If you are a foreigner living in, moving to, or investing in Egypt, you need a lawyer for foreigners in Egypt who works in your language and understands the exact procedures that apply to non-Egyptians. Most official documents and government procedures in Egypt are in Arabic only — and the rules for foreigners differ from the rules for Egyptians in residency, property ownership, and registration. This page is your English-language starting point: who we help, what we do, and how to start.
El Shenawy Law Firm, led by Dr. Mohamed Elshenawy, is based in Alexandria and serves foreign clients across Egypt — in English, from the first consultation to the final document.
Who We Help
- Expats and residents — professionals, teachers, and remote workers living in Egypt who need residence permits, renewals, and everyday legal cover.
- Property buyers — foreigners buying apartments, villas, or land in Egypt who need title checks, safe contracts, and official registration.
- Investors — foreign investors setting up projects or buying property as an investment base, including investment-linked residence options.
- Spouses of Egyptians — foreign husbands and wives navigating marriage-based residence and family documentation.
- Digital nomads and retirees — foreigners staying long-term who need a clean, legal residence status and reliable local counsel.
- Clients abroad — foreigners outside Egypt who need a lawyer to act for them through an officially documented power of attorney.
Legal Services for Expats in Egypt
Residency permits — all types
We prepare and follow up residence files of every practical type: tourist, work, study, marriage-based, and property or investment-based residence. Egypt's framework is Law 89 of 1960 on the entry and residence of foreigners — Article 16 requires every foreigner to hold a valid residence license, and the law divides residence into legal categories (special, ordinary, and temporary) with different durations and conditions. We check your file before you submit it to the General Department of Passports, Immigration and Nationality, because one missing paper means rejection and weeks of delay. Read our full guide: Egypt Residency Guide for Foreigners (2026) and Residence Permit Types Explained.
Property purchase — due diligence and registration
Buying in Egypt as a foreigner has its own statute: Law 230 of 1996. Article 2 allows a non-Egyptian to own up to two residential properties for private family residence, each not exceeding 4,000 m², excluding antiquities — and Article 5 bars resale within five years without prime-ministerial approval. In 2023 the government moved to ease these restrictions for purchases paid in foreign currency, so the rules are in transition and must be checked case by case. Whatever the current position, one rule never changes: under Law 114 of 1946 on the Regulation of Real Estate Registration, ownership transfers only by official registration — an unregistered preliminary contract does not make you the legal owner. We verify the title at the Real Estate Registry, check licenses and violations, draft or review the contract, and complete registration. Full guide: Buying Property in Egypt as a Foreigner and Legal Guide 2026.
Contract review — in plain English
Sale contracts, leases, and development agreements in Egypt are usually drafted in Arabic only. We review every clause and explain it to you in plain English before you sign — price, payment schedule, penalties, delivery terms, and hidden risks. See also: Renting an Apartment in Egypt as a Foreigner.
Overstay and fine settlement
Expired residence means accumulating fines — and in serious cases, deportation and re-entry bans. In September 2026 the government extended the window for regularizing the status of foreigners residing illegally (Prime Minister's Decision No. 2807 of 2026), which makes now the time to fix your status. We handle the settlement file with the Passports authority. Details: Overstayed Your Visa in Egypt? and Residency Renewal & Overstay Guide.
Investment-linked residence
Foreign investors may qualify for residence connected to licensed investment projects or qualifying property purchases. We assess your eligibility and prepare the file. See: Investment Residency in Egypt.
Dispute defense
Property disputes, fraud by brokers, bounced cheques, trust-receipt cases, and landlord conflicts — we defend foreign clients in civil and criminal proceedings. Common pitfalls are mapped here: Common Legal Problems Foreigners Face in Egypt.
Why an English-Speaking Lawyer in Alexandria Matters
Three practical reasons. First, language: contracts, title deeds, court filings, and government forms are in Arabic; a mistranslated clause can cost you the case. Second, foreigner-specific rules: ownership caps, registration requirements, and residence categories that apply to non-Egyptians are a separate track from general Egyptian law — a generalist may miss them. Third, procedure: the Passports authority and the Real Estate Registry run on formal files and follow-ups; an experienced Egypt residency lawyer knows what each office actually asks for, not just what the statute says.
How It Works
- Contact us — message or call on WhatsApp at +20 120 104 1177 and describe your situation in English.
- Consultation — we review your documents and give you a clear, honest assessment of your legal position and options.
- File handling — we prepare, submit, and follow up your residence file, property registration, or case until it is closed.
- Abroad? — we can act for you under a power of attorney documented at the Egyptian embassy or consulate in your country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer for an Egypt residence permit?
Not legally required — but practically essential. Most rejections come from incomplete files, unregistered leases, or missing bank-transfer proofs. A lawyer's pre-check before submission saves weeks.
Can I buy property in Egypt while I am abroad?
Yes. The purchase and even the registration steps can be handled through a lawyer holding a properly documented power of attorney from the Egyptian consulate in your country.
I overstayed my visa. Can my status still be fixed?
In most cases, yes — by paying the accumulated fines and completing the file with the Passports authority. The regularization window was extended in September 2026 (PM Decision No. 2807 of 2026). Act now, and do not travel before settling your status.
Do you work in English?
Yes. Consultations, contract explanations, and all communication with foreign clients are in English. Official filings remain in Arabic, as the authorities require — we handle those for you.
How do we start?
Send your documents or questions on WhatsApp to +20 120 104 1177. We will tell you honestly what your position is and what it takes to fix it.
Key Takeaways
- Foreigners in Egypt face separate legal tracks for residency (Law 89/1960) and property ownership (Law 230/1996) — get counsel who knows both.
- A residence license is mandatory (Art. 16, Law 89/1960); property ownership transfers only by official registration (Law 114/1946).
- Foreign ownership caps and the 5-year resale rule are in transition after 2023 easing measures — verify the current position before you buy.
- Overstayers: the regularization window was extended in September 2026 — settle your status now, before traveling.
- Never sign an Arabic-only contract you do not fully understand — have it explained in plain English first.
Book Your Legal Consultation
El Shenawy Law Firm — Dr. Mohamed Elshenawy
358 Gamal Abdel Nasser St, Miami, Alexandria, Egypt
Phone / WhatsApp: +20 120 104 1177
Foreign national with a legal question in Egypt? Contact us today in English for a legal consultation — we will review your case and give you a clear, honest legal assessment.