Marriage & Divorce in Egypt: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Introduction

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

For anyone wishing to get married in the Arab Republic of Egypt — whether Arab or foreigner — you must prepare the following items, in this order:

1. Marriage Procedures

• Embassy attendance request: Request a letter from the embassy for both parties to attend, bringing passport photos of both.
• Attestation of the paper from the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for one party.
• No-Objection Certificate for marriage from the family medicine office (preferably in Nasr City) — both parties must attend.
• Residency stamp from the registrar's office (Maktab al-Tahrir) for each party separately.
• A copy of the housing contract — whether an apartment or owned by both parties.
• Four personal photos of each party — you will need more than that for the whole process.
• Two witnesses of good standing with photos of their IDs and residencies.
• Photos of the passport and the residency.
• Set the prompt and deferred dower (mahr) at a symbolic amount at the clerk's discretion, just in case the law requires it.
• You may add a person to officially document the special procedures when the marriage ceremonies are recited.
• Avoid dealing with any broker — avoid brokers and unofficial middlemen, to avoid friction.

Useful Extras

• Bring scented wipes to clean your finger after fingerprinting.
• Arrive early and be patient.

2. After Obtaining the Official Marriage Contract

• Go to the Real Estate Registry (al-Shahr al-Aqari) near the Al-Esaf pharmacy.
• Inside the registry: go to office No. 3 (on your right at the clerk) and sign the contract, then go to the second clerk and sign the contract again.
• Then go to window No. 5 to pay the fees — approximately 10 EGP per paper, possibly reaching more than 20 EGP.
• After paying, return to office No. 3 with your national ID or passport (the passport is preferred).

3. Attesting the Papers

• Go to the Ministry of Justice for translation if you want your papers translated, or have them translated then go to the Real Estate Registry for attestation.
• Then go to the embassy for attestation.
• Go to the Foreign Ministry to attest the translated papers.
• If the father does not wish to travel, the consent will be written and authenticated, and the woman will travel carrying the consent from the Yemeni Foreign Ministry.

4. Dissolving the Contract (Divorce)

Required documents:

• Two photos of the passport.
• Two photos of the residency.
• Two photos of the travel document.
• A letter from the embassy expressing the desire to divorce, specifying that there is no entry for him.
• Data transfer letter from the embassy or consulate (in case you hold a travel document) — warning: do not do a data transfer, because it may harm and cancel your travel document, since you originally entered with one. Instead, take a letter from the embassy stating there is no objection to the divorce — that is the essential one — or via a registered mail service.
• Abbassiya Passport Complex or Nasr City Passport Office.

5. Divorce Procedures in Egypt

• Attendance of two Egyptian male witnesses with their IDs, plus two copies of each ID.
• Or two male witnesses of another nationality with their residencies and passports, plus two copies of each document.
• The wife must attend with two photos of the passport and the residency.
• Attendance of her guardian for moral support.
• The official marriage contract.
• Filling out the form.
• Stamping the divorce paper at the embassy and the Foreign Ministry.
• Translation of the divorce paper from the Real Estate Registry at Al-Esaf.

6. Transport & Directions

• You must first go to the Real Estate Registry at Al-Esaf — the bus that takes you departs from the street opposite the Foreign Ministry.
• From home to the end of the street, take a bus from Ahmed Orabi Street to the Foreign Ministry.
• Talk to the bus driver and he will take you to the end of the street, where you enter the Real Estate Registry.
• Translation comes first, then the embassy, then the Foreign Ministry.
• Attest a second time at the Real Estate Registry at Al-Esaf — which is designated for non-Egyptians — from Nasr City, then at the Foreign Ministry.
• From home to the end of the street at Al-Maayrigi (the Blue), then the bus, then Rameses, then to Nasr City, then the Foreign Ministry, then the bus, then Rameses, then tell him: Abbassiya Complex.
• He will drop you at the first bridge near the old building — cross, then walk along the whole bridge until you reach the end of the street, and enter the new building.
• Alternatively, board the blue bus from the library and it will take you straight to the complex.
• From home to the end of the street, then Rameses, then ask about the embassy, and after that Dokki.
• Walk to the consulate, and then to the embassy.

About the Residency

• It is best not to be late for the appointment they give you, because they will simply tell you the file is not ready — approximately 6 weeks.
• When the residency is ready, the clerk will tell you to wait about two hours, possibly up to 6 hours, depending on the crowd.
• Keep the other number with you and do not throw it away — you will use it.
• On the final card you receive the residency, and it is valid for 2 months, even if you applied for 6 months.
• Attestation branch of the Foreign Ministry office in Merryland.

Conclusion

This is the summary of my personal experience with marriage and divorce procedures in Egypt. If you find any changes to these procedures, please let me know so the information stays useful for everyone.

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