What to know before you go
Working here needs two permits from two ministries
CriticalA work permit from the Ministry of Manpower authorises the specific job; a residence visa from the Ministry of Interior authorises you to be in the country. They are separate, sequential approvals and both are required. Employer approval typically comes within about two weeks, but the Interior security check can take up to 30 days on top. Budget the sequence, not just the paperwork.
Your degree must be translated into Arabic, and an HIV test is mandatory
CriticalWork permit applications require original diplomas or professional certificates translated into Arabic, a police clearance certificate from your home country, and a mandatory HIV/AIDS test conducted at the Central Laboratory of the Egyptian Ministry of Health. The test cannot be substituted with results from home. None of this is optional and all of it takes time.
Hold dollars, not just pounds
CriticalThe Egyptian pound has lost most of its value against the dollar over recent years. Major banks including CIB, QNB and NBE offer USD accounts alongside EGP ones, and keeping savings in foreign currency while converting only what you need is standard practice among residents. This matters more to your finances than any tax question.
There is no driving licence exchange — everyone tests
ImportantEgypt has no arrangement letting foreign nationals convert a licence without testing. All foreigners sit both a written and a practical test at the Traffic Department in their governorate. You can drive on an international permit for six months, after which an Egyptian licence is required.
The new universal health insurance mostly won't cover you
ImportantEgypt is rolling out universal health insurance in six geographic phases, aiming for near-universal coverage by 2027 — but Cairo is in the final phase, and most expatriates fall outside the scheme regardless. In practice foreigners use private hospitals with international insurance, and private facilities usually want proof of cover or payment guarantees before admission.
Egyptian Arabic is the dialect everyone else understands
Good to knowA century of Egyptian film, television and music means Egyptian Arabic is the most widely comprehended dialect across the Arab world. If you are going to learn one, learning it here is unusually portable — it will carry you further from Morocco to the Gulf than any other regional variety.
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