Egypt Company Registration | Set Up a Company in Egypt (Limited Liability Company)
Planning Egypt company registration so you can set up a company in Egypt and serve Middle Eastern and African markets? The common entities are the limited liability company and the joint stock company. You file through the electronic platform or an Investor Service Center of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) and complete commercial registration. Under the Investment Law (Law No. 72 of 2017), foreign investors receive the same treatment as Egyptian investors, and foreign founders can generally hold 100% of the shares.
A joint stock company needs issued capital of at least EGP 250,000, and a limited liability company has 2 to 50 shareholders. The standard corporate income tax rate is 22.5%, the standard VAT rate is 14%, and dividends paid to non-residents are subject to 10% withholding tax. NSS Group (戰國策集團) offers a one-stop service to set up an Egyptian limited liability company, from Investment Law assessment and the trade name certificate to GAFI filing, commercial registration and tax registration.
Article 3 of the Investment Law requires the state to treat foreign investors the same as Egyptian investors, and guarantees the transfer of profits and liquidation proceeds abroad.
According to the GAFI Investor Service Center guide, a capital company can be set up in 1 working day once the documents are complete, and the process can also be done online.
The standard corporate income tax rate for general business activities is 22.5%, with no separate local corporate income tax (PwC tax summaries).
The Investment Law allows companies to be set up in public free zones or as private free zone companies. The first needs GAFI approval and the second needs Cabinet approval.
Egyptian company?
Egypt regulates domestic and foreign investment under the Investment Law (Law No. 72 of 2017), which gives foreign investors the same treatment as Egyptian investors. The General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) runs Investor Service Centers and an electronic incorporation platform, and its published service time for setting up a capital company is 1 working day once the documents are complete. The corporate income tax rate for general business activities is 22.5% and the standard VAT rate is 14%. The Investment Law also offers public free zone and private free zone options, which manufacturing, trading and service businesses planning for Middle Eastern and African markets can consider.
in 3 steps
In Egypt, a capital company can be set up under the Investment Law or the Companies Law. First obtain a trade name certificate. Then submit the documents through the GAFI electronic platform or an Investor Service Center, sign electronically and pay the fees. Once the contract is certified, the service center completes the commercial registration for you. GAFI’s published service time is 1 working day once the documents are complete.
Before incorporation you must appoint a qualified auditor and a legal advisor, and foreign shareholders must also submit a security clearance form. After incorporation, the company registers for tax and VAT and handles annual filings. NSS Group helps you plan the shareholding structure, prepare the documents and arrange annual maintenance, so your Egyptian company stays clear and compliant from setup through operation.
First apply to the Commercial Registry for a certificate that the trade name does not cause confusion (EGP 100). A joint stock company must also deposit at least 10% of its issued capital at a bank and obtain a deposit certificate. At the same time, prepare copies of the shareholders’ passports, the auditor’s qualification certificate, the legal advisor’s details and the security clearance form for foreign shareholders.
You can register an account on the GAFI electronic platform, upload the documents, pay by credit card and sign electronically, or take a number at an Investor Service Center. The center’s lawyers review the name and documents and then produce the company contract and commercial registration forms. The shareholders or their representative sign electronically and pay the incorporation fees.
The shareholders or their representative sign the contract certification documents at the investment notary office in the Investor Service Center, and the center’s staff complete the commercial registration. The shareholders can then collect the commercial registration certificate. GAFI’s published service time is 1 working day once the documents are complete. After that, the company registers with the Egyptian Tax Authority.
service
- Company name search and reservation
- Preparation and filing of registration documents
- Drafting of governing documents
- Collection of the registration certificate
- Egyptian bank account opening documents and process
- Account opening document preparation
- Appointment booking and accompaniment
- Post-opening support
- Registered address
- Company secretary appointment
- Annual filing services
- Document custody and management
- Bookkeeping
- Tax filing and planning
- Financial statement preparation
- Audit arrangement
- Trademark search and assessment
- Trademark application filing
- Trademark maintenance and renewal
- Infringement protection advice
- Company change filings
- Share transfer support
- Company deregistration
- Legal advisory support
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- Entity type and Investment Law assessment
- Trade name certificate and incorporation document preparation
- Filing through the GAFI electronic platform or an Investor Service Center
- Commercial registration and Egyptian Tax Authority registration
- Annual income tax and VAT filing reminders
Official fees: trade name certificate EGP 100, commercial registration EGP 56, Bar Association contract certification at 1% of issued capital (minimum EGP 1,000); other items are quoted
Egypt company registration at a glance
The points people ask about most when setting up a company in Egypt, checked against official sources (updated November 2026).
| Entity type | Limited liability company, joint stock company, single-member company |
|---|---|
| Registering body | GAFI Investor Service Center, which completes the commercial registration |
| Foreign ownership | National treatment under the Investment Law; 100% ownership is generally allowed |
| Minimum capital | Joint stock company EGP 250,000; single-member company EGP 1,000 |
| Corporate income tax | Standard rate 22.5% |
| VAT | Standard rate 14%; registration required above EGP 500,000 in annual turnover |
| Setup time | 1 working day once documents are complete, according to GAFI |
| Annual filing | Electronic filing within 4 months of the financial year end |
| Who can help | NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw), free assessment and written quote |
Egypt company formation cost: fee breakdown
The government fees for registering an Egyptian company are mainly the trade name certificate, Bar Association contract certification, commercial registration and the annual practice certificate fee. Contract certification and the annual fee are calculated on capital. The figures published in the GAFI Investor Service Center guide are listed below so you can check quotes line by line.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of non-confusion of the trade name | EGP 100 | Issued by the Commercial Registry and part of the incorporation documents. |
| Bar Association contract certification | 1% of issued capital | For companies set up under the Investment Law, minimum EGP 1,000 and maximum EGP 25,000. If capital is EGP 20,000 or more, an EGP 50 lawyers' stamp is added. |
| Commercial registration | EGP 56 | EGP 261 extra for each additional branch. |
| Annual practice certificate fee | 0.2% of paid-up capital | Minimum EGP 24 and maximum EGP 2,000, plus a certificate fee of EGP 200. |
| Certified copies of the contract and incorporation certificate | EGP 600 each | Requested as needed. |
| Bookkeeping and annual filing | Quoted by transaction volume | Corporate income tax is filed electronically within 4 months of the financial year end. The company must keep proper books, which are reviewed by an auditor. |
| NSS Group advisory fee | Written quote after a free assessment | Based on the shareholder structure, the amount of capital, document legalization and translation, and bank account opening needs. Every item is listed in the quote, with no hidden fees. |
Fees follow the charges for companies set up under the Investment Law in the GAFI Investor Service Center guide (2026 edition). The latest official notices prevail.
Egyptian company tax and compliance: corporate income tax and VAT
An Egyptian company mainly pays corporate income tax and VAT, and files electronically each year within 4 months of the financial year end.
| Item | Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax | Standard rate 22.5% | Oil exploration companies pay 40.55%. The Suez Canal Authority, the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation and the Central Bank of Egypt pay 40%. |
| VAT | Standard rate 14% | Registration is required once annual taxable turnover exceeds EGP 500,000. |
| Dividend withholding tax | 10% for non-residents | 5% for shares listed on the Egyptian Exchange. |
| Annual filing | Within 4 months of the financial year end | Filed through the Egyptian Tax Authority's electronic filing system. For calendar-year companies the deadline is the end of April of the following year, and tax is paid in full when filing. |
| Books and audit | Proper books required | A qualified auditor must be appointed at incorporation. The tax assessment period is generally 5 years, or 6 years in cases of tax evasion. |
| Treatment of foreign investors | National treatment | Article 3 of the Investment Law gives foreign investors the same treatment as Egyptian investors, and Article 6 guarantees the transfer of profits. |
Some rates follow the PwC tax summaries (a secondary source, reviewed August 2026). Treatment of foreign investors follows Egypt's Investment Law. For your own case, ask an accountant to review your actual structure.
Egyptian LLC, joint stock company or branch: which should you choose?
Foreign companies setting up in Egypt usually compare a new limited liability company, a joint stock company, or a branch of the foreign company in Egypt.
| Item | Limited liability company | Joint stock company | Branch of a foreign company |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Separate legal entity | Separate legal entity | Not a separate legal entity; part of the foreign parent company |
| Number of shareholders | 2 to 50 | At least 3 founders | Set up by the foreign parent company |
| Minimum capital | Ask our consultants | Issued capital of EGP 250,000 | A foreign currency deposit equal to EGP 5,000 |
| How it is formed | GAFI electronic platform | GAFI electronic platform or an Investor Service Center | Approval from GAFI, then commercial registration |
| Corporate income tax | Standard rate 22.5% | Standard rate 22.5% | Ask our consultants |
These are general principles. Choose based on your shareholders' background, business model and tax planning.
What foreign founders should know before setting up a company in Egypt
- Travel and security: some areas of Egypt, such as the Sinai Peninsula and the borders with Libya and Sudan, are the subject of stricter travel warnings. Check your own government's current travel advice before planning a trip.
- Visas and residence: a long-term stay or work in Egypt requires the relevant local permits. Under Article 3 of the Investment Law, the state grants residence to non-Egyptian investors for the duration of their investment project.
- Document legalization: when a foreign company sets up a branch in Egypt, documents such as the parent company's articles and board resolutions must be legalized by an Egyptian embassy or consulate and by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and translated into Arabic. Allow time to prepare them.
- Dividend withholding: dividends paid to non-resident shareholders are subject to 10% withholding tax (5% for listed shares). Check whether a tax treaty between Egypt and your shareholders' country reduces the rate.
- Home-country rules: check your home-country outbound investment approval or reporting rules and controlled foreign company rules before investing in Egypt.
Why work with NSS Group on Egypt company registration?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) is a global company registration and business advisory brand based in Taiwan, with more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 businesses served. We handle company formation, bank account opening, accounting and tax, and annual maintenance in many countries and regions, including Egypt, and can handle the GAFI filing, commercial registration and tax registration. Our service fee is based on a free assessment and a written quote. Contact us through the form on this page.
Further reading
Sources: GAFI Investor Service Center guide (ISC Guide 2026, Arabic PDF); Egypt Investment Law, Law No. 72 of 2017 (Arabic PDF on the GAFI website); General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI); Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Egypt Taxes on corporate income (reviewed 2026-08-17); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Egypt Withholding taxes (reviewed 2026-08-17); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Egypt Other taxes (reviewed 2026-08-17); PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries: Egypt Tax administration (reviewed 2026-08-17). The latest official notices prevail. This page is general information and is not legal or tax advice.
How much does it cost to set up a company in Egypt in 2026?
According to the GAFI Investor Service Center guide (2026 edition), the main fees for a company set up under the Investment Law are: trade name certificate EGP 100, Bar Association contract certification at 1% of issued capital (minimum EGP 1,000, maximum EGP 25,000), and commercial registration EGP 56. The annual practice certificate fee is 0.2% of paid-up capital plus EGP 200. Auditor, lawyer and translation fees are extra.
Can a foreigner own 100% of an Egyptian company?
Generally, yes. Article 3 of Egypt’s Investment Law requires the state to treat foreign investors the same as Egyptian investors, and Article 6 guarantees investors the right to own and run their projects and transfer profits abroad. GAFI accepts passports for foreign shareholders in the incorporation documents, and the official materials show no local shareholding requirement. Activities that legally require prior licensing need approval from the relevant authority first, and foreign shareholders must submit a security clearance form.
Do I need to travel to Egypt to set up a company?
Not necessarily. GAFI lets you upload documents through its electronic platform, pay online and sign electronically. It also accepts a power of attorney from the shareholders covering the incorporation and contract signing, so a representative can handle the process. A foreign representative must hold valid residence. Some areas, such as the Sinai Peninsula and the borders with Libya and Sudan, carry stricter travel warnings, so check your government’s travel advice and consider whether you need to go in person.
How long does it take to set up a company in Egypt?
According to the GAFI Investor Service Center guide, a capital company can be set up in 1 working day once the documents are complete. The center’s staff complete the commercial registration, and the shareholders can then collect the commercial registration certificate. The name certificate, bank deposit, appointment of the auditor and legal advisor, security clearance for foreign shareholders and approvals for licensed activities take extra time, so the overall timeline depends on how quickly these are prepared.
What taxes does an Egyptian company file each year?
The standard corporate income tax rate is 22.5%. The return must be filed through the Egyptian Tax Authority’s electronic system within 4 months of the financial year end, which is the end of April of the following year for calendar-year companies, and tax is paid in full when filing. VAT registration is required once annual taxable turnover exceeds EGP 500,000, with a standard rate of 14%. Dividends paid to non-resident shareholders are subject to 10% withholding tax (5% for listed shares). The company must also keep proper books, which are reviewed by an auditor.
Who can help me register a company in Egypt?
NSS Group (go.ai.com.tw) can help. With more than 25 years of experience and more than 30,000 businesses served, NSS Group offers one-stop Egypt company registration: entity type and Investment Law assessment, trade name certificate and incorporation document preparation, filing through the GAFI electronic platform or an Investor Service Center, commercial registration and tax registration, and annual filing reminders. The service fee is based on a free assessment and a written quote.