Faculty Arrival in Egypt

From the Airport to your Apartment

Upon your arrival at Cairo airport, a University car will be ready to transport you to your apartment. If you are renting an AUC apartment, a representative from the Office of Faculty Housing will be there to welcome you and hand over the apartment keys. The housing office also provides a survival kit for your convenience. Your refrigerator will be stocked with a cold meal, some breakfast items and basic staples such as salt, sugar, coffee, tea and water. At your new home, you’ll also find an information packet containing details about living in Cairo, essential university information for your arrival and maps to help you get oriented and navigate the area.

Things to do on your first visit to the University

Transportation to AUC

Transportation to campus is available for all AUC faculty, staff and students, and it is free for faculty and staff. To familiarize yourself with the bus system, you can visit the AUC transportation website. Your AUC ID (described below) also serves as a bus pass. Since you will receive your AUC ID during your first visit, security personnel have been instructed to allow newcomers access to the campus.

Visit the Provost’s Office and Your Department

Upon first arriving at the University, you can contact the Office of the Provost, where someone will help introduce you to your department and office, as well as guide you to other offices that will assist you in settling in.

AUC ID Card

You will need to obtain an AUC ID card from the ID Center during your first campus visit. This card serves as your security ID for campus and library access and functions as a bus pass. To access your office, the card must be activated with your office room number by your department staff.

Lodging Registration

Egyptian law requires you to register your residence within 48 hours of your arrival. If you rent an AUC apartment, the AUC Office of Business Support will handle this registration using your passport and those of any accompanying family members. For those renting privately, landlords are responsible for registering tenants with the Ministry of Interior.

Passport Registration

Citizens of certain countries (listed below) must also register their passports with the Egyptian Ministry of Interior within seven days of arrival. The AUC Business Support Office will manage this process. Note that each time you leave Egypt, the registration is canceled, so you must re-register upon each return. Compliance with this regulation is important.

For any questions, contact the Office of Business Support at [email protected] or visit the office in the Administration Building, Room G20.

Internet at Home

If you rent an apartment through AUC and have arranged for internet service with the housing office before your arrival, your internet connection—including wireless—should be ready when you move in. For those renting outside of AUC housing, the Office of Information Technology can provide you with internet provider websites and contact details once you arrive. Mobile providers, like Vodafone, also offer USB sticks for internet access. Many cafes nearby offer free or low-cost Wi-Fi, and you will likely find a connection close to your residence.

Arrival of your Personal Shipment

Your personal shipment is expected to arrive after you do. Once it reaches Cairo airport, it must clear customs before being delivered to your apartment. This process can take anywhere from one week to, in rare cases, up to a month. Because of potential delays, it’s strongly recommended that you bring enough clothing, essential medications and any academic materials you’ll need to prepare your syllabus and for teaching during your first week.

HIV Test, Work Permit and Residence Visa

Non-Egyptian faculty members are required to take an HIV test to obtain or renew their work permit. New faculty must complete this test in Cairo during September and October. The Ministry of Health mandates the test, which is conducted at the AUC Clinic. Information about the testing schedule is emailed to non-Egyptian faculty by mid-August. For those joining in the spring semester, details are provided individually through the business support staff at [email protected].

After the HIV test results are available (usually within a week), work permit procedures are finalized, followed by the issuance of residence visas for faculty and their dependents. The University assists with obtaining these permits and visas. The entire process can take up to three weeks after the HIV test. If you plan to travel abroad before your residence visa is stamped, check with the business support office beforehand, as you may need to extend your initial one-month entry visa.

Orientation for Newcomers

AUC offers an orientation program for all new faculty members, typically held a week before the fall semester begins. The orientation covers an introduction to University programs and services, panel discussions on teaching and research and sessions about living in Cairo. Attendance is mandatory for new faculty.