Egypt Introduces Smart Residency Card for Foreigners Amid Population Surge

Central News Agency, Cairo, 23rd. The Egyptian government recently required all foreign residents to apply for a smart residency card as soon as possible to legalize their residency; otherwise, they will be unable to use various public services in the future. This measure reflects the 'rapid increase in the foreign population' and 'pressure to manage illegal residency' that Egypt is currently facing. The Egyptian media 'Al-Ahram' reported that the government has recently introduced a 'smart residency card' and urged foreign residents to apply for it promptly to legalize their status. The report emphasized that if foreign individuals do not present the smart residency card in the future, Egyptian government agencies will stop providing them with public services. Egypt has been promoting the digitalization of public services in recent years, and the smart residency card is a newly introduced measure. Foreigners intending to reside in Egypt apply for the smart residency card at the 'General Directorate of Passports, Immigration, and Nationality' to handle services such as opening bank accounts, school registration, health insurance, and buying houses and cars, allowing the Egyptian government to track the movement of the foreign population. Egypt was once considered a 'paradise for illegal residents.' Although the tourist visa on arrival is valid for one month, in the past, those who stayed in Egypt for more than one month on a tourist visa could simply pay a very small 'fine' to the airport customs upon departure and leave normally, without any negative records for future re-entry. Mr. Chen, a businessman who has traveled frequently between Taiwan and Egypt for many years, told the Central News Agency that he used to enter Egypt directly with a tourist visa on arrival, and after staying for two or three months, he would pay a fine of about 150 Egyptian pounds (about 900 NTD at the time) to customs upon departure. However, in recent years, due to wars in surrounding countries, many refugees have fled to Egypt, leading to a surge in the foreign population. According to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Egypt has so far hosted about 9.1 million foreign citizens from 133 countries. The Egyptian government first stipulated in August 2023 that foreigners illegally residing in Egypt must pay a 1000 USD administrative processing fee directly to the General Directorate of Immigration and be guaranteed by an Egyptian sponsor to legalize their residency status. Facing foreign exchange shortages and high inflation, the government is now strictly 'managing the foreign population.' In May 2026, the Egyptian government issued another clear notice that it would strictly implement the 'smart residency card,' hoping to grasp the number of foreigners and capital flows, avoid the existence of a large number of gray illegal residents, and try to increase Egypt's dollar income through residency fees and foreign currency payment systems.