Egypt Extends Grace Period for Foreigners to Legalise Status

The Egyptian cabinet has extended the grace period for foreigners who are unlawfully residing in the country to legalise their status by an additional year. This decision allows residents who do not have valid residence permits time to comply with local regulations and avoid penalties.

The move comes two months after a previous deadline expired. In August 2023, the cabinet issued a decree requiring foreigners residing without valid permits to legalise their status before March 15th, 2024, later extending the deadline to June 30th, 2024.

Foreign residents seeking to legalise their status must pay a USD 1,000 fee and provide documentation from an Egyptian host to complete the process. Those who fail to comply risk losing access to services provided by state institutions, including healthcare, education, and other essential resources.

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), around 9.1 million foreigners from 133 countries currently reside in Egypt. This number includes 646,291 refugees and asylum seekers registered by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The extension aims to alleviate pressure on foreign residents, giving them more time to adjust to the country’s legal framework.