Meridian · Freshness tracker

What's changed.

Dated updates to visa, tax, residency, citizenship, housing, and labour policy across every country tracked. Every entry cites its primary source and the date we last verified it.

Subscribe via RSS ↗ · 15 entries shown

Country All countriesAQAntarcticaAUAustraliaBRBrazilCACanadaCNChina (Mainland)EGEgyptFRFranceDEGermanyHKHong KongIEIrelandITItalyJPJapanMXMexicoMAMoroccoNLNetherlandsNZNew ZealandPTPortugalSGSingaporeZASouth AfricaKRSouth KoreaESSpainAEUnited Arab EmiratesGBUnited KingdomUSUnited States
Category All categoriesVisa & immigrationResidencyCitizenshipTaxationLabourHousingHealthcareOther
In force 1 Jul 2025
In force Labour

National minimum wage raised to EGP 7,000/month for 2025

The National Council for Wages raised the minimum wage to EGP 7,000/month effective July 2025 — up from EGP 6,000. Continues the recent pattern of regular above-inflation minimum-wage adjustments as part of the state response to the EGP devaluation impact on household purchasing power.

Who it affects: Low-wage Egyptian workers; indirect context for foreign-resident cost-of-living.

Ministry of Finance (Egypt) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Oct 2024
In force Citizenship

Citizenship-by-Investment programme reformed — clearer pricing tiers

Prime-ministerial decree in mid-2024 clarified and repriced the Egyptian Citizenship-by-Investment programme: non-refundable Treasury contribution US$250,000; real-estate investment US$350,000; direct business investment US$500,000 creating local employment; bank deposit US$500,000 (3-year lock). Processing target 6–9 months. Volumes expanded materially in 2024–2025 from Gulf and East Asian applicants.

Who it affects: High-net-worth applicants seeking Egyptian citizenship.

General Authority for Investment and Free Zones ↗ · Ministry of Finance (Egypt) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jul 2024
In force Taxation

Personal Income Tax bands restructured for 2024–25

The 2024–25 Finance Law restructured personal income tax bands — modest increases in the middle-band thresholds to offset inflation effects. Top marginal rate remained at 27.5%. Basic non-taxable threshold raised to EGP 40,000 (from EGP 30,000). Foreign residents on work permits are subject to Egyptian PIT on Egyptian-source income; 183-day residence triggers worldwide-income taxation.

Who it affects: All Egyptian tax residents including foreign workers.

Ministry of Finance (Egypt) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

Announced 1 Jun 2024
Announced Visa & immigration

Digital Nomad Visa feasibility study announced; no implementation yet

The Egyptian government announced a feasibility study for a dedicated Digital Nomad Visa in mid-2024 as part of the broader Tourism 2030 strategy. No formal DNV framework enacted as of April 2026. Prospective remote workers continue to operate on tourist visas (for short stays) or long-stay visas through the investor/business route.

Who it affects: Prospective remote-worker applicants.

State Information Service ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Apr 2024
In force Residency

Hard-currency-earning Egyptians abroad programme launched

The Ministry of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates launched programmes targeting Egyptians abroad through 2024 — hard-currency-denominated property-purchase schemes, car-import concessions, and facilitated investment routes. Designed to strengthen foreign-currency inflows. Mover-relevant as indicator of state priorities and as practical context for Egyptian-passport-holder returnees.

Who it affects: Egyptian diaspora returning or maintaining ties; property-market context.

State Information Service ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 29 Mar 2024
In force Taxation

IMF Extended Fund Facility expanded to US$8 billion

Following the March 2024 EGP float, the IMF Extended Fund Facility was expanded to US$8 billion in late March 2024 (from the original US$3 billion December 2022 agreement). The expanded programme conditionality includes fiscal consolidation, reducing the state's role in the economy, and structural reforms around subsidies and privatisation. Regular programme reviews continue through 2026.

Who it affects: Broad macroeconomic trajectory; structural reform programme continuation.

Central Bank of Egypt ↗ · State Information Service ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 6 Mar 2024
In force Taxation

Major EGP devaluation — CBE adopts floating exchange rate

The Central Bank of Egypt allowed the EGP to float freely on 6 March 2024, producing an immediate ~60% devaluation against the USD. Foreign-currency-earning residents experienced an immediate and substantial improvement in local purchasing power; EGP-earning residents faced import-driven inflation. Part of the IMF-backed macroeconomic adjustment programme.

Who it affects: All Egyptians and foreign residents; materially affects cost-of-living and import costs.

Central Bank of Egypt ↗ · Ministry of Finance (Egypt) ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 23 Feb 2024
In force Other

Ras El Hekma UAE mega-deal — US$35 billion agreement

The Egyptian government announced a US$35 billion investment agreement with UAE's ADQ on 23 February 2024 covering the Ras El Hekma north-coast development project. The largest single FDI transaction in Egyptian history; stabilised the EGP currency crisis and triggered IMF programme expansion. Mover-relevant indirectly: accelerated infrastructure development in the north-coast region and broader economic-reform momentum.

Who it affects: Broad macroeconomic context; foreign direct investment influx.

State Information Service ↗ · Central Bank of Egypt ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Feb 2024
In force Labour

Tourism 2030 Strategy — 30M annual visitors target

The Tourism 2030 strategy committed to reaching 30 million annual visitors by 2030 (from approximately 15 million in 2024). Focuses on infrastructure expansion at Red Sea destinations, Nile cruise capacity, and cultural-tourism development around the Grand Egyptian Museum (partially opened 2024). Mover-relevant: sustained employment growth in tourism-adjacent sectors.

Who it affects: Tourism sector employment; tangential impact on tourism-oriented expat sectors.

State Information Service ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Visa & immigration

Bilateral visa-exemption agreements expanded

Egypt expanded bilateral visa-exemption agreements through 2024 — most notably mutual visa-free arrangements with additional Gulf states, Russia (for tourism), and specific Southeast Asian countries. Continues the broader Egyptian strategy of expanding tourism access while maintaining work and residence visa controls.

Who it affects: Travellers between Egypt and specific partner countries.

Ministry of Interior (Egypt) ↗ · State Information Service ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Other

New Administrative Capital continued rollout

The New Administrative Capital (NAC) — the major new government and commercial district east of Cairo — continues rollout through 2024–2026. Government ministries progressively relocating; major commercial developments include the Central Business District, Knowledge City (offshoring and tech hub), and residential districts. Mover-relevant employment context for tech and professional services.

Who it affects: Broad administrative and employment context.

State Information Service ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2024
In force Residency

Egyptian skilled-worker outflow to Gulf continues

Continued structural outflow of Egyptian skilled workers to Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar) through 2024–2026 — driven by UAE Golden Visa attraction and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 labour demand. Mover-relevant context: Egyptian tech and professional labour market operates in a regional competition with significant outbound pressure; foreign employers in Egypt face competitive hiring dynamics.

Who it affects: Egyptian labour market; broader economic context.

State Information Service ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Dec 2023
In force Labour

Investment Law 72/2017 amendments — expanded Golden Licence scope

Amendments to Investment Law 72/2017 expanded the scope of the Golden Licence — a one-stop-shop investment authorisation providing all necessary approvals, tax holidays, and customs exemptions. Now available for strategic sectors: renewable energy, green hydrogen, desalination, digital infrastructure, transport, logistics, electric vehicles. Practical effect: reduced bureaucratic friction for qualifying foreign investors.

Who it affects: Foreign investors in strategic sectors.

General Authority for Investment and Free Zones ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Nov 2023
In force Housing

Foreign property ownership rules liberalised

Amendments to foreign property ownership rules effective late 2023 — streamlined approvals for foreign real-estate purchases, expanded geographic zones where foreign ownership is permitted (previously restricted in certain coastal and border areas), and maximum 2-property limit per foreign individual. Residence-status benefits for foreign property-owners above specified investment thresholds.

Who it affects: Foreign property investors and residents considering ownership.

General Authority for Investment and Free Zones ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 28 Apr 2023
In force Other

Daylight Saving Time reintroduced

Egypt reintroduced Daylight Saving Time from April 2023 — after abolishing it in 2015. The decision reversed the 2015 policy and aligned Egypt with many other Northern Hemisphere peers. Summer: UTC+3; standard time (winter): UTC+2. Practical effect on cross-border coordination with Europe, Gulf states, and North America.

Who it affects: All residents and businesses; practical time-zone coordination.

State Information Service ↗ · verified 2026-04-19