Learning how to register a company in Egypt is simpler than it looks: pick an entity, reserve a name, file at GAFI, then get your commercial register and tax card. Here is the full step-by-step guide.
Egypt has spent the last few years pulling most of company registration into one place. Today you can incorporate a limited liability company, a one-person company, or a sole proprietorship largely through the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI, الهيئة العامة للاستثمار) and its one-stop-shop offices. The process is very doable, but the details, fees, and required documents change often, and a small mistake in your articles of association can cost you weeks. This guide walks through what actually happens, in order.
Step 1: Choose the right legal structure
Your first real decision is the entity type, because it shapes liability, tax, and how many founders you need.
- Limited Liability Company (LLC / ذات مسؤولية محدودة) — the most common choice. Liability is limited to your capital, it suits two or more partners (and can even be a single quotaholder in practice), and there is no fixed statutory minimum capital for most activities.
- One-Person Company (OPC / شركة الشخص الواحد) — a single owner with limited liability, ideal for solo founders who want protection without a partner.
- Sole Proprietorship (منشأة فردية) — the simplest and cheapest, but you and the business are legally the same person, so there is no liability shield.
- Joint-Stock Company (شركة مساهمة) — for larger ventures, fundraising, or eventual listing; more governance and higher capital requirements.
- Branch or Representative Office — for foreign companies extending into Egypt rather than forming a new Egyptian entity.
If you are weighing options, our company types guide breaks down each one, and the OPC guide covers the one-person route in detail.
Step 2: Reserve your company name
Every Egyptian company needs an approved, unique trade name. You submit proposed names to the commercial registry (السجل التجاري), which checks them against existing names and prohibited terms. Pick a name that reflects your activity, avoid restricted words, and have a backup or two ready in case your first choice is taken. Name approval is usually quick, but it must clear before the rest of the file can proceed.
Step 3: Prepare your articles of association (the company contract)
This is the legal heart of your company. For an LLC or OPC you draft the articles of association / company contract (عقد التأسيس), which sets out the company name, purpose (activities), head office, capital and how it is divided, the managers and their powers, and the profit-sharing rules. Getting the stated activities right matters: they must match what you actually intend to do and align with the licences you will need. This is the single most common place founders slip, which is why a human advisor should review the draft before filing. See our documents required guide for the full checklist.
Step 4: Handle capital and the bank
Most standard LLCs no longer face a rigid statutory minimum capital, so founders often set a practical figure that fits their business. You declare the capital in the contract, and depending on the entity and activity you may need to open a company bank account and deposit paid-in capital, supported by a certificate from the bank. Regulated activities (finance, tourism, import/export and others) can carry their own capital thresholds, so confirm the specific requirement for your sector.
Step 5: File with GAFI and get the commercial register
With the name reserved and contract ready, you submit the file to GAFI (الهيئة العامة للاستثمار) or the relevant one-stop-shop. You will also need supporting items such as a security clearance where required, a power of attorney if an agent files for you, and the founders' IDs or passports. Once approved, you are issued the commercial register extract (مستخرج السجل التجاري) — the official proof your company legally exists.
Step 6: Get your tax card and register for tax
After the commercial register, you register with the Egyptian Tax Authority to obtain the tax card (البطاقة الضريبية) and a tax file. If your activity or turnover requires it, you also register for VAT (ضريبة القيمة المضافة). From this point you have ongoing obligations: periodic tax filings, VAT returns where applicable, and annual financial statements.
Step 7: Chamber of commerce, social insurance, and licences
To round out the file, you typically register with the chamber of commerce (الغرفة التجارية), enrol the company and any employees in social insurance (التأمينات الاجتماعية), and obtain any activity-specific operating licences (a physical premises licence, or sector permits for regulated fields). Only after these steps is the company fully operational and compliant.
How long does it take, and what does it cost?
A straightforward LLC or OPC can often be incorporated in a couple of weeks once documents are in order, though timelines vary with the activity, the completeness of your file, and clearances. Costs include government and registry fees, notarisation, and professional support. For a realistic breakdown, see our cost to register a company in Egypt guide. Taseesly offers all-inclusive one-time pricing that already includes the government fees, so the only thing outside the fee is your company's own paid-in capital.
What is different for foreigners
Foreign investors can own Egyptian companies, often up to 100% depending on the activity, and Egyptian law generally allows foreign shareholders and managers. The practical differences are documentary: passports instead of national IDs, legalised and translated corporate documents for foreign shareholder companies, security clearances that can take longer, and sometimes a local element for specific regulated activities. Founders who are abroad can usually incorporate remotely through a power of attorney without flying in. Our guide on how foreigners can start a business in Egypt goes deeper, and the Remote Founder Package is built for this exact case.
A realistic word of caution
Rules, fees, and processing times in Egypt genuinely do change, and requirements differ by activity and governorate. Nothing here replaces professional advice — the value of a guided service is that a human advisor reviews your specific file, confirms the current requirements for your activity, and catches the small errors that cause big delays. If you want a clearer picture of the LLC route specifically, our LLC setup guide is a good next read, or talk to us about your situation.
Ready to register your company in Egypt without the guesswork? Taseesly turns all of the above into a guided, trackable workflow with human advisors reviewing every file before it is filed. Start your incorporation today and move from idea to registered company with clear, all-inclusive pricing.