Across Egypt, thousands of Palestinian refugee children are again missing the start of the school year because they lack the one document most schools demand: a valid residence permit. Egyptian public and private schools typically require proof of legal residency status and prior school certificates—items many families fleeing Gaza after October 2023 do not have. With no clear path to residency, and no mandate for UNRWA in Egypt, tens of thousands of children remain shut out of classrooms, falling further behind while coping with trauma.
As of August 2025, rights groups and humanitarian agencies describe a nationwide education gap that hits Palestinian families hardest. More than 100,000 Palestinians fled Gaza to Egypt since the Gaza war began in October 2023, joining a pre‑existing community that already faced barriers to schooling and work. Unlike other refugee groups, Palestinians in Egypt are not covered by UNHCR procedures; instead, they are linked to UNRWA, which has no official mandate in the country. That gap leaves families without a recognized route to legal residency status and, by extension, without routine access to public education, formal jobs, or banking.
Egypt also hosts a much larger refugee and asylum seeker population registered with UNHCR. As of November 2024, UNHCR counted about 834,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers in the country, including roughly 246,000 children. About half of those children are out of school, due to paperwork hurdles, the requirement to show a residence permit, and costs for uniforms, transport, and supplies. Even in that wider crisis, aid groups say the exclusion of Palestinian refugee children stands out because most have no lawful path to the documents schools request.
In practice, enrollment in Egyptian public schools hinges on two things: a current residence permit and proof of previous study. Families who fled bombardment often lost school records or cannot reach former schools to obtain them. Private schools are out of reach without status and money, since administrators routinely ask for valid IDs and charge fees far beyond what displaced parents can pay. Many families try remote lessons from West Bank institutions or informal neighborhood classes, but these options are patchy, often unrecognized, and do little to ease war‑related stress.
Policy and legal context
Egyptian authorities require foreign children to present identity documents and proof of lawful stay to enroll in state schools, a rule education officials say helps manage resources and security. According to Human Rights Watch, the combination of residency checks and paperwork barriers shuts many refugee children out, despite Egypt’s duties under international law to make primary education free and available to all children in its territory.
For non‑Palestinian refugees, the typical pathway starts with UNHCR registration, followed by appointments with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to process residency—a step that can stretch beyond a year.
For Palestinians, the route is far narrower. Because UNRWA does not operate in Egypt, families receive short‑term tourist visas when they enter, often 35 days long, and then confront security clearances that can cost about $1,000 per person. Without recognized refugee status or a realistic residency track, parents cannot legally work, open bank accounts, or sign contracts; children cannot sit in a classroom with their peers.
Egypt’s Ministry of Education and Technical Education states that school admission is governed by national regulations and capacity limits; the ministry’s website outlines enrollment procedures and timelines for Egyptian and non‑Egyptian students. Families and advocates point to the residency rule as the practical barrier, not classroom space. Official information is available at the Ministry’s portal: https://moe.gov.eg.
In December 2024, Human Rights Watch urged the government to waive residency requirements for children and to ensure free access to public education for all refugees, regardless of legal status. Refugees International, in October 2024, singled out Palestinians in Egypt and called for clear pathways to residency so families can access schooling, healthcare, and the formal labor market. As of August 2025, the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Refugee Affairs Department has been involved in regional talks on education support, pressing for concrete steps that allow enrollment.
Egyptian officials have not announced policy changes that would ease the way for Palestinian children, and the country’s economic crisis limits school budgets, teacher hiring, and support services.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Egypt’s residency‑linked school rules continue to keep many refugee children out of classrooms, even when families can show past attendance or strong academic records. The site notes that the policy hits Palestinian refugee children hardest because most cannot secure the documents public or private schools request.
Typical enrollment process (with differences for Palestinians)
- Obtain a UNHCR registration card to open the residency file, then wait for an appointment with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; this step does not apply to Palestinians linked to UNRWA.
- Submit identity papers, prior school records if available, and pay fees; many families lack documents or money after fleeing bombardment.
- Wait months—often more than a year—for residency decisions; delays and rejections are common, and some cases stall indefinitely.
- Approach local schools with the residence permit and certificates; without them, children face placement tests, extra fees, or are turned away.
- Cover ongoing costs for uniforms, transport, supplies, and occasional informal payments; many families cannot keep up.
- For Palestinians, there is no standard residency pathway; most hold short tourist visas of about 35 days and face steep security clearance fees of around $1,000 per person, blocking enrollment from the start.
Impact on children and families
Teachers and counselors report that months out of school weaken basic reading, math, and language skills, but the social impact can be even sharper. Children lose daily routines, friendships, and the sense that life will move forward.
Reports from aid workers describe:
– Bullying and discrimination when displaced students do make it into classrooms, especially if they arrive mid‑term or lack uniforms.
– Thin mental health support, despite many children having escaped bombardment, lost relatives, or spent weeks hiding.
– Economic pressures pushing parents into informal, low‑paid, and risky jobs without legal protections.
Families often spend scarce income on rent, food, and health needs, leaving little for tuition, transport, or books. Even when a private classroom seat is available, lack of documents leads to higher fees or outright refusals. Parents frequently face impossible choices between rent and lessons.
Human impact and possible responses
In Cairo, Alexandria, and border governorates, parents describe a cycle that begins with time‑limited visas and ends with children sitting at home while classmates move on to higher grades. For many, virtual lessons from the West Bank are a lifeline, but they can be irregular due to power cuts, internet costs, and lack of recognition by local schools.
Informal classes in apartments or community centers help keep children reading, but they do not replace accredited schooling or give access to exams.
Rights advocates propose clear, near‑term steps, including:
– Allow all refugee children, including Palestinians, to enroll in public schools without showing residency, at least temporarily while families work through paperwork.
– Use placement testing to confirm grade level for students missing certificates.
– Waive fees for uniforms and transport for those under protection.
– Increase funding for mental health care and psychosocial support.
A core legal problem is the unique position of Palestinians in Egypt. Unlike Sudanese, Syrians, and other groups who register with UNHCR and then seek residency through Egyptian channels, Palestinian families are tied to UNRWA, which has no authority in the country. That leaves them with tourist visas and repeated security checks rather than a refugee file that could lead to residency, school access, or health coverage.
Advocates have asked Egypt to craft a special administrative track for Palestinians so children can enroll while longer‑term status questions are addressed.
Officials cite a difficult budget picture and security concerns. Egypt’s inflation squeeze has raised costs for everything from school electricity to teacher salaries. Education leaders say they need more funding to handle new students and stress that enrollment rules do not target any one nationality. Rights groups counter that a child’s right to learn should not turn on documents families cannot obtain.
Practical advice for families
Immediate steps families can take include:
– Keep digital copies of any school records and IDs, even partial or outdated ones.
– Ask local schools about placement tests that can stand in for missing certificates.
– Speak with community centers and humanitarian groups about informal learning circles, language practice, and counseling.
– Keep written proof of virtual coursework from West Bank institutions—teacher names, dates, and assignments—to support future placement.
– Be aware that overstaying a tourist visa can create fines and added hurdles; avoid creating additional legal problems where possible.
For Palestinians in Egypt, there is currently no standard residency application, and advocates continue to press for interim solutions that let children learn while policy questions are worked out.
Current situation and outlook
As of late August 2025, there are no official announcements easing residency requirements or creating a special enrollment track for Palestinian children. International pressure is steady, and humanitarian groups are trying to scale up informal schooling and mental health support, but those efforts cannot replace a seat in a recognized classroom.
Palestinian families describe a closed loop: entry on a short tourist visa (the 35‑day clock), then costly security clearances many cannot pay, followed by the risk of overstaying without any recognized refugee channel. Because UNRWA has no mandate in Egypt, there is no standard procedure to register as a refugee and no clear, affordable pathway to residency. The consequences spill into every part of life: no lawful work, no banking, limited access to healthcare, and no school enrollment for children who have lost months to conflict and displacement. Families call this a legal limbo.
Humanitarian organizations describe a stopgap education patchwork that cannot match formal schooling:
– Virtual classrooms hosted by West Bank institutions are irregular and may not be accepted for placement or promotion.
– Informal classes in apartments or community rooms help keep basic skills alive but do not grant certificates.
– Mental health support is limited, despite widespread trauma.
Advocacy continues on several fronts. In December 2024, Human Rights Watch pressed Egypt to remove bureaucratic barriers and ensure free public education for all refugee children, regardless of status. In October 2024, Refugees International urged pathways to legal status for Palestinians so they can access schooling, healthcare, and employment. As of August 2025, the PLO’s Refugee Affairs Department is engaged in regional education discussions. The government has not announced changes to ease enrollment for Palestinian children amid economic strain. Groups continue to call for funding for informal learning and mental health.
The Gaza war displaced families on a scale that overwhelmed services across the region, and Egypt became a key destination for those seeking safety and medical care. But border closures, paperwork demands, and high fees mean the promise of safety has not included the promise of school for many children.
The choice facing Egyptian authorities is whether to keep linking a child’s classroom seat to a parent’s immigration file, or to separate education from residency and let learning begin now. Advocates argue that modest administrative steps—temporary waivers, clear guidance to school principals, and free placement testing—would bring thousands of Palestinian refugee children into classrooms this term.
Until policy changes are made, parents, teachers, and children are left waiting for decisions that will determine whether a lost year becomes a lost future.
This Article in a Nutshell
Thousands of Palestinian children in Egypt lack valid residence permits and prior school records, blocking enrollment after displacement. With UNRWA absent in Egypt, families often hold 35‑day tourist visas and face costly clearance fees, leaving children out of classrooms. Rights groups call for temporary waivers, placement tests, and a special residency track; no policy changes were announced by August 2025.
