How to establish a company in the public free zone in Egypt
To establish a company in Egypt's public free zone, a set of legal and regulatory steps and procedures must be followed to ensure compliance with investment regulations and benefit from tax exemptions and customs facilitations. The following are the basic steps and required documents:
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To establish a company in Egypt's public free zone, a set of legal and regulatory steps and procedures must be followed to ensure compliance with investment regulations and benefit from tax exemptions and customs facilitations. The following are the basic steps and required documents:
Basic steps to establish a company in a public free zone
Copy1. Determine the type of activity and legal form
o Specify the activity (industrial, commercial, service, or warehousing) and choose the legal form (joint-stock company, limited liability company, or sole proprietorship) based on the number of partners and capital size[1][2].
2. Submit the incorporation application to the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI).
o Submit the company incorporation application to the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones.
The application must include: the company name, type of activity, capital, and project location within the free zone[1][3].
3. Obtain Initial Approval
o The Authority reviews the application and documents, and a decision is issued by the Board of Directors of the relevant free zone approving the establishment of the project[4].
4. Prepare Legal Documents
o Prepare the company's articles of association and bylaws, and specify the details of the founders and legal representative[3][5].
5. Submit a Letter of Financial Guarantee
o Submit a letter of financial guarantee in favor of the Authority, based on the type of activity and the required investment costs[5].
6. Pay the Usufruct Fee
o Pay the Usufruct Fee for the area allocated to the project for the first year in advance[5].
7. Register the Company and Obtain the Commercial Register and Tax Card
o After approval and completion of the documents, the company is officially registered and the Commercial Register and Tax Card are issued[3].
8. Obtain the Necessary Licenses
o Obtain the permits and licenses for the activity from the competent authorities according to the type of activity[3].
Required Documents
Copy* The articles of association and bylaws, certified according to the legal form[5].
* A copy of the decision authorizing the incorporation, specifying the name and capacity of the legal representative[5].
* A financial guarantee letter in favor of the Authority[5].
* A copy of the commercial registry registration document, tax card, and investment certificate
(for existing companies)
* Evidence of payment of the usufruct fee for the first year[5].
* Proof of identity for the founders (national ID card for Egyptians or passport for foreigners)[3][4].
* Approval from security authorities (for some activities)[3].
* Additional documents depending on the type of activity (environmental, industrial, etc. licenses).
Important Notes
Copy• Activities permitted in free zones focus primarily on export-oriented industries, with the exception of certain activities such as arms trade or hazardous materials.[2]
• Company establishment fees vary depending on the type of company and the amount of capital, and include incorporation fees, commercial registration, contract documentation, and an annual usufruct fee (usually $5/meter for industrial activities and $10/meter for service activities).[2][3]
• All laws regulating free zones and Investment Law No. 72 of 2017 must be adhered to.[3]
By following these steps and preparing the required documents, you can establish your company in Egypt's public free zone and benefit from the investment privileges and incentives offered by the state.[1][3][4] ⁂