Official states Egypt adheres to legal framework ahead of refugee registration deadline

CAIRO – 28 June 2024: Attention, foreign residents in Egypt! Remember that June 30 is the deadline to obtain an obligatory registration card to continue accessing state services.

June 30 is a public holiday, and Egypt Today could not verify whether registration offices will be open or if there will be fines for late registrations.

In January, the Ministry of Interior urged foreign residents in Egypt to obtain these cards, as they will not be able to enjoy state services from July 1 without them.

The card, issued by the General Administration of Passports, Immigration, and Nationality and its branches nationwide, is valid for foreigners exempted from the residency permit requirement.

Ahead of the deadline, an official source emphasized that Egyptian law enforcement agencies strictly adhere to the legal and legislative framework when dealing with refugee matters.

‘Deportation procedures’

The source further discussed the "deportation procedures" for foreigners in Egypt who fail to obtain the necessary documents for legal residency.

These procedures are carried out without discrimination based on nationality and within an institutional framework, the source added.

In recent TV statements, Cabinet Spokesman Mohamed Al-Homosany emphasized that services provided by all state institutions to individuals without these cards will be halted.

"Egypt welcomes its distinguished guests, but there are strict systems and rules that must be followed," Homosany stated.

The Ministry of Interior did not disclose the cost of obtaining the card in its statement at the time.

However, it confirmed that this measure is part of their ongoing efforts to verify the legal status of foreign residents.

Illegitimate residency

In August, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly issued a decree requiring foreign individuals residing in Egypt without valid residency permits to regularize their stay.

In March, the Cabinet agreed to extend the period for regularization of status and legalization of residency for foreigners residing in the country illegally by an additional six months.

According to the decision, individuals in these categories must legalize their status by September.

The regularization process includes specific conditions such as having an Egyptian host and paying administrative fees amounting to $1,000.