For representation, no commercial activity
Foreign Office Branch in Egypt — Representation Only
The Foreign Office Branch is the right vehicle for a foreign parent company that wants a legal presence in Egypt for representation, market research, and liaison, without generating revenue locally. Below: when it fits, and when an LLC or a Free Zone Company is the right vehicle instead.
Pending advisor validation
This page is sourced from public Egyptian regulatory references and our internal advisory notes. Our advisors are reviewing the specifics for final sign-off. Book a 30-minute call for advice tailored to your case.
Last sourced:
When this entity is right
Best for
Multinationals scoping the Egyptian market before committing to a full entity
Liaison and procurement offices for the foreign parent
Market research and brand presence ahead of a commercial decision
Foreign companies that want a registered address and Egyptian-resident representative without an operational entity
When something else fits better
Not for
Naming the cases this entity is wrong for is the whole point of an advisory call. The cross-links below go to the entity we would suggest instead.
Any revenue-generating activity inside Egypt
The Foreign Office Branch is prohibited from generating revenue locally. Where Egyptian customers pay you for goods or services, the LLC or Free Zone Company is the correct vehicle.
Consider the LLC →Founders or SMEs without an existing foreign parent
The Foreign Office Branch is always a branch of a foreign company. Without an operational foreign parent, the LLC or One-Person Company is the right vehicle.
Consider the One-Person Company →Manufacturing or service-delivery for Egyptian clients
Choose the vehicle that matches the commercial model: Free Zone for export, LLC for inland sales and services.
Compare with Free Zone (Law 72) →Quick facts
- Statutory minimum capital
- —
- Foreign ownership
- 100% (always a branch of the foreign parent)
- Typical timeline
- 21–45 working days
What you need to prepare
Document checklist
Items tagged Foreigner-specific need apostille, consular authentication, or sworn translation from your home jurisdiction. We send you a precise per-document brief before any Egyptian-side work begins.
Foreign parent company
Recent commercial register extract from the home jurisdiction
Foreigner-specificApostilled or consular-legalised.
Certificate of incorporation
Foreigner-specificApostilled and translated to Arabic.
Memorandum and articles of association of the foreign parent
Foreigner-specificApostilled and translated.
Board resolution authorising the Egyptian Foreign Office Branch and the scope of activity
Foreigner-specificMust explicitly state the representation-only scope. Apostilled and translated.
Power of attorney to the Egyptian-resident representative
Foreigner-specificApostilled and consular-legalised. Names the local representative and the scope of their authority.
Local representative
Valid passport or Egyptian national ID
If a foreign individual is the local representative, a valid Egyptian residence permit is required.
Professional CV / good-standing statement
Egyptian office
Lease contract for the Egyptian office address (with verified date)
Recent electricity bill for the office address
Auditor appointment
Required for the branch.
Legal counsel appointment
How the engagement runs
01
Discovery call
A 30-minute call to confirm the Foreign Office Branch fits your case rather than an LLC or Free Zone Company.
02
Advisory memo + scope definition
A written memo with the entity choice, the scope of permitted activity, the corporate documents needed from the foreign parent, the timeline, and the cost picture.
03
Document preparation
A precise checklist for the foreign parent's home jurisdiction: apostille, consular legalisation, sworn translation.
04
Branch registration
We file with the foreign-offices register and follow up through approval.
05
Egyptian office setup
Office lease finalised. Local representative power of attorney executed.
06
Commercial register, tax card, social-insurance file
Issued for the branch as a non-revenue Egyptian establishment.
07
Handover
A handover covering the annual renewal calendar, the reporting obligations, and what triggers conversion to an LLC if the foreign parent later decides to operate commercially.
Engagement scope
What this engagement covers
We prepare a tailored proposal after reviewing your specifics — activity, shareholder structure, sector pre-approvals. The lists below describe what we typically own end-to-end versus what stays outside the engagement.
What we own end-to-end
- Entity-fit advisory and scope memo (representation vs. LLC vs. Free Zone)
- Branch registration application and follow-up
- Articles and authorisation documents drafting and registration
- Commercial register, tax card, and social-insurance file
- Coordination with the foreign-offices register
Outside this engagement
- Government fees, notarisation, and translation costs (paid at cost)
- Apostille and consular legalisation of foreign documents
- Office lease and the registered address
- Auditor and legal counsel retainers
- Annual renewal fees and reporting fees
Common questions
What foreign investors ask us
The questions below come up on almost every discovery call for this entity. If yours isn't here, bring it to the call.
Scoping Egypt? Confirm the Foreign Office Branch is the right fit.
30 minutes. English. No obligation. We will recommend a commercial vehicle if you need one.