In both cases, cards will continue to be recognized until their expiration or until the Permanent Committee for Refugee Affairs (PCRA) issues new documents and registration cards.
The decision, which comes as part of transitional measures accompanying the implementation of the country’s new asylum framework, was included in Prime Ministerial Decree No. 1568 of 2026, published in the Official Gazette on 21 May, approving the executive regulations of the Foreigners’ Asylum Law No. 164 of 2024.
The decree stipulates that the regulations will enter into force three months after publication, providing relevant authorities, refugees, and asylum seekers with sufficient time to prepare for the new system.
The decision requires refugees and asylum seekers to submit their current UNHCR-issued cards to the PCRA at least one month before their expiration dates so that the necessary procedures can be taken.
Refugees whose documents had already expired before the regulations take effect must notify the PCRA within six months of the implementation date through the notification mechanisms to be determined by the specialized committee, in order to regularize their status.
Upon the regulations entering into force, the PCRA will assume responsibility for coordinating with the UNHCR and international organizations concerned with refugee issues, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates, to establish the mechanisms and procedures necessary to carry out its new mandate in managing refugee and asylum seeker affairs in Egypt.
The committee will also coordinate with UNHCR to receive all data related to asylum seekers who previously applied through the UNHCR, as well as information on refugees formally recognized by UNHCR before the regulations take effect.
The transfer of data must be completed within six months of the implementation date to enable the committee to take the necessary actions.
The decree further authorizes the Prime Minister to extend the transitional periods for an additional similar duration upon the recommendation of the PCRA, ensuring the completion of the transfer of responsibilities and the implementation of all required administrative procedures.
The decree, aimed at completing the legislative and regulatory framework governing asylum procedures in Egypt, was issued following a review of the constitution, and several international and regional laws and agreements related to refugee affairs and human rights.
These agreements include the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, the 1969 Organization of African Unity (OAU) Refugee Convention, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
In addition, the decree was issued following a review of national legislation regulating the entry and residence of foreigners, combating terrorism and human trafficking, and protecting personal data.
The move marks a key step toward activating Egypt’s 2024 foreigners’ asylum law, establishing a comprehensive institutional framework for regulating asylum procedures, defining the rights and obligations of refugees and asylum seekers, and setting out mechanisms for processing their applications while balancing Egypt’s international commitments with national security and administrative requirements.
On 19 May, the Egyptian authorities urged foreign residents to regularize their legal status and obtain newly introduced smart residency cards, warning that state institutions will stop providing services to foreigners who do not hold valid residency or exemption documents.
In a statement, authorities called on foreigners living in Egypt to report to the General Directorate of Passports, Immigration, and Nationality to renew residency permits and obtain smart cards, noting that foreigners exempt from residency fees are also instructed to register their data and obtain exemption cards.
The measure comes as part of tighter residency regulations introduced in 2023 as Egypt seeks to regulate the status of millions of foreign residents, including refugees, migrants, and expatriates, through measures ensuring their legal recognition, protection, and access to essential services.
In December 2024, President Abdel-Fatah El-Sisi ratified a law regulating the status of foreign refugees in Egypt.
The law, approved by the House of Representatives a month earlier, establishes a legal framework defining the status, rights, and responsibilities of refugees in the country.
It stipulated the creation of the PCRA to manage refugee-related issues, including data collection, statistics, and asylum requests.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Egypt hosts more than nine million foreign nationals from 133 countries, including large numbers from Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya.
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