Your first 90 days in Egypt: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Currency devaluation and hard-currency access are the dominant financial facts — the pound has lost a large share of its value repeatedly in recent years, and converting savings into pounds has been costly for anyone who did it early. Hold foreign currency and convert as you spend.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Apply for the residence permit (iqama) at the Mogamma or a passport and immigration office covering your district
Within 7 days of arrival if you intend to reside — practically, before the 30-day tourist visa expires
Residence is granted in categories (work, study, property ownership, family) and each requires a different sponsor or proof. Property ownership above a threshold now supports a renewable residence, which has become a common route.
Get your Tax card number from the Egyptian Tax Authority
Employment, business activity and any filing with the tax authority require it; the residence permit number is the everyday identifier for banking and utilities.
Registered with the Egyptian Tax Authority once you hold residence and taxable activity; social insurance is separate and handled through the employer.
Open a bank account
CIB, Banque Misr and NBE open accounts for residence-permit holders; some banks will open a foreign-currency account on a passport alone. The pound has devalued repeatedly and access to hard currency has been restricted at times — keep savings outside the country and treat the local account as a spending account.
Enrol in healthcare
Public healthcare is free but very limited; the universal health insurance rollout is proceeding governorate by governorate and does not yet cover the whole country. Foreign residents use private hospitals in Cairo and Alexandria (As-Salam, Cleopatra, Dar Al Fouad), which are inexpensive relative to Europe, with international cover for serious cases.
Sort your driver's license
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted for a limited period; residents convert through the traffic department, with a medical, eye test and blood-type test. Driving is on the right, and Cairo traffic is genuinely among the most demanding in the world.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Egypt: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Egypt?
Apply for the residence permit (iqama) at the Mogamma or a passport and immigration office covering your district — Within 7 days of arrival if you intend to reside — practically, before the 30-day tourist visa expires. Residence is granted in categories (work, study, property ownership, family) and each requires a different sponsor or proof. Property ownership above a threshold now supports a renewable residence, which has become a common route. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the Tax card number from the Egyptian Tax Authority and do I need one?
Tax card number from the Egyptian Tax Authority is Egypt's personal tax/ID number. Employment, business activity and any filing with the tax authority require it; the residence permit number is the everyday identifier for banking and utilities. Registered with the Egyptian Tax Authority once you hold residence and taxable activity; social insurance is separate and handled through the employer.
Can I drive in Egypt on a US license?
A foreign licence with an International Driving Permit is accepted for a limited period; residents convert through the traffic department, with a medical, eye test and blood-type test. Driving is on the right, and Cairo traffic is genuinely among the most demanding in the world. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Egypt?
Public healthcare is free but very limited; the universal health insurance rollout is proceeding governorate by governorate and does not yet cover the whole country. Foreign residents use private hospitals in Cairo and Alexandria (As-Salam, Cleopatra, Dar Al Fouad), which are inexpensive relative to Europe, with international cover for serious cases. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Egypt's system treats foreign residents.