01What is the essence of the business option in Egypt's program?
This is an investment in a project of $350,000 or more plus a non-refundable contribution to the state treasury of $100,000. The principal amount goes into the business project, which remains the investor's asset, unlike a purely donor route where the contribution is non-refundable.
02Does the business project replace the contribution or complement it?
Combined. The Business Route is a project from $350,000 with a non-refundable contribution of $100,000. The government fee here is lower than with a pure contribution (from $250,000), but it is retained.
03Through which authority does the business investment proceed?
Through the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI). It is through this channel that the business route of the program is structured and submitted.
04Is it necessary to confirm the source of funds?
Yes, this is a mandatory requirement. The lawful source of funds must be documented—without this, the investment and citizenship application will not be accepted.
05What other options are available in the Egypt program?
Non-refundable government contribution from $250,000, real estate purchase from $300,000, bank deposit from $500,000, and business investment (project from $350,000 + contribution of $100,000). Exact parameters should be clarified with the competent authority.
06Which documents were key in this case?
We analyzed the routes and confirmed the choice. First, we laid out all four program options for the client regarding what happens to the money, and confirmed that for his goal—a working investment—the business route was suitable, not the contribution, real estate, or deposit. We fixed the figures without confusion. We clearly outlined the structure: project from $350,000 plus a non-refundable contribution of $100,000 to the treasury. This protected the client from a common mistake—thinking that business replaces the treasury payment rather than complements it.
07Why did the standard route not suit the client?
The Egyptian program offers several paths to a passport: non-refundable contribution to the treasury from $250,000, real estate purchase from $300,000, bank deposit from $500,000, and business investment. The client dismissed the first three himself: the contribution is money "down the drain," rental property did not inspire him, a deposit is frozen funds at modest interest rates. The business option remained, and it was exactly what he wanted.
08What risk had to be closed before filing?
There was no threat in the sense of saving from disaster: the client came on time and with finances in order. The important thing was different - not to make a mistake in the structure. The business option requires that the project meets program requirements and passes through GAFI, otherwise the investment will not count toward citizenship. The key was to structure the project correctly and not confuse the figures - that this is a project from $350,000 plus a $100,000 contribution, not instead of it. That the business option is an investment in a project (from $350,000) plus a non-refundable contribution ($100,000), not one instead of the other;
09How did BRIDGES check that the chosen solution would hold?
We took the project through GAFI. We formalized the investment through the General Authority for Investment (GAFI)—the body through which the program's business route passes—and made the treasury contribution. We processed the citizenship. In parallel with the investment, we managed the citizenship package. As a result, the client received both an income-generating asset in Egypt and an Egyptian passport—the investment did not disappear "into thin air" but remained with him.
10What confirmed the result in the end?
What was: an active entrepreneur wanted to obtain Egyptian citizenship so that invested funds would work rather than be lost as a non-refundable contribution. What we did: analyzed the routes and confirmed the business option; fixed the structure (project from $350,000 + contribution $100,000); structured the project to meet requirements; confirmed source of funds; took the investment through GAFI; processed citizenship. What the client received: an income-generating asset in Egypt and an Egyptian passport. What was required: How we did it · Result. Income-generating investment: selected the business route · money in assets, not in contribution. Correct structure: project $350,000 + contribution $100,000 · without confusion in figures. Program compliance: took the project through GAFI · investment accepted. Obtain a passport: parallel citizenship package · Egyptian citizenship. Obtain a passport: parallel citizenship package · Egyptian citizenship
11Can this route be repeated directly in another situation?
No, the route cannot be copied without checking the initial data. This case reflects a specific situation: Not everyone needs "just a passport." Our client - an active entrepreneur - wanted the money invested for Egyptian citizenship to work: not to sit idle as a sunk cost and not to be tied up in property for rental, but to circulate in a real business. Egypt's program has a separate option for this - business investment via GAFI: a project from $350,000 plus a non-refundable contribution of $100,000 to the state treasury. We explain how we took it from project structure to passport. Programme terms and the requirements of banks or authorities can change, so the documents and risks of a new applicant need to be checked first.
