All You Need to Know about Egypt Business Visa Requirements and the Application Process

If you’re looking to hire a foreign national in Egypt, whether temporarily or for a longer period, you’ll need a business visa for them.

In this article, we’ll briefly compare business visas and work permits for Egypt. We’ll also cover when companies need a business visa, the application process and requirements for issuing a business visa for Egypt. 

What is a business visa?

A business visa is an official document issued by a country that permits a foreign national to enter for specific work or business-related activities. 

Similar to a work permit, a business visa is for foreigners who need to stay in a country for work purposes for a long period. This period can range from a year to several years.

However, the business visa must be renewed each year by the hiring company or an HR agency.

The business visa is different from a tourist visa, which for many nationalities can be obtained upon arrival.
 

When do you need a business visa in Egypt?

Multinational companies or large startups will often bring foreign managers to lead their local teams in Egypt. However, foreigners cannot fly to the country and work there without documentation.

This is where the business visa comes in. 

Armed with a business visa, foreigners, mainly managers and senior-level executives like CEOs, CTOs, CFOs, and others can stay for longer periods in the country and manage operations as needed.

Here are some of the top tasks that top officials can perform with a business visa in Egypt:

• Exploring business opportunities, partnerships, and investments.
• Attending business meetings, conferences, and seminars in Egypt.
• Negotiating deals and signing contracts on behalf of their company.
• Conducting training for managers or employees.
• Performing other specific assignments, like fixing specialized machinery.

Business visa vs work permit: Similarities and differences 

Companies and personnel will often use ‘business visa’ and ‘work permit’ interchangeably.

However, there are slight differences between the two. Since we focused on business visas and work permits in Egypt, we will compare them accordingly. 

There might be slight differences in durations and requirements for business visas and work permits for other countries. 

Both involve hiring foreign nationals for companies in Egypt. The foreign nationals do not have to undergo a standard recruitment process, also known as a local recruitment process, in Egypt. 

Instead, they are often current employees of the hiring company or are recruited abroad for the purpose of moving to and working in Egypt. 

A work permit is often considered to last longer than a business visa. Work permits can be renewed annually, whereas a single-entry business visa is usually valid for 90 days, with a stay duration of up to 30 days.

On the other hand, for multiple entry visas to Egypt, the validity is 180 days with up to a 30-day stay duration per entry.

Here’s a point-by-point comparison of business visas and work permits:

Further reading: What Does a Manpower Outsourcing Agency Do?
 

Egypt business visa requirements

Now, let’s look at the requirements and documents needed to issue a business visa for a foreigner coming to work in Egypt.

The following steps and documents must be provided by the company (employer) or by an HR agency, like Tawzef, to provide these documents on their behalf.

To get a business visa for Egypt, you will need to apply in person at an Egyptian embassy. This means you cannot apply online or send your documents by mail. You must go to the embassy to submit your paperwork and attend an interview.

You can often download the visa application form online and complete it. Then, you need to attach all the required documents to this form. 

You will then submit everything to an embassy official during your visit. It is very important that the information you provide is accurate and that all your documents are valid for your application to be successful. You will also need to get pre-approval before the visa can be issued.

You will need the following during your application process:

• A valid passport (valid for at least another 6 months)
• Passport photos (usually with a white background)
• Academic certificates or degrees (depending on the role)
• Health check
• Your company’s incorporation contract
• Proof of authorization for the company representative to apply for the employee's business visa 
   

Application process for obtaining a business visa for Egypt 

To apply for an Egypt business visa, you’ll need to follow these steps:

• Check your visa eligibility: Determine if you need a visa. Citizens of some countries are exempt. Only proceed if you are not eligible for a visa waiver based on your nationality.
• Complete the visa application form: Download the official Egypt visa application form online and fill it out completely. Ensure all fields are answered accurately and match the information in your other documents.
• Organize documents: Gather all the required documents you need to submit to the embassy's visa officer.
• Book an appointment: Schedule a business visa appointment at the Egyptian embassy in your country. The embassy will provide you with the appointment date.
• Attend the visa interview: Go to the embassy for your interview on the scheduled date. Submit your organized documents to the visa officer. Answer all questions truthfully. Common questions relate to your trip's purpose, duration of stay, and who is funding your travel.
• Await notification: After your interview, the embassy will inform you about the status of your visa application. If you meet all requirements, your visa will be issued.

Egypt business visa fees

The fee for your business visa for Egypt varies depending on your nationality and the country you’re applying from. 

The business visa fee also varies depending on whether you’re applying for a single-entry business visa or a multiple-entry visa. The latter is more expensive.

The standard fee for a single-entry business visa for Egypt ranges from $40 to $150 (depending on the nationality). Meanwhile, multiple-entry visa fees range from $55 to $160.

Often these costs will be covered by your company or the HR company your employer works with.

Speed up your business visa process with Tawzef

The process for applying for a business visa for Egypt is often considered long and tedious.

Companies want to ‘get the ball rolling’ so they can focus on their business operations, investments, and growth in the company. 

In addition, filing for the business visa can be time consuming, especially if your company isn’t located in the capital where most embassies are. 

Instead, you can work with an employer of record service provider or an HR outsourcing agency like Tawzef, to get your paperwork done faster. 

Get in touch with Tawzef to secure business visas, work permits, and other requirements for hiring foreign nationals in Egypt.