Embassy & MOFA Document Attestation in Egypt — Complete 2026 Guide
Egypt is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so documents need full legalization through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the relevant embassy in Cairo. This guide explains exactly which documents need attestation, the step-by-step process, typical timelines, and how to handle it from Hurghada without traveling to Cairo.
Whether you are getting married in Egypt, registering a foreign company, enrolling children in school, claiming an inheritance, or using an Egyptian document abroad, you will almost certainly need document attestation. Because Egypt is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the Apostille stamp is not accepted — instead, the full legalization chain through MOFA Cairo and the relevant embassy is required.
Documents most commonly requiring attestation include: birth, marriage, divorce and death certificates; powers of attorney; educational and professional certificates; police clearance certificates; commercial register extracts and corporate resolutions; and notarized contracts intended for cross-border use.
The outbound process (Egyptian documents used abroad) typically follows four steps: (1) issue or notarize the document at the competent Egyptian authority; (2) certified Arabic-to-target-language sworn translation; (3) legalization stamp at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cairo; (4) final stamp at the destination country's embassy in Cairo.
The inbound process (foreign documents used in Egypt) is the mirror: the document is first attested in the country of origin, then legalized at the Egyptian embassy or consulate in that country, and finally re-stamped at MOFA Cairo and translated into Arabic by a sworn translator approved by Egyptian courts.
Standard timelines range from 3 to 7 working days. Urgent processing within 24–48 hours is possible at most embassies for an additional fee. From Hurghada, our office collects your documents, handles the entire chain in Cairo, and returns the legalized originals to you — or couriers them worldwide.
Common mistakes that cause rejection include: missing notarization, incorrect translator certification, expired source documents, and submitting copies instead of originals. A short consultation before you start can save weeks of back-and-forth and avoid unnecessary fees.