Working legally in Egypt requires a valid work permit, proper social insurance registration, and full compliance with Egyptian labor regulations. Employers and foreign professionals must follow Ministry of Manpower procedures and maintain compliant payroll and residency status throughout employment.

Work Permit Application Process

For applicants outside Egypt, the employer starts the process, security checks are completed, and the employee enters Egypt on an employment-based entry visa to finalize permit and residency steps. For applicants already legally residing in Egypt, the employer applies locally and work can begin only after approval and the residency stamp is issued.

Types of Work Permits in Egypt

Egypt typically issues temporary work permits (up to 1 year, renewable) for most first-time applications. There is no formally defined “permanent” permit, but long-term residency may become possible through continuous renewals and ongoing legal employment. Independent/Investor permits may apply to registered business owners or qualifying investors.

Eligibility, Quotas & Renewals

Employers must meet workforce ratio rules (commonly foreign staff capped at 10% and a 1:9 foreign-to-Egyptian hiring ratio, with possible exceptions) and stay compliant with taxes and social insurance. Employees must have role-relevant qualifications, authenticated certificates, medical clearance, and pass security checks. Renewals must be initiated before expiry, and re-checks may apply—especially in regulated sectors like construction, education, NGOs, and oil & gas.

Discover working conditions in Egypt

Egypt Social Insurance (NOSI) — Mandatory Registration

Egypt’s social security system is managed by the National Organization for Social Insurance (NOSI) and becomes mandatory once a foreign employee has a valid work permit. Registration provides legal social protection benefits and is generally required unless the employee is explicitly exempt under a bilateral social insurance agreement.

Benefits Covered Under Law No. 148/2019

Once registered, foreign employees are eligible for core social insurance protections under Egypt’s Social Insurance Law (Law No. 148/2019), including retirement (old-age pension), disability, survivor benefits, and work injury/occupational disease coverage. This system supports employment-related protection, especially for workplace incidents and long-term entitlements.

Employer Obligations & Compliance Risks

Employers must register foreign employees promptly after the contract starts, report wages and contributions monthly, and ensure correct scheme classification. Non-compliance can lead to administrative penalties, retroactive contribution liabilities, and renewal risks that can delay or complicate future work permit extensions.

Social Insurance vs Private Health Insurance

A key distinction is that NOSI does not provide general public healthcare coverage, so foreign employees typically rely on employer-provided private health insurance or personal medical plans for healthcare access. Social insurance supports retirement and injury-related protections, while private insurance is what usually covers medical treatment and hospital services.

Discover social security in Egypt

Payroll Taxation & Employer Withholding (ETA)

Egypt’s payroll taxation is regulated by the Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA). Foreign employees are taxed in Egypt based on tax residency status and Egypt-source employment income. Employers are legally responsible for calculating, withholding, declaring, and paying salary-related taxes through the monthly payroll withholding system.

Mandatory Payroll Deductions & Corporate Compliance

Beyond income tax withholding, payroll may include employee social insurance contributions (if applicable) and stamp tax on employment contracts. Employers must ensure these are reflected in official payroll records and reported correctly alongside broader corporate obligations such as corporate income tax, VAT (where applicable), monthly payroll declarations, and social insurance reporting—since inconsistencies can trigger penalties and audit exposure.

Tax Residency Rules for Foreign Employees

Tax liability is mainly determined by physical presence and income source. Foreign nationals who spend more than 183 days in a 12-month period are treated as tax residents, while those below this threshold are non-residents. In both cases, taxation generally applies to income earned in Egypt (Egypt-source income).

Treaties, TIN Requirements & End-of-Employment Taxation

Egypt has Double Taxation Treaties (DTAs) that can prevent double taxation and allow credits/exemptions, often requiring supporting documents (e.g., a residency certificate). Foreign employees generally need an Egyptian Tax Identification Number (TIN) for payroll and common financial processes. On termination, final payroll must be closed properly—severance and unused leave payments may be taxable, and employers must complete final tax declarations and record closures to avoid compliance issues that can also affect work permit renewals.

Taxation system in Egypt

Termination Rules Under Egyptian Labor Law (Law No. 12/2003)

Employment termination in Egypt is governed by Egyptian Labor Law No. 12 of 2003 and requires compliance with formal procedures around notice, justification, severance, and documentation. These rules generally apply equally to foreign and Egyptian employees working under a valid contract.

Notice Periods, Probation & Severance Entitlements

Unless there is just cause, statutory notice periods typically apply: 2 months for employees with less than 10 years of service, and 3 months for those with more than 10 years. Probation can be up to 3 months if explicitly stated in the contract, and termination during probation usually has no severance and may not require notice depending on the contract. Severance may arise in cases like redundancy or unjustified dismissal and is commonly tied to salary and years of service, with higher exposure in unjustified termination scenarios.

Termination Types & Just Cause Standards

Employment may end through resignation, employer termination (with/without cause), mutual agreement, fixed-term expiry, retirement, or force majeure/economic necessity. For employer-initiated termination, just cause can include misconduct, serious underperformance, medically validated inability to work, or operational necessity. If termination is without legal justification, employers may owe arbitrary dismissal compensation, notice pay, and additional payments based on contract terms and length of service.

Foreign Employee Exit Steps & Post-Termination Compliance

For foreign employees with work permits, termination often triggers additional actions: reporting to the Ministry of Manpower, completing social insurance exit procedures, and handling immigration/residency status changes (new permit, modify/cancel residence). Employers must also finalize all payments (salary, unused leave, notice compensation, severance if applicable) and complete tax declarations and insurance notifications accurately—since errors can lead to disputes, fines, and work permit/immigration complications.

Employment termination in Egypt

Schooling Options for Expat Families in Egypt

Egypt offers a broad education landscape for foreign families, including public, private, and international schools with multilingual instruction and globally recognized pathways. With strong expat communities in major cities, families can often find English-medium or bilingual programs that fit both short-term and long-term relocation plans.

International Schools & Early Childhood Education

Egypt has a strong network of international schools offering curricula such as IB, British (IGCSE/A-Level), and American Diploma, as well as French and German systems—especially concentrated in Cairo districts like New Cairo, Maadi, Sheikh Zayed, and 6th of October, plus Alexandria and Red Sea hubs. For younger children, expat families can choose from a wide range of nurseries and preschools, including Montessori and other play-based or bilingual programs, often starting around ages 2.5–3.

Public & Private Schools in Egypt

Foreign children can enroll in public schools under certain conditions—typically with a valid residence permit—but the main instruction language is Arabic, which can be a barrier for some families (with limited English options in select experimental schools). Private schools are widely available and often provide bilingual or multilingual education (English/French/German/Arabic), better facilities, smaller class sizes, and stronger extracurricular and university placement outcomes.

Higher Education & Special Education Support

Students educated in Egypt can access reputable universities including AUC, GUC, BUE, Cairo University, and Ain Shams University, with many English-taught programs and relatively affordable tuition compared to Europe and North America. For children with special educational needs (SEN), support may be available through private/international school learning support departments, IEPs, and private therapy centers—though availability depends on school policy and often requires prior documentation and assessments.

Education Options for Expat Children in Egypt

Healthcare in Egypt for Foreign Employees

Foreign employees in Egypt can access a broad healthcare ecosystem that includes public hospitals, private facilities, and international-standard clinics. Healthcare is generally affordable compared to many expat destinations, and major cities offer strong coverage with English-speaking medical staff—especially in the private sector.

International Clinics, Insurance & Family Care

International hospitals and expat-focused clinics often provide multilingual teams, 24/7 emergency services, and comprehensive specialties (pediatrics, OB-GYN, dental, cardiology, dermatology, orthopedics, and more). Because public insurance typically does not fully cover foreign employees, private or employer-provided health insurance is essential—especially for access to premium private hospitals and maternity services. Private facilities are also widely preferred for prenatal, delivery, and pediatric care.

Public vs. Private Healthcare Services

Egypt’s public healthcare system is operated mainly through the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) and provides low-cost basic services, but quality and wait times can vary by region. Most expatriates prefer private healthcare due to modern facilities, faster specialist access, better patient experience, and broader language support—particularly in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, and coastal hubs.

Emergency Care, Pharmacies & Specialized Treatment

Egypt offers extensive emergency support through both public and private hospitals, plus a nationwide ambulance hotline (123). Pharmacies are widely available (often 24/7), medication costs are relatively affordable, and English-speaking pharmacists are common in urban areas. Egypt is also growing as a medical tourism destination for treatments like dentistry, cosmetic procedures, orthopedics, eye surgery, and IVF—benefiting expats who want quality care at more accessible pricing.

Healthcare Options for Foreign Employees in Egypt

Holiday Name

Arabic Name

Date

Type

Revolution Day

عيد الثورة / عيد الشرطة

25 January

National

Coptic Christmas

عيد الميلاد المجيد

7 January

Religious (Christian)

Sinai Liberation Day

عيد تحرير سيناء

25 April

National

Labor Day

عيد العمال

1 May

National

Revolution Day (1952)

عيد الثورة

23 July

National

Armed Forces Day

عيد القوات المسلحة

30 August

National

Eid al-Fitr

عيد الفطر المبارك

Varies (3 days)

Religious (Islamic)

Eid al-Adha

عيد الأضحى المبارك

Varies (4 days)

Religious (Islamic)

Islamic New Year

رأس السنة الهجرية

Varies (1 day)

Religious (Islamic)

Mawlid al-Nabi

المولد النبوي الشريف

Varies (1 day)

Religious (Islamic)

Download Egypt Destination Gudie

Living Cost in Egypt

Discover the living costs in Egypt with our detailed insights, helping you plan your budget and make informed decisions for your lifestyle.

Choose a City:

Accommodation Type:

Preferred Location:

How often do you eat out weekly?

How much do you spend per meal?

Public Transport Usage:

How often do you socialize?

Phone Package Cost:

How many clothes do you buy monthly?

How much do you spend on clothes?

FAQ

Gini Talent’s Egypt Destination Guide explains how we help global companies hire and manage talent in Egypt compliantly through one platform—covering payroll, benefits, taxes, and legal compliance—while offering services such as Employer of Record (EOR), Contractor Management, and Payroll. It also provides key country facts (Cairo as the capital, EGP as the currency, Arabic as the language, and a population of 116,538,258) and then dives into practical “Exclusive Insights” topics like work permits and working conditions, social insurance and taxation for foreign employees, employment termination, expat education options, healthcare options, and paid public holidays in Egypt.

Yes. Working legally in Egypt requires a valid work permit and proper compliance steps (including social insurance registration where applicable).

Common types include Temporary (up to 1 year, renewable) and Independent/Investor work permits depending on employment/investment status. The guide also notes there is no formally defined “permanent” work permit, though long-term residency may become possible with continuous renewals.

No. Work may begin only after permit approval and issuance of the corresponding residency stamp.

If the employee is outside Egypt, the employer initiates the process via the Ministry of Manpower, security checks are done, then the employee enters Egypt to complete final procedures. If the employee is already legally residing in Egypt, the application is submitted inside Egypt via the employer.

Yes. The guide states foreign employees generally cannot exceed 10% of the workforce (exceptions may apply), and a typical 1:9 foreign-to-local hiring ratio may be required.

Examples include passport validity, employment contract, biometric photo, authenticated educational certificates, police clearance, medical test results, and employer-side documents like commercial registration/tax card and social insurance records.

Renewal should be initiated before expiry, and security clearance/medical checks may be required again. Ongoing tax and social insurance compliance is emphasized.

The guide explains that once a foreign national has a valid work permit, social insurance registration becomes mandatory (unless exempt under a bilateral agreement).

Failure to register may lead to penalties, retroactive liabilities, and compliance risks that can affect work permit renewals.

It includes items such as retirement (old-age pension), disability, survivor benefits, and work injury/occupational disease coverage.

The guide explicitly notes it does not include general public healthcare coverage, so expats typically rely on private health insurance.

Indicatively, the guide states employer ~18%–21% and employee ~11%, varying by scheme/wage/employment nature.

A foreign individual who stays in Egypt for more than 183 days within a 12-month period is considered a tax resident (and is taxed on Egypt-sourced income as described in the guide).

The guide describes a withholding system where employers calculate and withhold payroll tax monthly and file declarations/payments to the authority.

Yes. The guide states foreign nationals working or conducting financial transactions in Egypt must obtain an Egyptian TIN, used for things like payroll registration and bank account opening.

Unless termination is for just cause, the guide states mandatory notice periods are typically 2 months (<10 years service) and 3 months (>10 years service).

The guide states a maximum probationary period of 3 months, and it must be explicitly stated in the contract.