Remote work and freelancing from Egypt, internet, pay and law

Who works remotely from Egypt

Programmers, designers, translators, marketers, accountants and online teachers live in Cairo or Hurghada and work for companies and clients from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan or Europe. The time difference with CIS countries is between zero and four hours, so calls fit easily into the working day.

We covered local side jobs among compatriots, tutoring and delivery in our article on side jobs for students in Cairo. This article is about working online for foreign employers and clients.

Home internet and a backup connection

Home internet in Egypt almost always runs over a Telecom Egypt landline, and you can buy a package from WE, Vodafone, Orange or e&. We explained how to get connected and choose a SIM card in our article on SIM cards and internet in Egypt.

One connection is not enough for work. Here is what to plan for.

• Backup mobile internet. Keep a SIM card from another operator with a data package and share internet from your phone if the home connection drops. Since June 2025, 5G has worked in major cities.
• A check before renting. Ask the landlord whether the flat has a line and what speed it gets, and run a speed test during the viewing.
• A UPS for the router. In the summers of 2023 and 2024 Egypt had scheduled power cuts. For summer 2026 the authorities said there would be no schedules, but short outages in individual buildings do happen, and a small UPS will keep you online during an important call.
• A backup place. Know the nearest coworking space or café with good Wi-Fi.
• Satellite internet is not an alternative: Starlink does not officially operate in Egypt.

Coworking spaces in Cairo and Hurghada

A coworking space helps when home is noisy, the power is out or you need a stable connection for an important meeting. Many offer day passes, meeting rooms and coffee, and you can compare prices on their websites and on Google Maps.

• Cairo. Most coworking spaces are in Maadi, Zamalek, New Cairo and Nasr City. The international Regus network also has several centres in the city.
• Hurghada. The choice is smaller. Regus has a centre on Airport Road and another in El Gouna, and there are small local spaces too. Many people work from cafés by the sea, but a quiet place is better for calls.
• Before paying for a month, try a day first: check the Wi-Fi speed, the air conditioning, the sockets and whether there is backup power.

How to get paid from abroad

The method depends on who pays you and in which country your account is. Here is what works for residents of Egypt in 2026, according to the services themselves and reviews. Terms change often, so check them in your account.

• Payoneer. Works in Egypt: it accepts payments from foreign companies and freelance platforms and lets you withdraw money to an Egyptian bank account in pounds. Check withdrawal and conversion fees in your account.
• Wise. Handy for sending money to an Egyptian bank account by IBAN. But the Wise card is not issued to residents of Egypt or Central Asian countries, and, according to reviews, account details for receiving dollars are only available to residents of a limited list of countries.
• PayPal. An account registered in Egypt works with limits: money is withdrawn to an Egyptian card or account, but terms and fees change, and some users have trouble receiving payments. Test it with a small amount. PayPal has not worked in Russia since 2022.
• Direct withdrawal from platforms. Some platforms, such as Upwork, offer withdrawal straight to a local bank account. Your account settings show which methods are available to you.
• Bank transfer. If you have an account with an Egyptian bank, you can receive an international SWIFT transfer, but several banks along the chain may charge a fee.
• An account and card at home. Many people get paid into an account in their home country and use the card in Egypt. Read more about cards and transfers in our article on money in Egypt.

Cryptocurrency and transfers through middlemen

Under the Central Bank and Banking System Law No. 194 of 2020, issuing, trading and promoting cryptocurrencies in Egypt is prohibited without a licence from the Central Bank, and according to public information no such licences have been issued yet. Violations are punishable by prison or a fine of 1 to 10 million pounds. The Central Bank has warned about this more than once.

Do not accept transfers from strangers onto your card to withdraw and pass on the money, and do not exchange currency with random people from chats. These are common scams, and the card owner is the one held responsible.

What the law says about remote work

As of October 2026 Egypt has no dedicated digital nomad visa, and we found no official announcements of one. In 2023 the tourism minister announced a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa for 700 dollars, but it remains a tourist visa and gives no right to work. If you read about a «remote work visa» for Egypt somewhere, check it with an Egyptian embassy.

Since 1 September 2025 the new Labour Law No. 14 of 2025 has been in force, and in December 2025 the Minister of Labour issued Decree No. 279 on work permits for foreigners. A foreigner may work in Egypt only with a permit. How these rules apply to someone who lives in Egypt and works online for a foreign company has not been clearly explained, so it is a grey area.

So live in the country on a legal basis (study, family, property or another type of residency), do not work for Egyptian clients without a permit, and if you work this way for a long time, get advice from a lawyer.

Taxes, the general rules

A person is usually an Egyptian tax resident if they have a permanent home in the country or have spent more than 183 days here within 12 months. Egypt taxes residents on income earned in Egypt, and, according to the PwC tax summary, income from abroad is taxed if the centre of your professional activity is in Egypt.

Your home country has its own rules on tax residency and reporting, and countries may have agreements on avoiding double taxation. This is general information, not tax advice. If your income is regular, talk to a tax adviser in Egypt and at home.

Practical tips

• Agree with the client in writing: scope of work, deadlines, currency and payment method.
• Do not keep all your money in one service. Have a backup way to get paid in case an account is blocked.
• Register with payment services only under your real details, otherwise the account may be frozen.
• Protect your laptop from heat and dust, and buy a good headset for calls.
• Keep an eye on your visa or residence permit, working online does not extend them automatically.

How Tullab can help

Do you offer design, development, photography or video editing? List your services in IT, design, photo, where you can also find someone for your own project.

Look for a laptop, monitor or router for work in laptops and computers, where Russian-speaking residents of Egypt sell their equipment.