Legalize Foreign Documents for Use in Egypt

No. Egypt has not ratified the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostilles are not recognized in Egypt. Foreign documents for use in Egypt require legalization through the Egyptian Embassy or Consulate in the document's country of issue.

It depends on the issuing country, the document type and the Egyptian mission handling it. Egypt is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille alone is not a recognised route; typically the document is authenticated by the issuing country's competent authority and then legalised by the Egyptian embassy or consulate, and an Arabic translation may be requested. Confirm the exact sequence with the Egyptian mission and the issuing authority for your case.

Egypt's official language is Arabic. Foreign-language documents (English, French, Urdu, etc.) require certified Arabic translation for submission to Egyptian authorities. Arabic-language documents from other Arab countries typically need no translation.

There is no single official timeline: it depends on your home country authority, the Egyptian Embassy or Consulate in the country of issue, and the translator. Check each office's current published processing times; we confirm the expected timing for your case before starting.

Egypt maintains an extensive global diplomatic network including embassies in Washington DC, London, Paris, Berlin, New Delhi, Beijing, and major cities worldwide. We identify the Egyptian consular post nearest to your location.