An Egyptian Passport in 2026: A Profitable Investment or a Costly Mistake? An Honest Review from the International Law Firm Antwort Law

An Egyptian passport is rarely advertised and rarely offered as a fully-fledged service due to its extremely low appeal to clients willing to invest in another country for a second passport. It's true that only a few people approach us, the experts at the international legal consulting firm Antwort Law, with such a request. However, we still feel it's important to inform you about this option, which many entrepreneurs don't even know about and which, who knows, you might one day need due to your business and current geopolitical circumstances, as recently happened to a long-standing client of ours.

Our client already has two passports – both from CIS countries: his native passport has been subject to sanctions in many countries and banking institutions for several years, and the second, acquired relatively recently, proved too weak for his business in the UAE. Therefore, the client was faced with the need to obtain a third form of identification to strengthen his position in the MENA countries, but his native passport, unfortunately, closes almost all access to reputable international investment programs.

A Turkish passport is unsuitable due to his business operations in China, and as we know, there's an unofficial negative attitude toward Turkish passports in Chinese business circles. Geopolitical relations and how they influence business development, its success, and failure is an extremely interesting topic, but we'll cover that next time. A travel passport like Vanuatu's isn't necessary for the client; his goal isn't travel without significant restrictions, but rather simplified compliance and a loyal relationship with partners and investors.

It's precisely in these unique circumstances that he might consider the Egyptian investment program. Although not internationally recognized, Egyptian citizenship is generally suitable for active business in MENA countries, specifically the UAE. An Egyptian passport doesn't offer any tangible advantages, but it also doesn't create any problems for its holder, and is generally perceived as neutral in the region. This program can also be used by entrepreneurs living in Egypt or doing business there who need to obtain higher-level legal status. For everyone else, especially those seeking visa-free entry to Europe/the US, a strong passport, or those waiting for the real estate purchased through the program to become profitable, this passport will be useless.

Let's now take a closer look at this country's citizenship program. It is regulated by Law No. 190/2019 and was updated in 2023-2025. Its goal, like other similar programs, is to attract investment in the economy, real estate, and tourism. The Egyptian government offers several viable options:

1) Real estate purchase – from USD 300,000, but only state-certified properties. The actual cost, including commissions and other expenses, is around USD 350,000-400,000.

2) Bank deposit/funds – this option is more expensive: a mandatory requirement is that the funds be deposited in the country and not already held in a deposit account at any Egyptian bank.

A significant drawback of this investment program, in addition to the low demand and lack of international prestige for Egyptian citizenship, is its low profitability. Unlike, for example, a similar program in Turkey, in this country you select real estate only from a specific list compiled by the government. And these properties, admittedly, are quite difficult to sell due to the long asset freeze period (5 years) and their relatively low market value.

An Egyptian passport is not an investment for profitability, but a narrowly focused tool suitable for perhaps 5% of entrepreneurs. For the rest, we offer better alternatives such as Turkey (residency + liquid real estate), Vanuatu, and other countries depending on your nationality. Contact us, and we will conduct an initial assessment of your situation and provide an honest assessment of whether an Egyptian passport is right for you or whether another international mobilization tool would be better.

Lidia Ivanova

International lawyer
Antwort Law