Egypt: Information on the nationality of a person born in Egypt in 1971 to an Egyptian mother and Sudanese father, and who attended school in Egypt for several years
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | EGY18591.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Egypt: Information on the nationality of a person born in Egypt in 1971 to an Egyptian mother and Sudanese father, and who attended school in Egypt for several years, 1 October 1994, EGY18591.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abf057.html [accessed 7 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to an official of the Egyptian embassy in Ottawa, since a person born in Egypt takes on the nationality of the father, a person born in Egypt in 1971 to a non-Egyptian father cannot be an Egyptian citizen, although he has an Egyptian mother and has attended school in Egypt for several years (3 Oct. 1994). Consequently this person born in Egypt to a non-Egyptian father would be considered a foreigner under Egyptian law (ibid.). The person would have to remain in Egypt as a foreigner and apply to the Ministry of Interior to change her or his consular status in the country (ibid.).
The official stated that a foreigner can acquire Egyptian nationality by meeting all the following conditions: residence in Egypt for at least 10 years, knowledge of the Arabic language, marriage to an Egyptian and several other conditions on which he did not elaborate but described as very limiting. The official stated that it is difficult for foreigners to acquire Egyptian nationality, and even more so for foreign male applicants. For details on the Egyptian nationality code, please refer to the attachments.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Ottawa. 3 October 1994. Telephone interview with official.
Attachments
The Arab Republic of Egypt, Ministry of Interior. 1989. The Travel Documents, Immigration and Nationality Administration Guide. Cairo: Ministry of Interior, pp. 13-23.
Riad Fouad Abdel-Moneim. November 1985. "Egypte," Juris-Classeur Nationalité. Edited by Charles L. Closset and Michel J. Verwilgen. Paris: Editions Techniques, pp. 1-23.
