remain synchronised.
Who issues work permits in Egypt
Work permits for foreign nationals are issued by the Ministry of Manpower through three offices depending on the employer’s sector. Submitting to the wrong office delays the application.
Competent Manpower Directorate
Covers most private sector employers. Jurisdiction determined by the employer’s registered location. Most commercial and professional expatriate hiring routes through this office.
General Petroleum Authority
For foreign nationals employed in the petroleum and energy sectors. Separate processing channel with specialist handling. Most petroleum sector expatriates are exempt from the 5-year referral requirement at renewal.
General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI)
For employees of investment projects and companies operating within Egypt’s free zones. Investment project employees are exempt from the 5-year referral requirement at renewal.
The 10% workforce quota — the eligibility constraint
Egyptian law sets hard limits on foreign worker proportions that are enforced at the establishment level, cross-referenced against social insurance records. These are not advisory ratios, they are statutory caps that block work permit applications if exceeded.
| Category | Limit | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Workforce cap | 10% | Foreign workers cannot exceed 10% of total insured Egyptian workforce in the establishment |
| Payroll cap | 20% | Total foreign worker wages cannot exceed 20% of the establishment’s total payroll |
These ratios are cross-referenced against social insurance records, not internal HR headcount. Employers cannot adjust internal numbers to appear compliant; the system reads insured employees. If the establishment is already at 10%, no new work permit can be approved until the Egyptian headcount grows.
Exemptions may be available through an Exemptions Committee where highly specialised expertise is demonstrably unavailable locally. Certain professions (tourist guidance, customs clearance) are prohibited entirely for foreign nationals.
The three authorisations — all required
Legal employment in Egypt only exists where all three authorisations are valid simultaneously. Allowing any one to lapse while the others remain active creates an irregular status.
1. Entry Visa
Applied for at an Egyptian embassy or consulate in the country of residence, or obtained at the port of entry for eligible nationalities. Required before travel. Separate from the work permit.
2. Work Permit
Issued by the Ministry of Manpower. Applied for by the employer (not the employee). Employer-specific and role-specific — not transferable. Valid 1 year; renewal annually.
3. Residence Permit
Applied for after arrival from immigration authorities. Typically issued for the same duration as the work permit. Must be renewed alongside the work permit. Does not authorise employment on its own.
Work permit fees
OK. I’ve converted the selected text in cells C5:C16 into a structured table.
| Permit Type | Fee / Rate | Notes & Legal Source |
|---|---|---|
| Initial permit | EGP 1,000 | Confirmed from manpower.gov.eg official procedures page — general rate for all foreigners |
| New law range | EGP 5,000–150,000 | Labour Law No. 14/2025 updated fee range by role and sector |
| Renewal | EGP 100 | General rate; EGP 50 for Arab nationals (Council Resolution 135/1996) plus EGP 4.100 tax/stamps |
| Short-term (max 14 days) | 10% | Of applicable full permit fee per Ministerial Decree No. 279/2025 |
Fee exemptions apply to Greek nationals, Palestinian nationals, Sudanese nationals (private sector only), and nationals of countries covered by international agreements to which Egypt is a party. Replacement of a lost or damaged permit: free of charge under Ministerial Resolution No. 135 of 1996. If a renewal application is rejected, appeals must be submitted within 1 month of the rejection date; processed within 15 days.
How to hire a foreign national in Egypt
Employer verifies 10% quota and confirms profession is not prohibited
Before initiating any application, the employer checks social insurance records to confirm the establishment’s current foreign-to-Egyptian employee ratio is below 10% (and total foreign payroll below 20%). The employer also confirms the intended profession is not on the prohibited list for foreign nationals. If the establishment is at the quota limit, no application can proceed until the Egyptian headcount increases.
Employer applies to Ministry of Manpower for preliminary work permit authorisation
The employer submits an application to the competent Manpower Directorate (or petroleum/investment authority as applicable) with required documentation including employer commercial registration, tax card, social insurance records, employee’s personal and qualification documents, and a justification letter demonstrating the role cannot be filled by an Egyptian candidate. State Security clearance of the employee is a required element of this process, this stage typically takes the most time (several weeks to months).
Ministry of Manpower issues decision within 48 hours of complete submission
Once the application is complete and all clearances are obtained, the Ministry of Manpower issues its decision within 48 hours. This is the official processing window per the Ministry’s own procedures page. The 48-hour window applies to the Ministry’s internal decision, it does not cover the upstream security clearance or documentation preparation stages.
Employee obtains entry visa at Egyptian embassy or consulate
With the Ministry of Manpower’s authorisation, the employee applies for an entry visa at the nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate in their country of residence (or at the port of entry if eligible). The entry visa is the first of the three required authorisations for legal employment. Visa processing time varies by consulate and nationality.
Employee enters Egypt — medical examination, police registration, and work permit application completed
After arriving in Egypt, the employee undergoes a mandatory medical examination at an approved medical facility. The employee must also register with the police after arrival (the government recommends contacting tourist police for assistance). The employer then submits the complete work permit application to the Ministry of Manpower, documents including the certificate(s) of experience must be legalised by the Egyptian consulate in the issuing country and translated into Arabic.
Work permit issued — employee applies for residence permit from immigration authorities
The Ministry of Manpower issues the work permit, valid for 1 year (may be issued for longer on payment of the applicable fee for the requested period). The employee then applies for the residence permit from immigration authorities, typically issued for the same duration as the work permit. Both must be renewed simultaneously and kept synchronised throughout employment.
| Stage / Requirement | Estimated Timeline | Description / Additional Info |
|---|---|---|
| Security clearance | Weeks to months | Most time-variable stage |
| Ministry decision | 48 hours | From complete application — manpower.gov.eg |
| Entry visa | Weeks | Egyptian embassy in home country |
| Post-arrival medical + police | Days | Required before work permit finalised |
| Total end-to-end | 2–4 months | Document prep through work permit in hand |
Documents required for an Egypt work permit
Employer documents, submitted to Ministry of Manpower
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Commercial registration certificate | Confirming the employer is a registered Egyptian entity in good standing |
| Tax card | Current Egyptian tax identification confirming the employer’s tax status |
| Social insurance documentation | Confirming the number of insured Egyptian employees — required to verify the 10% quota is not exceeded |
| Justification letter | Demonstrates the role requires specialised expertise unavailable locally; explains why no Egyptian candidate was found. Quality of justification directly affects approval likelihood. |
| Employment contract — in Arabic | Under Labour Law No. 14 of 2025: must be in Arabic; four copies required (employer, employee, social insurance authority, Labour Office) |
Employee documents, submitted with application
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Valid passport copy — all pages | Minimum 2 years validity strongly recommended; one clear copy of all pages |
| Passport photographs — multiple formats | Eight 4cm × 6cm for work permit; two 3.5cm × 4.5cm for visa application; three 4cm × 6cm for residence. In colour, white background, face forward, eyes open, mouth closed. |
| Certificate(s) of experience | Must cover at least 3 years of relevant experience; issued by previous employers on letterhead; legalised by Egyptian consulate in issuing country; certified Arabic translation. Allow significant lead time for legalisation. |
| Educational certificates | Authenticated by Egyptian embassy/consulate; Arabic translation; relevant to the applied role |
| Medical certificate | Post-arrival at an approved medical facility in Egypt; confirms fitness to work |
| Letter confirming no previous work permit held Required — first application | Signed statement by the applicant confirming no prior Egyptian work permit was held |
| State Security clearance | Required as part of the Ministry of Manpower application process; coordinated by Egyptian security authorities based on employee’s home country documentation |
| Evidence of legal immigration status in current country of residence | Required if the applicant holds a passport from a different country than where the application is being made |
| Power of attorney (personal) | Required if a representative is appointed to manage the passport endorsement or application process |
Work permit renewal: what employers must know
- Renewal applications must be submitted before the current permit expires, or within a maximum of 14 days after expiry. If renewal is not filed within 14 days of expiry, the permit is no longer considered valid and the foreign national must apply for a new initial permit, restarting the full process. The permit is considered valid for 2 weeks after its expiry date only for the purpose of this renewal window.
- After 5 years: Renewals beyond the 5-year mark are referred to the Director of the Central Administration for Employment Organisation for individual review. Exceptions: petroleum sector workers, investment project employees, and national project employees are exempt from this referral requirement and may renew through the standard process.
- Profession or employer change: If the foreign national changes their profession or workplace, they must notify the competent administrative authority by registered post within 1 week of the change, with employer approval attached. The same fees as the initial permit apply for a profession change.
Egypt work permit at a glance. 2026
| Feature | Detail (source: manpower.gov.eg / Labour Law No. 14/2025) |
|---|---|
| Issuing authority | Ministry of Manpower |
| Governing law | Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 (effective 1 September 2025) + Ministerial Decree No. 279 of 2025 (foreign work permits) |
| Ministry decision time | 48 hours from receipt of complete application |
| End-to-end timeline | 2–4 months including State Security clearance and document legalisation |
| Workforce quota | Foreign workers ≤ 10% of total insured Egyptian employees; ≤ 20% of total payroll |
| Work permit fee — initial (official rate) | EGP 1,000 (general rate per manpower.gov.eg); EGP 5,000–150,000 under new Labour Law No. 14/2025 |
| Renewal fee | EGP 100 (general) / EGP 50 (Arab nationals) + EGP 4.100 tax/stamps |
| Short-term foreign work cap | Maximum 14 days — Ministerial Decree No. 279/2025; fee = 10% of full permit fee |
| Permit validity | 1 year; may be issued for longer on payment of applicable fee; renewed annually |
| Renewal deadline | Before expiry or within 14 days after — beyond 14 days, new initial application required |
| 5-year referral rule | After 5 years, renewals referred to Central Administration Director (exceptions: petroleum, investment, national projects) |
| Profession/employer change notification | Registered post to competent authority within 1 week of change; employer approval required |
| Three required authorisations | Entry visa and work permit (Ministry of Manpower) and residence permit (immigration) — all must remain synchronised |
| Document language | Arabic required; foreign documents must be legalised at Egyptian consulate in issuing country + certified Arabic translation |
| Minimum wage (private sector) | EGP 7,000/month from 1 March 2025 — plus annual raise of minimum 3% of insured wage (minimum EGP 250) |
Official government resources in Egypt
The official Ministry of Manpower page for foreign work permit procedures — confirms processing times, fees, issuing offices, renewal requirements, and fee exemptions. Hotline: 19468.
2. Ministry of Manpower — main portal
The primary authority for all labour and employment matters in Egypt including work permits, labour law enforcement, employment services, and foreign worker licensing.
3. Egypt Labour Law No. 14 of 2025
Official Ministry of Manpower legislation page — includes Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 (effective 1 September 2025), Ministerial Decree No. 279 of 2025 (foreign work permits), and supplementary decrees.
4. General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI)
Issues work permits for employees of investment projects and free zone companies. Investment project employees benefit from separate processing rules including exemption from the 5-year renewal referral requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is held legally liable if the 10% foreign workforce quota is exceeded?
Under the Employer of Record model, the registered local employer is responsible for complying with Egypt’s foreign worker quota rules. Egypt applies a 10% cap on foreign labour at establishment level, including establishments with multiple branches, unless an exemption applies.
When a company hires through Acumen International’s EOR structure, the expatriate worker is employed through Acumen’s registered local employment setup, subject to quota capacity and work permit eligibility checks. This helps the client avoid setting up its own Egyptian entity solely to sponsor the employee.
How does the 14-day rule affect short-term technical consultants?
Under Ministerial Decree No. 279/2025, short-term or task-based work by a foreign national is limited to a maximum of 14 days. The establishment must obtain prior approval from the Ministry of Labour before the foreign national starts the assignment.
If the work is expected to continue beyond the short-term window, the employer should assess whether the full work permit route is required. This is especially important for technical visits, installation work, emergency troubleshooting, project support and specialist advisory assignments.
Is a work permit the same as security clearance?
No. Security clearance is a prerequisite in the work permit process, not the work permit itself.
A foreign national cannot be treated as fully authorised to work simply because documents have been prepared or submitted. Employers should confirm that the required security, medical, residence and work authorisation steps are properly aligned before the employee begins work in Egypt.
What are the consequences of missing the 14-day renewal window?
The 14-day period after work permit expiry should not be treated as a safe working period. If renewal is not handled on time, the employee’s lawful work status may be affected, and the employer may need to take corrective steps with the competent authorities.
Employers should start renewal planning before expiry, especially where the employee’s residence status, security clearance, work permit and payroll records need to remain aligned.
Can an expatriate’s salary be paid entirely in foreign currency?
The employment contract must be prepared in Arabic, although a bilingual version may be used where the foreign employee does not speak Arabic. In case of interpretation conflict, the Arabic version prevails.
Even where the commercial package is agreed with reference to USD, EUR or another foreign currency, local payroll must remain compliant with Egyptian wage, tax and social insurance requirements. The private sector minimum wage is EGP 7,000 per month, and employers must also account for the statutory periodic allowance of at least 3% of the insurance subscription wage, subject to the applicable minimum amount.
Hiring foreign nationals in Egypt?
Acumen International’s Global EOR solution gives your business a compliant route to employing workers in Egypt, managing Ministry of Manpower work permit applications, 10% quota verification, State Security clearance coordination, document legalisation, Arabic employment contracts, and payroll compliance under Labour Law.
Important: Acumen International operates as a Global Employer of Record and supports businesses deploying their own expatriate employees in Egypt. Our involvement flows from our role as the registered Egyptian employing entity — specifically, work permit applications to the Ministry of Manpower and employment compliance under Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 and Ministerial Decree No. 279 of 2025. We do not provide standalone immigration legal advice and do not assist individuals seeking employment in Egypt independently.