Below you will find an overview of the most common legal forms that a company can take within Egypt, including individual companies which were introduced in the latest amendments of the Companies Law No. 159.
| One Person Company | Branch | L.L.C | Joint stock company |
| Any natural or juridical person may establish a company individually which will be considered a limited liability company. | A foreign company may register a branch office in Egypt if the company has a contract with an Egyptian private or public sector party to perform work in Egypt. | This type of company is usually formed for small projects that do not require major financing such as companies involved in internal trade and services activities. | Joint stock companies are among the most commonly used legal vehicles in Egypt and are usually used in those cases where there is a manufacturing project to be established in Egypt that requires major investments |
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Formation: The establishment of a one person company requires one partner who may be a natural or juridical person. The owner shall appoint one or more directors for the company, specify their competencies and approve their signatures. The manager or the person designated by the founder of the company shall represent the company before the courts and others. The manager or managers shall be responsible for the management of the company before the owner. |
Formation: No Requirements. The branch office may be managed by a branch manager(s) who does not need to be an Egyptian national(s). |
Formation: A limited liability requires a minimum of two (2) partners and a maximum number of fifty (50) partners. There are no restrictions as to the nationality of the partners. A limited liability company may have any number of managers, one of whom must be Egyptian. The powers of each manager shall be shall be specified in the commercial register. |
Formation: The establishment of a joint stock company requires a minimum of three (3) shareholders. There are no restrictions regarding the nationality of the shareholders. A joint stock company is managed by a board of directors. The board of directors of a joint stock company must be composed of at least three (3) directors of any nationality. |
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Capital: The minimum capital should be paid in full upon application for incorporation. |
Capital: There are no capital requirements but a deposit of 5000 EGP or its equivalent of the foreign currency. |
Capital: The minimum capital should be paid in full upon application for incorporation. |
Capital: The minimum capital requirement is EGP 250,000 Note: Subscribers are obliged to subscribe to 10% of the issued capital during the formation of the company and such subscription should reach 25% during the three (3) months after formation. The remainder of the capital should be subscribed to within a period of five (5) years. |
| Required
Documents: 1. Preparation of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company. 2. Power of attorney from the founder of the company. 3. Copy of the founder's ID. 4. If the owner is a legal entity, then copy of the articles of incorporation of the said entity will be required. 5. Certificate of non-confusion. 6. Approval from the founder of the one person company, in the form of a board resolution or a shareholders' meeting resolution. This document must be legalized by the Egyptian Consulate at your end. 7. Certificate from an authorized Egyptian bank that the capital of the company has been deposited in full. 8. Ownership or lease contract to prove the existence of a premises for the company. |
Required
Documents: 1. A letter from the director of the Commercial Register office addressing the head of the investment service complex. 2. Copy of the mother company's statutes. 3. A copy of the decision issued by the mother company abroad to open a branch in Egypt. 4. A copy of the decision issued by the mother company abroad to appoint a branch Manager in Egypt. 5. A copy of the resolution issued by the mother company abroad stating that no other branch has previously been opened in Egypt. 6. A copy of a bank certificate proving the transfer of EGP 5,000 (five thousand Egyptian pounds) in foregin currency at the official bank rate, in the name of the branch. 7. A copy of the lease contract or the title deed of the premises. 8. A copy of the construction contract or agreement concluded for the execution of any operation in Egypt. The contract should state a set objective, duration and value.
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Required
Documents: 1. Company's articles of incorporation. 2. Power of attorney from each partner, or each shareholder. 3. Copy of each partner/shareholder's ID. 4. If any of the partner's is a legal entity, then a copy of the their articles of incorporation will be required. 5. Certificate of non-confusion 6. The approval of the legal entity partners of the establishment of the limited liability company, in the form of a board resolution or a shareholders' meeting resolution. This document must be legalized by the Egyptian Consulate at your end. 7. Certificate from an authorized Egyptian bank that the capital of the company has been deposited in full. 8. Ownership or lease contract to prove the existence of a premises for the company. |
Required
Documents: 1. Preparation of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company. 2. Power of attorney from each partner, or each shareholder. 3. Copy of each partner/shareholder's ID. 4. If any of the partner's is a legal entity, then a copy of the their articles of incorporation will be required. 5. Certificate of non-confusion 6. The approval of the legal entity partners of the establishment of the limited liability company, in the form of a board resolution or a shareholders' meeting resolution. This document must be legalized by the Egyptian Consulate at your end. 7. Certificate from an authorized Egyptian bank that the capital of the company has been deposited 10% of the issued capital 8. Ownership or lease contract to prove the existence of a premises for the company. |
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
