Egypt (EG)
Egypt is one of the world's oldest civilisations — the land of the Pharaohs, the Great Pyramids of Giza, and the mighty Nile River.
2026 Annual Changes — Egypt
Updated thresholds, benefits, and regulatory changes effective this year.
2026 is a year of continued economic stabilisation for Egypt following the challenging 2022–2023 inflationary period when inflation peaked at 40%+ and the EGP devalued from ~15 EGP/USD to 48–50 EGP/USD. The EGP has stabilised in the 48–50 band post the March 2024 IMF deal and currency float. Inflation is cooling from its peak (projected 15–20% in 2026 vs 40%+ in 2023). Key 2026 changes for expats: minimum wage raised to EGP 7,000/month, Universal Health Insurance expanding to new governorates, New Administrative Capital receiving relocated government ministries, and Cairo Metro Line 4 construction progressing.
Key Changes for 2026
| Category | 2026 Value | Previous | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment — Minimum Wage Private and public sector minimum wage raised to EGP 7,000/month (from EGP 6,000 in 2025) | EGP 7,000/month (January–June 2026). EGP 8,000/month from 1 July 2026 (announced by Prime Minister for public and private sector). | EGP 6,000/month (2025) | 2026-01-01 (EGP 7,000); 2026-07-01 (EGP 8,000) |
| Tax — Personal Income Tax Tax brackets unchanged from 2025; exemption threshold remains EGP 40,000/year. Solidarity tax (1% on income over EGP 600,000/year) continued. | 7 brackets: 0% on EGP 0–40,000; 10% on EGP 40,001–55,000; 15% on EGP 55,001–70,000; 20% on EGP 70,001–200,000; 22.5% on EGP 200,001–400,000; 25% on EGP 400,001–1,200,000; 27.5% above EGP 1,200,000. Plus 1% solidarity tax on income above EGP 600,000/year. Personal allowance: EGP 20,000/year. | Same 7-bracket structure since 2023 amendments; top rate raised to 27.5% | 2026-01-01 |
| Tax — VAT VAT rate remains at 14%. No change planned for 2026. | 14% standard VAT | 14% (unchanged since 2017) | 2026-01-01 |
| Currency — EGP Exchange Rate EGP stabilised at approximately EGP 48–50 per USD 1 following the March 2024 currency float and IMF programme agreement. Free-float maintained. | EGP 50–52 / USD (approximate as of mid-2026; market-determined — check CBE at cbe.org.eg for current rate) | EGP 30–31 / USD (before March 2024 float); EGP 48–50 / USD (2025) | 2024-03-06 |
| Healthcare — Universal Health Insurance (UHI) UHI (Law 2/2018) expanding to additional governorates in 2026. Now covering: Port Said, Ismailia, Suez, South Sinai, Luxor, and additional governorates added in 2025–2026. Full nationwide rollout target: 2032. | UHI coverage in 6+ governorates; Cairo not yet fully enrolled | Initial Port Said rollout (2019); gradual expansion since | 2026-01-01 |
| Infrastructure — New Administrative Capital (NAC / Wedian) Government ministries continuing relocation to the New Administrative Capital east of Cairo. Several ministries now operational in NAC. New embassies and private sector following government relocation. Expats in government-sector or ministry-liaison roles increasingly based in NAC. | Multiple ministries relocated; presidential palace and parliament operational | Partial ministerial relocation in 2024–2025 | 2026-01-01 |
| Social Insurance — Insurable Wage Ceiling NOSI insurable wage ceiling updated for 2026, affecting contribution calculations and benefits. | Minimum insurable monthly wage: EGP 2,700. Maximum insurable monthly wage: EGP 16,700. Employer and employee contributions (18.75% and 11%) are calculated on the actual salary within this range. | Lower ceiling in prior years | 2026-01-01 |
| Social Insurance — Contribution Rates NOSI contribution rates unchanged: employee 11%, employer 18.75%. Insurable salary ceiling periodically adjusted by ministerial decree. | Employee 11%; Employer 18.75% | Same rates; ceiling raised marginally | 2026-01-01 |
| Tourism — Visa and Entry E-visa programme maintained at USD 25 (single entry) / USD 60 (multiple entry) for 100+ nationalities. No significant change to visa-on-arrival eligibility. Tourist Police presence maintained at major sites following strong tourism recovery. | E-visa USD 25 single entry; USD 60 multiple entry | Same pricing structure maintained | 2026-01-01 |
| Economy — Inflation Egypt's annual inflation rate cooling from 2023 peak of 40%+ to projected 15–20% in 2026 as monetary tightening takes effect. Rent increases of 10–25% still common in expat areas due to residual inflation. | Estimated 15–20% annual inflation (cooling from 40% peak) | ~30–35% (2024); ~40% (2023 peak) | 2026-01-01 |
| Mandatory Electronic Payroll Submissions Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) mandated fully electronic payroll submissions for all registered employers from Q1 2026, replacing paper-based payroll records. | All employer payroll records must be submitted electronically via ETA portal (eta.gov.eg) from Q1 2026. Employers must register staff, submit monthly payroll data and withhold income tax and NOSI contributions electronically. | — | 2026-01-01 |
| Investment — GAFI Digital Services GAFI investor portal enhancements; simplified company registration procedures online; reduced processing times for some investor categories. | Improved online registration; faster processing | Largely paper-based with some digital services | 2026-01-01 |
January Checklist
Actions to take each January when new rates take effect.
- 1
Check if minimum wage increase affects your employees' salaries if you manage staff
- 2
Review annual lease renewal — expect 10–25% rent increase negotiations with landlord
- 3
Update car insurance: renew comprehensive policy and mandatory third-party insurance before vehicle registration renewal due date
- 4
Check NOSI contribution rates — confirm payslip deductions are updated if ceiling has changed
- 5
Renew or plan Iqama (residence permit) renewal — note annual renewal required
- 6
Review health insurance policy: check if premium has been adjusted for renewal; confirm coverage adequate
- 7
File prior year income tax return by March 31 deadline — engage accountant in January if needed
- 8
Check school fee increase notices — international schools typically announce fee increases for the new academic year
- 9
Review utility subscriptions — check internet/mobile plan for any tier changes
- 10
Assess EGP/USD exchange rate impact on budget — if salary is in EGP, USD costs may have changed significantly
- 11
Check if your driving licence or IDP requires renewal — note Egyptian licence required after 1 year of residence
- 12
If employer-sponsored: verify work permit renewal timeline — employer should initiate 60 days before expiry
Where to Track Annual Changes
-
Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA): eta.gov.eg — for tax rate and bracket changes
-
Central Bank of Egypt (CBE): cbe.org.eg — for currency, banking regulations, and monetary policy
-
Ministry of Manpower: manpower.gov.eg — for minimum wage, labour law changes, and work permit regulations
-
GAFI (General Authority for Investment): gafi.gov.eg — for investment, company, and free zone regulations
-
Ministry of Health and Population: mohp.gov.eg — for UHI expansion and healthcare regulations
-
NOSI: nosi.gov.eg — for social insurance contribution rates and pension changes
-
Egypt Independent (egyptindependent.com) and Al-Monitor Egypt — for political and regulatory news in English
-
AmCham Egypt (amcham.org.eg) — business regulatory updates, reliable for expat professionals
Egyptian regulations can change rapidly and sometimes with limited advance notice — particularly minimum wages, tax thresholds, and currency regulations. The EGP's 2024 float demonstrated how quickly conditions can change. Maintain a USD/EUR reserve fund equivalent to at least 3–6 months of expenses to buffer against EGP volatility. The New Administrative Capital relocation continues to affect traffic patterns, property values, and employer locations in the Cairo metropolitan area — reassess commute logistics annually.
Annual Changes
Unlock the complete Annual Changes guide for Egypt — including every detail, document, tip and link you need.
Become a SupporterSupport the guide on Ko-fi · Unlocks every premium section, everywhere