Egypt · Company Registration
Entity types, registration process, required documents, costs, and official registries.
AI-drafted, editorially reviewed. Confirm specifics with the official authority.
Setting up from abroad
- Usual entity for foreign founders
- LLC
- Non-resident can be sole director
- Yes
Official registry: investinegypt.gov.eg
For an Egyptian LLC the law says one or more managers, drawn from the partners or from outside, with a single manager expressly allowed and no nationality or residence condition. A joint-stock company is different: its board must have at least three members, so there is no sole director there. Egypt’s nationality rules in this Act govern employees, not managers.
Companies are set up through the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) one-stop shop; the LLC and the joint-stock company are the common forms. After incorporation you obtain a tax card from the Egyptian Tax Authority and complete social-insurance and banking steps.
Company incorporation is handled through the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), which operates a one-stop shop, with entry in the Commercial Registry.
- GAFI's one-stop shop handles incorporation for most company types.
- The joint-stock company and limited liability company are common forms.
- A tax registration follows incorporation.
- 1
Reserve the company name
Reserve the company name and choose the legal form (usually an LLC or a joint-stock company).
- 2
Obtain security clearance (foreign founders)
Foreign founders obtain the required security clearance.
- 3
Prepare the articles of association
Draft the articles of association and have the required documents notarised/authenticated.
- 4
Register with GAFI
Register the company through the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) one-stop shop; the commercial register entry establishes the company.
- 5
Get a tax card and register for tax
Obtain the tax card and register with the Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) for tax and VAT.
- 6
Complete social-insurance and banking
Register with the social-insurance authority for employees, join the chamber of commerce, and open a corporate bank account.
- Company name reserved + legal form chosen (LLC or JSC)
- Security clearance for foreign founders
- Articles of association (notarised/authenticated)
- GAFI one-stop registration (commercial register)
- Tax card + tax/VAT registration (ETA)
- Social-insurance registration for employees
- Chamber of commerce membership
- Corporate bank account
- General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI)
Investment authority and company one-stop shop.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I register a company in Egypt?
Company setup is centralised at the GAFI one-stop shop, which handles the commercial register and coordinates other approvals.
What is the tax card?
The tax card is the company’s registration with the Egyptian Tax Authority, required for tax and VAT.
Can foreigners own an Egyptian company?
Yes — foreign ownership is broadly permitted; foreign founders complete a security-clearance step.
Government portals
- Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) — Income tax, VAT and e-invoicing registration for individuals and companies.
- General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) — Company registration, the investment one-stop shop, and free-zone licensing.
- Egyptian Customs Authority — Tariffs, import and export clearance, and the Nafeza single-window system.