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After You Arrive

Your First Week in Egypt

A simple plan for your first day, your first three days and your first week in Egypt.

Egypt Arrival Timeline
  • Reach your housing: Your first stop after you land.
  • Save emergency numbers: The numbers are listed below.

Priority
First 24 Hours

Reach your housing safely and keep your papers close.

Essential Tasks

  • Reach your housing: Check in at your university housing or your flat.
  • Tell your family you have arrived: Message them once you have Wi-Fi or a local SIM card.

Quick Tips

Emergency contacts to save

  • Police: 122
  • Ambulance: 123
  • Fire and rescue: 180
  • Passports office (Ministry of Interior): 0227956302 or 0227956303

First Day Tips

  • Carry your passport and university letter.
  • Save the emergency numbers in your phone.
  • Keep some Egyptian pounds (EGP) in cash for your first day.

First 3 Days: Get Set Up

Find your way around and meet your university's office.

Campus & Administration

  • Visit the international office: Bring your passport, visa and university letter.

Local Orientation

  • Get a local SIM card: Choose one of the four main mobile companies.

First Week: Official Steps

The two most important tasks in your first week.

Official Registration

  • Register your passport: Within 7 days of arrival, for citizens of India and Pakistan. At The American University in Cairo (AUC), the passport registration fee is EGP 110 (Egyptian pounds).
  • Start your residence permit: Your university tells you how to pay the fee and when to go to the immigration office (the government office that gives residence permits). At AUC the residence permit fee is EGP 7,100.
  • Medical check (Ain Shams University): Ain Shams University gives new international students a medical check at the start of the year as part of registration.

Social & Practical

  • Learn the transport: Try the metro, buses and ride-hailing apps near your campus.

Emergency Numbers

Save these numbers when you land.

Emergency Numbers

ServiceNumber
Police122
Ambulance123
Fire and rescue180
Passports office (Ministry of Interior)0227956302 or 0227956303

Safety Tips

  • If you travel near Taba, Sharm El Sheikh or in Sinai, carry your residence permit card and check that it has not run out.

Questions About Arriving

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Next Steps

Next: enrol at your university

See how to finish your enrollment and get your student papers in Egypt.

University Enrollment Guide