Work permits, visas & immigration when hiring via Employer of Record (EOR) in Egypt
- Gegidze • გეგიძე | Marketing
- Jun 26
- 11 min read
Table of contents:
Introduction: Can you legally hire foreign talent in Egypt without a local entity?
Hiring in Egypt sounds easy, until immigration law walks in with a clipboard.
Work permits. Visa sponsorship. Arabic contracts. Social insurance registration. Miss one, and your “new hire” becomes an expensive ghost.
Worse: the Ministry of Manpower has no patience for overseas companies winging it. Fines, blacklisting, and blocked applications are common when foreign employers try to skip legal steps, or don’t even know what those steps are.
But here’s the upside: You can hire legally in Egypt without setting up your own entity.
That’s where Employer of Record (EOR) services come in. Instead of building a local HR and legal structure from scratch, you partner with a provider who’s already registered and compliant.
The EOR becomes the legal employer on your behalf—handling everything from work visa sponsorship to tax registration, payroll, and employment contracts (in Arabic, as required).
No delays. No missteps. No chasing documents in a language you don’t speak.
You focus on managing your team.
They handle the red tape.
Want to know how the full process works?
When are work permits required in Egypt?
If you’re hiring non-Egyptian talent to work in Egypt, whether they’re expats, remote workers temporarily relocating, or dual citizens without legal work authorization, yes, a permit is required. Every time. No shortcuts.
Egypt’s Ministry of Manpower is explicit: foreign nationals must obtain a valid work permit before performing any work inside the country. This applies even if the individual is on your payroll abroad or working remotely for a short-term project. The only exceptions are rare and typically tied to diplomatic or temporary business visas (and even those come with conditions).
Here’s what that means for you as an employer:
Dual citizenship doesn’t automatically equal work authorization. If the individual does not have Egyptian nationality (with an Egyptian passport or national ID), you still need a permit.
Remote workers entering Egypt? Even if they’re working from a beachside Airbnb, if they’re on your team and “working” in Egypt, immigration officials consider it employment activity. Which means, yes, you guessed it, a permit.
Hiring from abroad doesn’t exempt you. If the person enters Egypt at any point during employment, the work relationship becomes subject to local labor law. And that includes immigration compliance.
Permits are issued by the Ministry of Manpower and come with paperwork requirements, local employer sponsorship, and annual renewals. It’s not a casual process.
That’s why most international companies use an EOR to handle it. The EOR is already licensed, locally compliant, and can serve as the legal sponsor for your foreign hire’s work authorization.
How Employer of Record (EOR) services help with immigration
You could build an entity. Wait months. Navigate Egypt’s work visa labyrinth yourself. Or, hear us out; you could not.
An Employer of Record (EOR) skips the bureaucracy by stepping in as your legal employer in Egypt, managing the entire immigration and onboarding process for foreign hires from day one. Here’s how it actually works, and why it’s faster, safer, and less stressful than going it alone.
1. Visa Sponsorship Without the Entity Headache
Your EOR acts as the legal sponsor. That means your foreign employee is formally hired by the EOR, not you, allowing the EOR to handle work permit applications under its own name.
No need for your business to register locally, rent office space, or hire a local director. The EOR takes care of the red tape, presents all the supporting documents, and navigates approvals from the Ministry of Manpower and Social Insurance.
2. All the Paperwork? Done.
Let’s talk about the stack of documents required:
Arabic employment contract
Tax ID registration
Social Insurance enrollment
Work permit application forms
Medical exam documentation
Your EOR handles all of it. They know the right language, the right government office, and the right sequence. They’ve done it before. Many times.
And when you use an EOR with transparent pricing and speed built in, you’re not stuck waiting weeks for basic onboarding steps to happen.
3. Local Authority Liaison
This part matters more than you think.
An EOR already has established relationships with Egyptian government offices. They know who to call when an application is stuck. They know which office suddenly changed its format again.
You avoid bureaucratic landmines, not because they don’t exist, but because the EOR has already cleared the path.
4. Fast Setup, No Surprises
With an EOR, most work permits can be initiated immediately. In some cases, onboarding takes less than 7 days (depending on the role and documentation).
That means your team can go from “we’d like to hire this person” to “they’re legally onboarded in Egypt” without drowning in paperwork or missing a deadline.
Immigration’s not easy. But with the right partner, it doesn’t have to be a disaster either.
Required documents for employee visa & permit applications
Hiring a foreign national in Egypt isn’t as simple as signing a contract and sending a “Welcome aboard!” email. It’s a paperwork-heavy, multi-agency process, and one that can get messy fast if even one stamp or translation is missing.
Here’s what you (or your EOR) will need to prepare to keep things legal, fast, and frustration-free.
1. Personal Documents From the Employee
Passport (original + copies): Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the employment period.
Recent passport-sized photos: Think multiple copies. Exact background and size requirements can vary by office.
Completed work permit application forms: Usually two copies, filled and signed. EORs typically pre-fill these to avoid mistakes.
Medical certificate: Must include general health screening and a negative HIV test. Issued by approved local clinics.
Criminal background check: A police clearance from the home country or previous countries of residence, sometimes both. Must be translated and notarized.
Signed Arabic employment contract: Arabic is the only legally recognized version. It should clearly state job title, salary in EGP, work hours, and duration.
Proof of accommodation: Could be a hotel booking, lease agreement, or employer-provided housing details.
Travel itinerary: Required even if your hire is relocating long-term, just to show intended arrival and exit dates.
2. Documents From the Employer (aka Your EOR)
Company registration & tax card: Proof that your EOR is legally established in Egypt.
Social Insurance registration: Evidence that the employee has been registered with Egypt’s Social Insurance Fund (this typically happens before the visa is fully processed).
Sponsorship letter: The EOR must issue a formal letter stating it is hiring and sponsoring the foreign employee.
Justification letter for foreign hire: This is required by the Ministry of Manpower. It explains why the role couldn’t be filled by an Egyptian national (yes, they ask for this).
Quota compliance evidence: Egypt enforces a cap on the number of foreign employees a company can have. Your EOR must show they’re below the threshold.
Egyptian assistant statement: Some roles require proof that two Egyptian assistants will be trained by the foreign hire. This needs to be in writing, with diplomas and work contracts attached.
3. Government & Security-Related Forms
Ministry of Manpower approval. This is the core permit. Without it, nothing else proceeds.
Security clearance issued by the Egyptian State Security. Takes time—don’t skip or rush it.
Receipts for application fees: All submissions come with a fee (paid at government banks or offices), and yes, they want proof.
4. Legalization, Translation & Notarization
Any foreign-issued documents (degrees, background checks, etc.) must be:
Translated into Arabic by a certified translator
Notarized and legalized (in many cases via Egyptian embassies abroad)
If that list feels heavy, it is. But the right EOR will handle 90% of it behind the scenes. You still need to provide accurate documents and signatures, but you won’t be driving across Cairo chasing stamp #12 from Office #7 on Floor #4.
Want help skipping the chaos? We can walk you through it all, step by step. Or better yet, handle it for you.
Steps of the EOR-led visa sponsorship process
If you’ve ever tried to sponsor a work visa solo in Egypt, you know it’s not for the faint of heart. Government offices still love paper trails. Timelines can be inconsistent. And just when you think you're done, someone asks for a form you didn’t even know existed.
This is exactly where an Employer of Record (EOR) becomes essential, not just for speed, but for sanity.
Here’s how the process typically works when an EOR handles your visa sponsorship in Egypt:
1. Employer Registration With Authorities
Before sponsoring anyone, the EOR must be fully registered with:
Egypt’s Ministry of Manpower
Tax Authority
Social Insurance Organization
If they’re not already an approved, operating legal employer in Egypt, they can’t sponsor a work permit. This is why working with a licensed EOR (with real boots on the ground) matters.
Once registered, the EOR is authorized to hire on behalf of foreign companies, acting as the legal employer in all immigration filings.
2. Candidate Evaluation & Document Preparation
The EOR confirms the employee’s eligibility (based on role, salary level, and nationality) and begins compiling:
Passport and photo
Signed Arabic employment contract
Medical and criminal clearance
Tax/social insurance registration forms
Justification for foreign hire
Proof of accommodation and travel plans
This is also where translation, notarization, and legalization come into play. Your EOR will coordinate it all, often in parallel to speed up the timeline.
3. Submission of Work Permit Application
Once documents are ready, the EOR submits the official application to the Ministry of Manpower. At this point:
A security background check is triggered with Egypt’s State Security
The Ministry reviews the job justification and ensures foreign quota limits aren’t breached
Application fees are paid, and receipts are submitted
If all is in order, the Ministry issues an initial work permit, typically valid for one year and renewable annually.
4. Tax & Social Insurance Enrollment
Simultaneously, the EOR ensures:
The employee is registered with the Social Insurance Fund
Monthly salary and taxes are declared and paid under the EOR’s payroll
Form 111 and Form 2 filings are properly submitted and stored
Skipping this step = immediate compliance failure. And yes, the authorities check.
5. Coordination of Residence Permit
Work permit = legal right to work
Residence permit = legal right to stay
Your EOR helps the employee apply for or extend a residence permit via the Passports, Immigration, and Nationality Administration, aligning its validity with the work permit.
Some candidates may enter Egypt on a tourist or business visa and convert once on the ground. Others may require a full employment visa upfront, depending on nationality. Your EOR will advise accordingly.
6. Renewals, Monitoring & Offboarding
Most permits are valid for 12 months. Your EOR will:
Track renewal deadlines
File on your behalf to maintain uninterrupted employment
Manage visa cancellations upon offboarding, so your company avoids liability or overstays
How long does it take? Timeline & costs to expect
If you’re hoping to hire in Egypt “next week,” slow down.
Immigration timelines in Egypt don’t run on Silicon Valley speed. There are ministry reviews, background checks, Arabic contract validations, and a stack of forms that require actual stamps.
But with the right EOR partner? You can drastically shorten the wait.
Here’s what the visa and work permit timeline really looks like in 2025, and what you should expect to pay.
Average timeline (With EOR support)
Day 1–5: Pre-check & document prep
Confirm employee eligibility
Gather ID, medical, and academic records
Draft Arabic employment contract
Translate and notarize documents
Day 6–15: Application submission
File a work permit request with the Ministry of Manpower
Trigger a State Security background review
Pay initial processing fees
Day 16–30: Government approvals
Ministry confirms job role and foreign hire justification
Issue an initial 1-year work permit
Register the employee with Social Insurance
Day 31–40: Residence permit filing
Apply to the Immigration Authority
Align visa status with employment
Total average: 30–45 days
(assuming no delays or holidays, and your EOR knows what they’re doing)
Without an EOR? Expect 2–3x longer, especially if you don’t already have an entity in Egypt.
Cost Breakdown
Here’s what you’re typically looking at, not including EOR service fees:
Item | Estimated Cost (USD) |
Government work permit fees | $250–$350 |
Medical and security checks | $100–$200 |
Translation and document legalization | $150–$300 |
Residence permit issuance | $100–$150 |
Total (per employee, first year) | $600–$1,000+ |
EOR providers usually bill this as a pass-through, separate from their monthly fee. Make sure your provider gives you an itemized cost breakdown, not vague bundles.
Team Up’s flat monthly EOR fee in Egypt is €299/employee. Immigration services are billed transparently on top, only when needed.
Challenges & red flags when handling permits without an EOR
Let’s be blunt, trying to navigate Egypt’s immigration system solo is like assembling IKEA furniture blindfolded. You might get there eventually, but something’s probably going to fall apart.
If you don’t use an Employer of Record (EOR), here’s what can, and often does, go wrong:
1. Rejected Applications Due to Non-Arabic Contracts
Think your English-language contract is enough? Not here.
Egyptian authorities require employment contracts in Arabic. Even bilingual contracts must defer to the Arabic version. If you skip this, your visa application will hit a dead end fast, no matter how qualified your candidate is.
2. Delays from Missing or Incomplete Documents
Egypt’s work permit process is document-heavy. We’re talking:
Police clearance
Medical checks
Justification letters
Two Egyptian assistants’ certificates (yes, really)
Miss a stamp? Forget a notarization? You’re going back to the bottom of the pile.
3. Contractor Misclassification = Immigration Violation
This one’s a quiet killer.
If you hire a contractor and they look like a full-time employee (set hours, reporting to a manager, using your tools), Egyptian authorities can treat this as illegal employment.
That means:
Visa denial
Penalties
Employer ban on future foreign hires
It’s not just a tax issue; it’s an immigration risk.
4. Hiring Expats Without Proper Registration
Skipping government registration might save you time up front.
Until it doesn’t.
Unregistered employees, even remote workers on tourist visas, can lead to:
Surprise audits
Retroactive fines
Legal headaches for both the company and the employee
Bottom line? If they’re working from Egypt, even remotely, they need the proper permit.
Can EORs hire independent contractors in Egypt?
On paper, it might seem like a simple fix: Don’t deal with work permits, just hire a contractor and skip the bureaucracy. But here’s the thing about Egypt: what looks simple on the surface is often wrapped in legal gray zones underneath.
Let’s unpack this.
The Contractor Trap (Especially for Foreign Nationals)
Hiring independent contractors, especially foreign ones, in Egypt gets legally murky fast.
Technically, you can bring on a contractor if:
They have the right to work in Egypt
They invoice you legally
And they’re registered as self-employed with the Egyptian tax authority
But most foreign contractors?
They’re not.
They’re working on tourist or business visas, with no social insurance, no tax filings, and no formal registration. That’s a recipe for:
Immigration violations (undeclared work)
Employment misclassification (contractor vs employee)
Blocked renewals or blacklisting by authorities
If the authorities determine a contractor is functionally an employee—reporting to a manager, using your tools, getting paid monthly, you’re liable for fines, back taxes, and potential bans.
Why a Visa Alone Isn’t Enough
Even if a contractor gets into Egypt with a business visa, that doesn’t make their work legal.
Egyptian labor law is explicit: if you’re working for a company, the employer must register you and declare your employment.
A visa just gets someone into the country. It doesn’t protect your business from a labor inspection, or worse, a government audit asking why your developer has no insurance, no local tax ID, and no registered work permit.
Why EOR is Safer Than Direct Agreements
An Employer of Record (EOR) cuts through all the noise.
They legally hire the contractor as a full employee under Egyptian law.
They handle permits, payroll, insurance, and taxes.
You get a full-time commitment without putting yourself at legal risk.
For projects that require talent on the ground, or even remote workers based in Egypt, an EOR makes sure every box is ticked.
Final tips before hiring foreign employees in Egypt via EOR
Hiring international talent in Egypt isn’t just a paperwork exercise, it’s a legal minefield if you get it wrong. Even with an EOR, your liability doesn’t vanish unless every step is airtight. That’s where most companies slip.
So before you sign on the dotted line, here’s your short, final gut check:
Is visa sponsorship clearly included in your EOR agreement?
Who’s handling social insurance and health coverage? If it’s vague, it’s your risk.
Can the provider walk you through the immigration process—step by step—with proof they’ve done it before?
Are the Arabic employment contracts fully compliant with labor law and accepted by authorities?
If even one of those points feels shaky, slow down.
The wrong EOR can get you into legal trouble just as fast as going without one. The right EOR? Makes your Egypt expansion feel frictionless.
Team Up does the latter.
We hire your team legally, handle every permit, and back it with contracts and payroll that stand up to inspection. No setup fees. No shortcuts. No legal risk.
Reach out. We'll show you how it works before someone else’s mistake becomes your blueprint.
