Author
Egypt does not have a national legal framework regulating the right to family reunification for refugees on its territory. The 2024 Asylum Law does not include any clear procedures or guarantee this right in accordance with international standards.
In practice, Egyptian authorities do not implement any formal system through which refugees can apply to bring their family members. There are no announced or permanent pathways for this, whether through the Ministry of Interior or through UNHCR.
Although no official family reunification system exists in Egypt, limited opportunities have been available in certain cases. These have usually taken place in coordination with UNHCR or with third countries that receive refugees. UNHCR has facilitated family reunification procedures either through resettlement programmes, or by coordinating with the authorities in the destination country upon the request of a family member residing outside Egypt. The role of the Egyptian authorities so far has been limited to facilitating the departure of refugees or granting travel approval, without assuming a position in accepting or rejecting reunification requests. Moving forward, this role is assigned to the Permanent Committee for Refugee Affairs in Egypt once it is established, according to 2024 Asylum Law.