Title Deed Verification in Egypt: The Complete Guide for Foreign Buyers

Documents Required for Foreign Buyers

• Seller’s file: current deed/contract/allocation, prior deeds in the chain, and proof of authority/signature.
• Buyer’s ID & contact: passport copy; if a company—certificate/extract and authorised signatory proof.
• Property identifiers: address, coordinates, unit/plot references, site or location plan (if available).
• Encumbrance clues: utility bills, association statements, tax receipts, or notices hinting at dues/remarks.
• Foreign papers (if any): PoA, wills, grants—notarised, then legalised/apostilled, and Arabic-ready.
• Tenancy/possession: any leases, delivery minutes, or occupation agreements impacting handover.

Preparing these in advance shortens the review and helps determine whether a registrable title is achievable without delay.

How the Verification Process Works

1. Intake & Feasibility: conflict check, scope, and document map.
2. Title Chain Audit: reconcile deeds, allocations, inheritances, and signatures with capacity/authority rules.
3. Registry & Authority Searches: confirm publicity status and determine the route to a recordable right.
4. Encumbrance & Dispute Checks: liens, attachments, seizures, pending suits, or third-party claims.
5. Survey/Boundary Confirmation: align plans with municipality/court maps; request licensed surveys if needed.
6. Bilingual Report & Risk Rating: findings, red flags, and clear “proceed / proceed with conditions / do not proceed”.
7. Contract Conditions: representations, undertakings, and staged payments tied to evidence delivery.
8. (Optional) Closing & Recordal: coordination through cooperating lawyers in Egypt until recordal where applicable.

Each step is documented so that banks, buyers, and future purchasers can understand the provenance and enforceability of the right.

Timelines, Costs, and Practical Tips

Typical timelines: straightforward files may complete a first-pass verification in 5–10 working days; complex chains, boundary surveys, or court record checks can extend this by several weeks. Recordal steps, if pursued, depend on authority queues.

• Cost drivers: document volume, surveys, certified translations, and legalisation routes.
• Save time: provide clear scans (front/back), readable stamps, and any receipts or authority letters.
• Protect funds: link deposits to evidence milestones (clean searches, clearances, verified authority).
• Future-proof: keep a tidy pack—deeds, maps, receipts—to support resale and inheritance later.

We quote transparently once we see the file and confirm whether surveys/legalisation are required.

FAQs: Title Deed Verification in Egypt

Is a private contract enough? It may bind the parties, but without publicity/recordal your right is weaker against third parties.

What if we find a lien or attachment? Treat it as a condition precedent—no completion until the encumbrance is lifted and evidenced.

Do I need a Power of Attorney? If you are abroad, yes—ensure it’s notarised, legalised/apostilled, and Arabic-ready.

Can a developer allocation be verified? Yes—check allocation letters, delivery minutes, dues, and the project’s registry position.