How hard is it to move to Egypt?

The logistics are manageable — easier than moving to, say, Southeast Asia or parts of South America. Getting the e-Visa is simple ($25, online, 3–5 days). Finding housing in Cairo's expat areas is relatively straightforward via Facebook groups within 1–2 weeks. The challenges are bureaucratic (bring many passport photos and photocopies of everything) and cultural adjustment (Cairo's intensity). Hurghada is easier still — smaller scale, friendly expat community, lower bureaucratic complexity.

Should I ship my belongings to Egypt?

For most expats: no. Egypt's furnished apartment market means you can arrive with luggage and be comfortably settled within days. Local furniture, electronics, and household goods are cheap. Customs is complex and slow. The exceptions: specialist work equipment, vehicles (complicated), beloved bikes or sports gear, and items with strong sentimental value. For a 2–3 year posting with a family, shipping may make sense with a licensed customs broker.

What should I do in my first week in Cairo?

Day 1–2: Get a local SIM, download Uber/Careem, find your nearest supermarket and pharmacy. Day 2–3: Start apartment hunting via expat Facebook groups if you haven't pre-arranged housing. Day 3–5: Open a WhatsApp group with your landlord/estate agent, start Mugamma extension process if needed, explore your neighbourhood on foot. Week 2: Bank account application, international school visits if relevant, attend a Cairo Runners meetup or expat event.

What plugs and voltage does Egypt use?

Egypt uses Type C/F (round two-pin European) power sockets at 220–240V / 50Hz. UK three-pin plugs (Type G) and US two/three-flat-pin plugs need adapters. Dual-voltage devices (most modern laptops, phone chargers, travel appliances) work fine with just a plug adapter. Single-voltage US appliances (110V) need a voltage converter.

Can I bring my pet to Egypt?

Yes, with documentation. Requirements include a valid health certificate issued by a licensed vet within 10 days of travel, up-to-date rabies vaccination (at least 21 days before travel), microchip, and notification to Egypt's Agricultural Quarantine Authority at least 2 weeks before arrival. Dogs are the most common pet brought by expats; exotic animals have stricter rules. Some airlines have restrictions on in-cabin pets on Egypt routes — check specifically.

Is it easy to leave and re-enter Egypt (visa run)?

Yes — very easy. Egypt's neighbours (Cyprus, Greece, Jordan, Dubai) are all 2–4 hours away by flight. Budget flights run from Cairo to Cyprus from ~$80–$130 return. Spend a night, re-enter Egypt on a fresh 30-day tourist visa, and the clock resets. Many nomads do this every 3–6 months rather than navigate the Mugamma extension. Hurghada also has direct regional flights for easier visa runs.

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🇪🇬 Egypt

Moving Guide

3–5 days

e-Visa processing

Apply at visa2egypt.gov.eg before flying

1–2 weeks

Time to find housing

Via expat Facebook groups; faster with local help

$200–$600

International flights

Europe to Cairo; Hurghada also has direct European flights

$1,500–$3,500

Shipping container (EU→Cairo)

20ft container; 4–6 weeks; customs complex

$400–$1,200

Air freight (small shipment)

For essentials; faster but expensive per kg

International valid

Driver's licence

IDP accepted; Egyptian licence via exchange for residents

Last updated: March 2026

Overview🏙️Cairo 🤿Hurghada

🛂Visa 🏥Healthcare 💰Finance 🏠Housing 💼Working 🌆Daily Life ✈️Moving 📚Education 🌅Lifestyle 📈Investing

Overview

Moving to Egypt is relatively straightforward operationally — the main steps are sorting your tourist visa/entry, finding housing (largely via Facebook expat groups), and getting settled in your chosen neighbourhood. Shipping household goods is feasible but often unnecessary given Egypt's furnished apartment market and extremely cheap local furniture. The main practical challenges are bureaucratic processes (always bring multiple photocopies of everything) and adapting to Egypt's chaotic but survivable road culture.

Key Takeaways

Apply for e-Visa at visa2egypt.gov.eg at least 1 week before travel — $25 single, $60 multi-entry
Stay in a serviced apartment or hotel for your first 1–2 weeks while apartment hunting
Egypt's customs for personal effects: New residents importing household goods within 6 months of first entry can apply for customs exemption — requires residence permit and detailed inventory
Apostille any official documents you'll need in Egypt (birth certificate, marriage certificate, police record, degree certificates) — required for residence permits and employment
Mobile SIM: Get at airport on arrival — Vodafone Egypt or Orange Egypt are the best networks for expats; bring your passport; EGP 50–100 starter pack includes data

Pre-Departure Checklist

Good preparation significantly reduces the chaos of arriving in Egypt. These steps, done before you leave, save time and frustration on the ground.

Apply for e-Visa at visa2egypt.gov.eg at least 1 week before travel — $25 single, $60 multi-entry
Print your e-Visa approval and carry it with your passport (required by airlines and immigration)
Get travel/health insurance that covers Egypt, including medical evacuation to Europe
Vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid recommended for extended stays; check your GP's current advice
Notify your bank of travel to Egypt to avoid card blocks; consider a multi-currency travel card (Wise, Revolut) as backup
Join Cairo/Maadi/Hurghada expat Facebook groups before you arrive — invaluable for housing leads and local knowledge
Arrange airport pickup or confirm hotel address for first few nights — arrive with enough EGP cash for taxi (exchange at airport; ~EGP 2,000 =$40 gets you started)
Research which neighbourhood suits your lifestyle — committing to Maadi vs Zamalek vs New Cairo affects schools, social life, and commute
Learn a handful of basic Arabic phrases — 'shukran' (thank you), 'bikam?' (how much?), 'la' (no), 'aywa' (yes) go a long way

First Weeks in Egypt — Getting Settled

The first weeks in Egypt can feel overwhelming — Cairo especially is a city that hits all the senses at once. Pacing yourself and using the expat community's collective knowledge is the key to a smooth landing.

Stay in a serviced apartment or hotel for your first 1–2 weeks while apartment hunting
Use expat Facebook groups for housing leads — direct landlord listings avoid broker fees
Get a local SIM immediately at the airport (Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat — all have airport kiosks)
Set up WhatsApp with your Egyptian SIM — this is how everything is arranged in Egypt
Download Uber and/or Careem before your first day — essential for getting around until you know the city
Find your nearest Drinkies (licensed liquor store) if needed, nearest Metro or Seoudi supermarket, and nearest pharmacy
Register your presence with your home country's embassy (most have online registration) — useful for emergency communications
If extending your stay beyond 30 days, start Mugamma visa extension process in week 2–3 (don't leave it to the last moment)
Open a bank account once you have a lease — CIB and NBE are the most expat-friendly

Shipping & Customs

Shipping household goods to Egypt is possible but involves significant customs complexity. Given Egypt's ultra-cheap furnished apartment market, most expats find it more practical to arrive with personal luggage and buy locally.

Egypt's customs for personal effects: New residents importing household goods within 6 months of first entry can apply for customs exemption — requires residence permit and detailed inventory
Customs process is bureaucratic and can take 2–6 weeks at port — a licensed customs broker is essentially mandatory
20ft container from Western Europe: $1,500–$3,500 plus customs agent fees of $500–$1,000
What to ship: Mostly items you can't easily replace cheaply in Egypt — a favourite bike, specialist work equipment, sentimental items
What NOT to ship: Furniture (Egypt has excellent, cheap local options), kitchen appliances (different voltage/plug), most electronics (all available in Cairo)
Air freight: For urgent small shipments — $400–$1,200 for up to 50kg; DHL, FedEx, Aramex all operate to Cairo
Prohibited imports: Drones (heavily restricted), certain medications (check customs list), satellite phones (restricted), large quantities of currency (declare anything over $10,000)
Electronics: Egypt uses Type C/F power sockets at 220V/50Hz — adapters needed for UK (Type G) and US devices

Documents & Administrative Setup

Egyptian bureaucracy rewards thoroughness. Always bring original documents plus multiple photocopies of everything. The 'copy culture' is genuine — you will need copies at every step.

Apostille any official documents you'll need in Egypt (birth certificate, marriage certificate, police record, degree certificates) — required for residence permits and employment
Carry minimum 10 passport-sized photos — consumed constantly by Egyptian bureaucracy
Make photocopies of passport bio page, current visa, and entry stamp — keep a set at home and carry a set
Notarisation and translation: Official documents often need to be translated into Arabic by a licensed translator — services available near Mugamma and in Maadi/Zamalek for $20–$60/document
Egyptian driving: International Driving Permit (IDP) accepted; exchange for an Egyptian licence after 6 months via traffic authority with residence permit
Vehicle import: Very complex and expensive — leasing or buying locally is far simpler for most expats
Pet import: Pets can enter Egypt with health certificate, rabies vaccination record, and microchip; apply to Egyptian Agricultural Quarantine Authority 2 weeks before travel

Getting Connected — Essential Services

Setting up your digital life in Egypt is quick. Mobile SIMs are instant, internet can be set up in a few days, and banking takes longer but is manageable.

Mobile SIM: Get at airport on arrival — Vodafone Egypt or Orange Egypt are the best networks for expats; bring your passport; EGP 50–100 starter pack includes data
Home internet: Ask your landlord or Facebook group which provider serves your building — TE Data (Orange), Vodafone, and WE (Telecom Egypt) are the main providers; setup takes 3–7 days
Banking: CIB or NBE with your lease contract; takes 1–3 weeks to fully set up; use Wise in the interim for EGP
WhatsApp: Download and register immediately — this is Egypt's universal communication tool
Google Maps: Works well in Cairo and Hurghada; Uber and Careem use it natively
Delivery apps: Talabat and Otlob are Egypt's dominant food delivery platforms — available within days of your SIM registration
Expat Facebook groups: Join 'Maadi Expats', 'Zamalek Expats', or 'Hurghada Expats' immediately — these are your first resource for everything

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