Moving To Egypt From The UK

Moving to Egypt

Whether you are moving to Cairo, Alexandria or Luxor, Britannia Movers International has the experience and the local knowledge to tailor the move to your individual needs.

	Importing Personal Effects to Egypt Shipments of used household and personal effects are dutiable and must be imported within six months from the shipper’s personal arrival. A work permit and/or six month residence permit is required to import your belongings and a bank guarantee or cash deposit covering the duties must be lodged with customs. If the effects are re-exported these charges are normally reimbursed. Serial numbers of electrical appliances must be written on the packing list. Your local Britannia Member will provide you with detailed customs regulations. Britannia and our agents will assist you with completion of customs formalities. To assist us with this please let us have a copy of your passport (and visa if applicable). The required documentation will be supplied to you on arrival.
	Egypt Customs Prohibitions and Restrictions In general, it is in your interest not to import the following items: Firearms & ammunition Inflammable goods & substances Plants & plant material Foodstuffs, perishables or otherwise Narcotics and dangerous goods Offensive materials Alcohol & tobacco
	Transit Times to Egypt Sole-use containers take an average of 4 – 5 weeks. Crated consignments take longer, on average, between 6 – 7 weeks.
	Protecting Your Items for Transport to Egypt All groupage consignments will be bar coded before they are loaded into the shipping container. This will ensure that no items are left at origin.
	Moving to Egypt with Pets Britannia can recommend a specialised shipper of animals to assist you in sending your family pet(s) from home to home. They will coordinate all documentation and necessary veterinary procedures. Find out more about pet transport.
	Importing Motor Vehicles to Egypt The import of motor vehicles in certain circumstances may be allowed, although dutiable. Check with your local Britannia member. Diesel cars are not permitted.
	Egypt Currency Transfer When you are making international payments for individuals you can benefit from IFX expertise in seeking the best possible rate, whether you are sending or receiving foreign currency. IFX can help to protect you from exchange rate fluctuations and save you time and money on international payments. IFX offers: International Payments Regular Overseas Transfers Prepaid Currency Card Forward Contracts More info on the IFX website.

Moving to Egypt With Britannia

Your Move to Egypt with Britannia – Britannia offers a door-to-door shipping service to Egypt, and can either ship your effects by sole use container, or for smaller shipments in a wooden crate (LCL). In addition, we can offer a door-to-door airfreight service to some destinations in Egypt. Our agents in Alexandria will arrange customs clearance, and deliver and unpack the effects, including removal of debris on day of delivery.

Additional Removal Services – Britannia can provide a variety of additional removal services when moving to Egypt. We are authorised to provide comprehensive insurance, can arrange storage prior to delivery, and can also take care of your pet transport.

If you are interested in moving to Egypt, you can request a removals quote, and read more about our international removals and additional removal services, such as money transfer or pet transport.

Living in Egypt

If you are looking for a different lifestyle and adventures, Egypt, a country that gave birth to one of the first great civilisations can be an exciting expat destination. It is the not only the cultural centre of the Arab world, but has innumerable sites to explore from the ancient pyramids to temples, minarets and the stunning Red Sea.

Egypt is primarily located in Northern Africa with the Sinai Peninsula stretching into Southwest Asia to form a land bridge, and is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, the Gaza Strip, Israel, Libya and Sudan. The country is one of the most populous in Africa, with over 110 million people, 95% of which are concentrated on just 5% of the country’s surface.

Egypt’s economy depends mainly on agriculture, tourism, and petroleum exports. Although the country has seen economic reforms in the last decade, and investors can certainly find some emerging markets and opportunities, Egypt’s economy is not as developed and industrialised as Western Europe.

Most expats are drawn to Egypt in search of a more exciting lifestyle and new adventures, and the country can be an ideal expat destination. You should however be aware of some important cultural differences and women should be prepared to find a more male-oriented society in Egypt. While the country is certainly not as unsafe as some other Arab or African countries, expats should pay special attention to the current political situation in Egypt.

Egyptian Visas

The tourist visa is most common for short visits and can typically be obtained on arrival at Egyptian airports or applied for in advance. It is usually valid for 30 days and can sometimes be extended locally.

If you’re relocating to Egypt for work, you’ll need a work visa. This must be arranged through your employer, who will often assist with the necessary documentation, such as a valid employment contract.

For longer stays, a residency visa will be needed. This is often applied for after entering Egypt on a tourist visa and is ideal for retirees, business owners, or those joining family already residing in the country. It involves submitting documents such as proof of income, accommodation, and a medical certificate to the Egyptian Ministry of Interior.

Applications for Egyptian visas will typically involve submitting a passport valid for at least six months, recent passport-sized photographs, and supporting documents specific to the visa type. It’s advisable to check the latest requirements with the Egyptian Embassy in the UK, as these can change.

Working in Egypt

Egypt offers a range of job opportunities for UK expats, particularly in industries such as education, tourism, engineering, and international trade. Teaching English is a popular choice for UK citizens, with demand high at international schools and language institutes. Expats with experience in oil and gas, construction, or engineering may also find lucrative opportunities, as these sectors remain significant contributors to Egypt’s economy. In addition, there are often plenty of roles in finance, IT, and hospitality, especially within multinational companies operating in Egypt’s major cities like Cairo and Alexandria.

The working culture in Egypt is relatively formal with an emphasis on building strong personal relationships. Business is often conducted in a hierarchical manner, and respect for seniority and authority is highly valued. Building trust and rapport is crucial, as Egyptians tend to prefer face-to-face interactions over emails or calls when negotiating deals or resolving issues. Punctuality for meetings is appreciated, although it’s worth noting that flexibility around time is a common cultural trait.

The standard working week in Egypt is Sunday to Thursday, with Friday and Saturday as the weekend. Working hours can vary, but they typically run from 8am to 4pm, although longer hours are common in some industries.

Cost of Living in Egypt

Living and housing costs will be significantly lower in Egypt than in the UK. According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Egypt is nearly 68% lower than in the UK, not including rent. Rent alone is 88% lower in Egypt than in the UK. Salaries reflect this difference, with the average salary in Egypt being 95% lower than in the UK. However, this will be dependent on your role, experience, and industry, and many expats enjoy a good quality of life in Egypt.

You can check out some of the items you are likely to purchase regularly whilst living in Egypt below. Prices are shown in Egyptian pounds (EGP) and converted to UK pounds alongside the price in the UK so you can see how costs match up.

Interesting Facts About Egypt

• Egypt’s capital, Cairo is one of the largest cities in Africa and the Middle East.
• Egypt is the most populated Arabic-speaking country, with over 100 million people.
• Egyptians were among the first people to invent writing, paper and ink.
• The pyramids in Egypt are some of the last remaining Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
• Around 90% of Egypt’s land area is desert, which includes part of the Sahara.
• 80-90% of the population in Egypt are Muslims.
• The Suez Canal, completed in 1869, is a vital shipping route connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

Choose Britannia for Your Egypt Relocation

If you are thinking about moving to Egypt and want to find out more about our international removal services or request a removals quote, you can call us on 0845 6006661 or email sales@britannia-movers.co.uk. Our team will be happy to discuss how we can help you with your international relocation.