A foreign company that wants a presence in Egypt without forming a new company can register a representative office or a branch with the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI). The two serve different purposes, and choosing the wrong one is a common and avoidable mistake.
Representative office
A representative office is an extension of the foreign parent company and is not an independent entity. It is intended for non-commercial activity, such as:
- Market research and collecting economic information
- Promoting the parent company’s business in Egypt
- Liaison with government and private entities
It does not carry out direct commercial activity in Egypt. It cannot sell, invoice or collect payments in Egypt in its own right, and it cannot sign commercial contracts in its own name. If you need to trade in Egypt, a branch or a company is the right route.
Branch of a foreign company
A branch is also an extension of the foreign company rather than a separate legal entity, but it is set up to carry on a defined commercial activity in Egypt. The permitted activities and the conditions of registration are determined when the branch is registered, so we confirm eligibility for your intended activity before preparing the application.
Branch, representative office or company?
- Testing the market without trading: representative office.
- Carrying out a defined commercial activity as part of the foreign company: branch, where available for your activity.
- Trading in Egypt with limited liability and local operations: a locally incorporated company. See set up a company in Egypt.
What registration involves
- Corporate documents of the foreign parent, including its constitutional documents and a board resolution approving the office or branch and appointing its manager
- Legalization of foreign documents and translation into Arabic
- Powers of attorney and the application to GAFI
- A registered office address in Egypt and, where required, a bank certificate for the funds transferred
- Ongoing obligations after registration, including periodic reporting
The exact documents and conditions depend on the type of office and on GAFI’s current requirements, which we confirm at the start of each engagement.
Our fee
Our professional fee is fixed and agreed in writing. Government charges and third-party costs are shown separately. See cost and timeline.
Speak to us
Tell us about your plans and we will come back with a written scope and a fixed fee. Contact Helmy Law or write to info@helmylaw.com.
This page is general information, not legal advice. See our Disclaimer.