Guidance

Egypt: Knowledge Base profile

Published 18 August 2025

Version 2.0

About: Egypt

This document contains useful information about Egypt which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

If you have any questions about the document and your line manager or senior caseworker cannot help you or you think that the document has factual errors then email the Guidance team.

If you notice any formatting errors in this document (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the document then you can email the Guidance team.

Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 2.0
• published for Home Office staff on 12 August 2025

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with formatting changes.

Egypt: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Egypt.

Names in Egypt consist of:

• a personal first name
• the father’s personal first name
• the grandfather’s personal first name
• a surname

Children born in Egypt who are not Egypt nationals can have an additional personal middle name if the parents sign a declaration confirming the additional name.

There may be variation in spelling due to the way the authorities translate the name from Arabic script.

In some instances names are written using a phonetic spelling, for example, Ibrahim, pronounced with an ‘ i ‘ or Ebrahim pronounced with an ‘E’ sound.

Change of name

Name changes are allowed in Egypt.

Egypt: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Egypt.

Dual nationality is recognised in Egypt.

Egypt: legitimacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy in Egypt.

Legitimacy

Egypt recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.

A child will be considered:

• legitimate
  • if their parents were married at the time of the birth
  • from the date of marriage if parents marry after the child’s birth
• illegitimate if their parents never marry

Egypt: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Egypt.

Adoption is not allowed in Egypt.

Egypt: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Egypt.

Surrogacy is illegal in Egypt.

Egypt: gender recognition

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about gender recognition in Egypt.

Transgender citizens are recognised in Egypt if they undergo gender reassignment surgery.

Egypt: civil partnership and marriage

This section tells HM Passport Office staff about civil partnerships and marriage in Egypt

Civil partnerships and same sex marriages are not allowed in Egypt.

Only civil marriages are legal for non-Egypt nationals.

Polygamy is legal in Egypt and men can have up to 4 wives.

Egypt only recognises Muslim, Jewish, and Christian marriages between two Egypt citizens.

In Egypt, a Muslim:

• man can marry a woman who is:
  • Muslim
  • Christian
  • Jewish
• woman can only marry a man who is Muslim

Orfi marriages are between a man and woman who agree to be married with no legal rights exchanging. The marriage is not registered and is not legally recognised in Egypt.

Egypt: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents from Egypt.

Birth certificates

Births in Egypt must be registered within 15 days at the Health Office in the district where the birth took place. Late registrations are possible through a court order.

Egypt issues 2 types of birth certificate, both of which are acceptable for British passport purposes:

• handwritten certificate issued at the Health Office in the same district where the hospital is located
• computerised certificate issued by the Civil Status Organisation, Ministry of Interior

If an error is identified on a birth certificate, it can be reissued without any marginal notes or amendments.

Marriage certificates

There are 2 types of marriage in Egypt; civil and religious. These must be registered with the Ministry of Justice within 15 days, otherwise the marriage is invalid. Late registrations may be accepted. Both civil and religious certificates are issued.

The following marriages that can take place in Egypt are not recognised in the UK:

• orfi marriage (in presence of a lawyer through a contract)
• polygamous marriage

Divorce certificates

Divorces must be registered within 15 days of the divorce notification being issued, late registrations may be accepted. Only irrevocable divorces can be accepted by HM Passport Office.

Death certificates

Deaths must be registered within 24 hours of the event by an informant (with identity) along with a medical certificate issued by a health inspector. Late registrations are possible.

Identity documents

All Egyptian nationals must have an identity card and birth certificate. Foreign residents in Egypt must hold a valid passport with a visa.