Egypt's Parliament Provisionally Approves Bill to Regulate Refugee Status

In an effort to formalize the presence of refugees and distinguish them from other foreign residents, the Egyptian House of Representatives (Parliament) provisionally approved a bill on Sunday aimed at regulating the status of refugees, whose numbers have recently increased due to conflicts and wars in the region.

The draft law establishes regulatory guidelines that grant refugees certain privileges and rights while requiring compliance with Egyptian legislation. It differentiates between a refugee who faces compelling circumstances preventing their return to their home country and a foreign visitor residing in Egypt for various reasons, including work and study.

The bill, submitted by the government, organizes the rights and obligations of refugees within the framework of international agreements that Egypt has joined, ensuring the provision of support and care for those entitled, as outlined in the proposed text.

Under the new law, a permanent committee for refugee affairs will be established “to be the responsible authority for all matters concerning refugees, including information and statistical data... The committee will adjudicate asylum requests in coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),” according to the Middle East News Agency.

The committee is expected to review asylum requests within six months for those who entered the country legally and within a maximum of one year for those who entered illegally. “Refugees will immediately gain rights upon obtaining this status, including the right to receive travel documents... and a prohibition on their delivery to the state of their nationality or the country of their habitual residence,” the draft law states.

Ahmed Al-Awadi, Chairman of the Defense and National Security Committee in the Egyptian Parliament, noted that “the draft law primarily targets the formalization of the status of refugees currently in Egypt, enabling them to have rights and access to support in work and life while imposing several obligations, chief among them adherence to the laws of the country.”

Al-Awadi told Asharq Al-Awsat, “Egypt hosts millions of foreign residents, all of whom live on its soil as honored guests without residing in camps.” He highlighted that “due to recent regional turmoil, their numbers have risen to represent over 8.5 percent of the population, imposing an economic burden on the country exceeding $10 billion annually; thus, it was essential to regulate their status through legislation that aligns with international standards.” The Egyptian Prime Minister previously estimated the direct cost of hosting over 9 million people at more than $10 billion annually.

The UN refugee agency previously indicated that "more than 1.2 million Sudanese have sought refuge in Egypt" since the outbreak of conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023. Al-Awadi distinguished between a refugee and a migrant or visitor to the country, stating, “The new legislation applies to refugees, who are those prevented from returning to their home countries by compelling circumstances, placing their situation different from that of a visitor or migrant who voluntarily visits Egypt and can return to their country at any time.”

He noted that “the refugee affairs committee will be responsible for receiving and deciding on asylum requests in coordination with the UNHCR, and the law will provide refugees with job opportunities and the ability to establish businesses.”

According to the draft law, “An asylum request will not be accepted if the applicant has serious grounds for committing a crime against peace or humanity, a war crime, or if they committed a serious crime before arriving in Egypt, acted in violation of the objectives and principles of the United Nations, is listed on the terrorism entities and individuals lists in Egypt, or committed any acts that could jeopardize national security or public order.” Egypt has the right to deport asylum applicants if their requests are denied.