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Access at the land border
Egypt has broad land borders with several countries, positioning it as a key transit point for migrants and asylum seekers from Sudan, Libya, and the Gaza Strip. These borders are subject to significant security and political challenges, which affect cross-border movement and shape national migration policies.
In light of ongoing conflicts in Sudan and the Horn of Africa, the southern border with Sudan has become a critical crossing route. It is also a route used by Syrian nationals, especially since 2014, when Egyptian authorities imposed a visa requirement for their entry. Asylum seekers and migrants from these regions encounter serious obstacles due to intensified security measures and restrictive legal procedures which limit access to protection.
The western border with Libya is considered the most dangerous, with armed groups and smuggling networks actively operating along the frontier. Egypt has been enforcing strict security controls on cross-border movement as a response. With direct migration from the Egyptian coast declining since 2016, desert routes through Libya have become the main pathway contributing to the rise in the number of Egyptian nationals arriving in Europe, primarily Italy.[1] The eastern border is also under heightened security, particularly at the Rafah crossing, which opens only intermittently, restricting the movement of Palestinians seeking to escape the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.[2]
Access at the airport
In Egypt, there is no official procedure allowing an asylum seeker to apply for asylum or international protection immediately upon arrival at the airport, unlike in some countries with integrated state asylum mechanisms. Instead, prior to the adoption of the Asylum Law, the asylum system primarily relied on UNHCR, which has been responsible for registering asylum seekers and conducting refugee status determination. If a traveler declares an intention to seek asylum upon arrival, they are often denied entry and returned to their country of origin, particularly if they hold an invalid visa or fail to meet entry requirements. There is no mechanism in place that permits individuals to remain at the airport pending consideration of their claim.
The most common pathway for asylum seekers in Egypt is to enter the country on a tourist visa or by other means, and then approach UNHCR to register their asylum claim. Upon registration, they receive a “yellow card,” which offers temporary protection from deportation but does not confer formal refugee status until a decision is made on their application.
Access at the maritime borders
As with land and air entry, Egypt’s domestic legislation does not provide any mechanism for submitting an asylum application immediately upon arrival in the country. Refugees must submit their asylum claims at the office of UNHCR. Entry by the sea to Egypt for the purpose of seeking asylum remains a rare and difficult option due to the strict security measures enforced by Egyptian authorities to monitor its maritime borders. Egypt’s coasts and ports are under intensive surveillance to prevent irregular migration and human smuggling. When boats or vessels carrying individuals seeking asylum are intercepted, those on board are transferred to temporary detention facilities for security screening. There are no procedures in place that allow them to remain in the country until their asylum claims are examined. Most of the time the authorities proceed with deportation if individuals are unable to prove their identity or the grounds for their asylum request.
This process faces significant challenges, including heightened security restrictions and the absence of clear procedures to facilitate asylum requests for those arriving by sea. Asylum seekers are often subjected to harsh conditions in temporary detention facilities, including a lack of access to basic services.In addition, there are no specific policies or international agreements governing the treatment of refugees arriving by sea, leaving their fate largely dependent on ad hoc security assessments. As a result, maritime entry into Egypt for the purpose of seeking asylum remains a highly risky and uncertain option.
[1] Sky News Arabia: ‘Tensions on all four sides: How does Egypt secure its volatile borders?’, April 2019, available here
[2] The Refugees Platform in Egypt: ‘What does opening the Rafah crossing mean?’, December 2023, available here