Part-Time Work for Students and Expats in Cairo, What to Know

What the law says

Since 1 September 2025 Egypt has a new Labour Law No. 14 of 2025. At the end of December 2025 the Minister of Labour issued Decree No. 279 on work permits for foreigners. It defines work very broadly: employment, freelance work, self-employment, any profession or craft and even domestic work in private homes.

A foreigner may work only with a permit from the Ministry of Labour, and an employer may not hire a foreigner without one. A student residence does not give the right to work. As of October 2026, open official sources describe no special part-time regime for foreign students like the ones some other countries have.

How a permit is arranged through an employer and where expats work officially is covered in our article work in Egypt for foreigners. The rules under the labour law are still being clarified, so before taking any job check with the Egyptian Ministry of Labour or a lawyer.

What a student risks without a permit

Many people still work informally, but it is important to understand the cost of a mistake.

• Residence. Working without a permit breaks the purpose of your stay. After a check you can lose your residence, and your studies with it.
• Scholarship. The rules of the Al-Azhar student city treat trading inside the city as a violation that brings a warning, so scholarship holders should be especially careful.
• Money. Without a contract it is hard to get paid if a client disappears or refuses to pay.
• Pressure. Someone who knows you work without papers can take advantage of it and pay you less.

Tutoring and lessons

This is the most common option. Russian-speaking families look for teachers of Russian, maths and school preparation, and students help each other with Arabic, tajweed and English. Lessons take place at the home of the student or online.

Agree on the price per lesson in advance, give a trial lesson and do not take payment for many months at once, so there are no hard feelings if the student leaves. Under the law private lessons are also work, so the risks are yours. Listings from teachers and students are collected in tutors and courses.

Translation and help with documents

People who know Arabic well are often asked to go with a compatriot to a doctor, the passport office or the landlord, translate messages or help fill in a form.

Official translations for state bodies are made by accredited offices and institutions, not by private individuals. Do not promise a «certified translation» if you cannot provide one, and do not sign documents for others. Helping orally and translating «for understanding» is fine, but say honestly that such a translation has no official force.

Delivery and errands

Large delivery and taxi services take on couriers and drivers under their own rules, and they usually need Egyptian documents. For example, Uber in Egypt requires an Egyptian professional driving licence and a criminal record certificate.

That is why students more often take small errands within their community: bringing shopping, passing on a parcel, helping with a move. Never carry sealed packages from strangers, especially to the airport: you are responsible for everything in your luggage.

Home food and baking

Plov, manti, samsa, pelmeni and cakes to order are in demand among compatriots, especially before holidays. You can start small: cook for friends and gradually collect reviews.

Keep everything clean, label frozen food with the date it was made and list the ingredients honestly. Selling food is also an activity the state has requirements for, so do not make it your main income without learning the rules. Read more in our article home food in Cairo.

Online work for clients back home

Many students and expats work remotely: translation, design, programming, typing, online lessons, managing social media for clients from their home country.

Egypt has no special visa for remote work yet, and the law does not directly allow such work for students, so it is a grey area. Find out how to pay tax on this income in your home country, and receive money legally to your own card or account.

How to avoid scams

• Do not pay for «job placement», training or «paperwork» before you start. An honest client pays you, not the other way round.
• Do not agree to «simple tasks for a commission» where you first have to transfer your own money. This is a well-known scam.
• Never hand over your card, bank details or SMS codes, and do not accept transfers from strangers into your account to withdraw them later.
• Do not give your passport to an employer or intermediary, except for the time needed to process documents and against a receipt.
• Agree in writing, at least in a messenger: what needs to be done, how much it costs and when you get paid.
• Take a prepayment for a large order and do not work for weeks on credit.

Part-time work on Tullab

One-off tasks and small jobs are collected in part-time work. Offering lessons, translation or home food? Post a free ad saying what you do, your district or online, and how to reach you.

Before you take on a regular job, check your status and find out who will arrange the permit. That way you keep both your residence and your studies.