Company formation · Foreign companies
Registering a Branch of a Foreign Company in Egypt
A branch of a foreign company in Egypt is registered only against a specific contract with an Egyptian party. GAFI, Egypt's investment authority, states 5 working days for a complete file. The real work is the legalised paperwork before it and the tax that follows.
- Chartered Accountant (محاسب قانوني)
- Office 314, Al Azizia Mall, Sharm El Sheikh
- Arabic, English, Italian, Russian
- Rules checked October 2026
01What's included
What we do for a branch
From the first read of your contract to the annual return, handled from our office in Sharm El Sheikh.
02Process
How to register a branch in Egypt, step by step
Six stages from the contract to a branch that can invoice. The only fixed time is GAFI's stated 5 working days for the filing; it is a service standard, not a promise, and the rest depends on your documents.
- 01
Check the contract first
We read the contract with the Egyptian party: scope, duration, payment terms and where the work happens. This decides whether a branch fits and shapes the tax position.
- 02
Prepare the parent's documents abroad
The parent's corporate documents and its resolutions to open the branch are legalised for use in Egypt, together with a declaration that it has no existing branch here.
- 03
Bank certificate and premises
Arrange the bank certificate for the equivalent of EGP 5,000 in foreign currency, then sign and register the lease for the branch premises.
- 04
Filing at GAFI
We file the application with the contract, the Egyptian party's Commercial Register extract and the security-inquiry forms. GAFI charges no service fee for this registration.
- 05
Security result
GAFI registers the branch, and strikes it off the register if the security result comes back negative.
- 06
Tax and payroll registrations
Tax card, VAT where it applies, e-invoicing, social insurance for staff, Universal Health Insurance where it is live, and work permits for foreign employees.
As of October 2026. Legalisation abroad usually takes longer than the GAFI stage, so start it first.
03Why us
Why clients in Sharm choose us
Registering a Branch of a Foreign Company in Egypt, handled by one chartered accountant from your first question to the final registration. Foreign company branch in Egypt requirements: a signed contract with an Egyptian party and the capital deposit. Foreign company branch in Egypt tax: profits are taxed at the 22.5% corporate rate.
FAQ
Questions about foreign company branches in Egypt
Can a foreign company open a branch in Egypt without a contract?
No. As of October 2026, GAFI registers a branch of a foreign company only against a specific contract with an Egyptian party, filed with that party's Commercial Register extract. If you want to study the market first, a representative office covers research and promotion, but it cannot trade, invoice or sell services.
How long does branch registration take in Egypt?
GAFI's 2026 guide states 5 working days for branch registration once the file is complete. The work before filing usually takes longer, mainly legalising the parent's documents abroad and registering the lease for the premises. If the security result comes back negative, GAFI strikes the branch off the register.
How much money does a branch need to register?
GAFI's file asks for a bank certificate showing the equivalent of EGP 5,000 in foreign currency, and as of October 2026 GAFI charges no service fee for branch registration. Other official charges, legalisation abroad and our own fee come on top, and we itemise them in a written quote.
How is a foreign company branch taxed in Egypt?
Like an Egyptian company: 22.5% corporate income tax on its profits, as of October 2026. Those profits are then deemed distributed to the parent 60 days after the financial year ends and taxed at 10%, whether or not money is sent abroad. A tax treaty may reduce the 10%, usually by refund or advance ruling.
Should a foreign company open a branch or a subsidiary?
A branch suits one defined contract with an Egyptian party and keeps the work under the parent's own name. A subsidiary suits ongoing trading with many customers; in Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab a foreign-owned one must be a joint-stock company. Both pay 22.5% corporate tax, but set-up and the way profits reach the parent differ.
Related services
Other routes into Egypt
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