By Wael Salem
The executive regulations of Egypt’s new Foreigners’ Asylum Law, issued by Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli last week, mark an important step towards putting the law into full effect, according to specialists.
These regulations will help create a complete legal system to manage asylum procedures and refugee affairs in Egypt.
They were prepared after reviewing the Egyptian Constitution as well as key international agreements on refugees and human rights, including the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 African Union Refugee Convention, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The new rules will come into force three months after their publication. This gives authorities, refugees, and asylum-seekers enough time to prepare, specialists said.
The prime minister can extend this transitional period for another three months if needed, based on the recommendation of the Permanent Committee for Refugee Affairs (PCRA).
Egypt has decided to keep recognizing UNHCR-issued refugee and asylum-seeker cards that were valid before August 21.
Cards that will expire within six months of that date will also remain valid.
These cards will continue to be accepted until they expire or until the PCRA issues new official documents.
The PCRA will now take the lead in coordinating with the UNHCR and other international organisations, working alongside the Foreign Ministry, to manage all refugee and asylum matters in Egypt.
Last month, Egyptian authorities called on all foreign residents to regularise their legal status and get the new smart residency cards.
They warned that state services will no longer be provided to those without valid documents.
The Asylum Law itself was ratified by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi in December 2024, after the parliament approved it the previous month.
The law sets out a clear legal framework defining the rights and responsibilities of refugees in Egypt.
According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Egypt currently hosts more than 9 million foreign nationals from 133 countries, with large communities from Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya.
Under the new law, refugees can obtain travel documents and are protected from being sent back to countries where they face danger. They also have the right to practice their religion freely.
Personal status matters (such as marriage and inheritance) will follow the laws of their home country.
Refugees will enjoy the same rights as other foreigners in Egypt regarding property ownership, access to courts, the right to work, and establishing or joining businesses.
The new executive regulations explain in detail how asylum applications will be handled and how responsibilities will be divided among government bodies.
The law has raised some concerns on social media, with fears it could lead to the “naturalization” of refugees.
However, many observers say it is necessary as the government works to better manage the growing number of refugees arriving due to conflicts in the region.
Ahmed Ishaq, head of the Committee on Human Rights in the Awareness Party, said the new law reflects a desire on the part of the Egyptian government to advance asylum as a file and render it more organised and institutionalised.
The creation of centralised databases and biometric systems, he said, marks a qualitative leap in governance and administrative efficiency.
“The success of the asylum system in Egypt will achieve human justice and consolidate the state’s weight as an active player in the protection of human rights and honouring international obligations,” a local newspaper quoted Ishaq as saying.
Law advocates express hopes that it will regulate the asylum process in Egypt and help combat illegal migration, identity fraud and security loopholes.
Egypt bears significant economic burdens as a host of such a huge number of refugees and foreign nationals, legal experts said
Regulating the asylum process, they added, helps prevent exploitation and inequalities.
Egypt and its UN partners have launched the 2025 Egypt Refugee and Resilience Response Plan (ERRRP).
The plan, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with UNHCR and UNDP, appeals for $339 million to support both refugees and the Egyptian communities hosting them.
It involves UN agencies, humanitarian organisations, civil society, and refugee-led groups.
