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Egypt: Whether a Palestinian, born in Egypt and holding temporary status, would have that status revoked on reaching the age of 21; if so, consequences

The following 1999 information on Palestinian residency in Egypt is provided in a study published by BADIL-Resource Center for Palestinian and Refugee Rights. It makes no reference to revocation of status at the age of 21.

Concerning residency, Palestinian refugees in Egypt were divided into several categories according to the period of entry. Apart from category B, residency status is renewed annually.

A. Those who entered Egypt before 1948.

B. Those who entered Egypt between 1948-1953 and who had to renew their residency every five years. Those who were residents for more than ten years had to renew their residency once each three years.

C. Newcomers.

Until 1960, all Palestinians in Egypt and Gaza held passports issued by the All Palestine Government, but in 1960, the passports were replaced by Egyptian travel documents, which required holders to obtain a visa to enter Egypt.

In 1984, legislation concerning the development of state income was adopted under which Palestinians were no longer considered to be Egyptian nationals. Under the new regulations Palestinians were required to pay a fee of 42.5 Egyptian pounds for annual residency. Only 2% of all Palestinians in Egypt were able to afford this fee. Those Palestinians who were considered recent arrivals in Egypt were required to spend US$180 each month. Palestinians who could not provide an "acceptable" reason for residence in Egypt, i.e., employment and study, had to maintain an account in the bank or at the post office of 500 Egyptian pounds. In 1996 this amount was increased to 2,000 Egyptian pounds.

Egypt is the only Arab country that has required Palestinians to regularly renew their residency status. Prior to traveling outside of Egypt, Palestinians must obtain a visa in order to re-enter the country. Egyptian travel documents held by Palestinians contain a list of countries to which travel is valid. This new status created substantial difficulties for Palestinians passing through the Egyptian border, including lengthy waiting periods. Since August 1996, however, these restrictions have been relaxed for Palestinians from Gaza (1999).

Dr. Abbas Shiblak, Director of the Palestinian Diaspora and Refugee Center (SHAML) states the following in a study about the residency status of Palestinian refugees in Arab Countries:

... The majority of the Palestinians, except for those in Jordan, have refugee documents (RDs). But RDs in most Arab states do not confer residency status. In Egypt, for example, even RD holders who were born in Egypt or who have lived there most of their lives have no automatic right to stay or reenter the country, but must renew their visas every six months to three years, depending on the category; an RD holder whose return visa has expired during a sojourn abroad will almost certainly be refused reentry. Since the late 1970s, a number of "privileges" until then enjoyed by Palestinian RD holders in Egypt were revoked: visas are no longer renewed free of charge, and the RD holder, like other foreigners, must show proof of having changed money and spent a minimum of $180 in hard currency per family per month. Those who do not comply risk deportation (n.d.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate 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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Shiblak, Abbas. n.d. Residency Status and Civil Rights of Palestinian Refugees in Arab Countries. Jerusalem: SHAML. <http://www.shaml.org/publications/mono1.htm> [Accessed 11 Jan. 2001]

Yasin, Abdel Kader. 1999. Palestinian Refugees in Egypt. Bethlehem: BADIL. <http://www.badil.org/Refugee/Publications/Profile/profile_egypt.htm> [Accessed 10 Jan. 2001]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB Databases

One source did not respond to an information request

Journal of Palestinian Studies

Middle East International

Middle East Report

The Middle East

Arabies

Internet sites including:

Revue d'études palestiniennes

Le Monde diplomatique

Maghreb-Machrek

Les 100 portes du Proche-Orient

Middle East Review of International Affairs

Across Borders Project

Arab Human Rights Association

The Palestinian Return Center

Institute for Palestinian Studies

Refugee Working Group

ALMajdal