Introduction
In 2018, the Press and Media Regulation Law was issued, followed nearly two years later by its Executive Regulations and the Licensing Regulations. Since then, website licenses have raised several questions, foremost among them: which categories of websites are legally required to obtain a license?
The executive regulations of the Press and Media Regulation Law granted the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) the authority to issue website licenses. However, the regulations did not limit this authority to websites explicitly governed by the law; instead, they expanded to encompass multiple types of websites, including those operated by commercial entities, professional syndicates, associations, and clubs.
In this context, this guide seeks to address the confusion many website owners face due to the ambiguity of certain legal provisions or the difficulty of accessing accurate information on how to fulfill website licensing requirements. The guide outlines the legal and administrative steps needed to obtain the license, clarifies the scope of obligations and exemptions, and provides a comprehensive overview of the required documents and procedures.
The guide includes several key sections: First, it defines the scope of websites subject to licensing and those exempt, thereby resolving the question of “who must obtain a license and who does not”. It then explains the legal and financial requirements for submitting an application, whether the owner is an individual or a company, including nationality, legal capacity, and the required capital. Next, it outlines the procedures for preparing documents and official forms, paying fees, and submitting the application to the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, clarifying how the application is reviewed and decided upon within the specified timeframes.
Furthermore, the guide focuses on the ongoing obligations after obtaining the license, such as maintaining a content archive, displaying the license number on the website, adhering to professional standards in media content, hosting a copy of the servers within Egypt, and submitting annual financial disclosures.
Finally, the guide outlines the violations and penalties to which a website or its owner may be subject, beginning with operating without a license, through breaching licensing conditions, and culminating in the potential revocation of the license itself.
This guide is presented within the broader context of regulating the digital space in Egypt, where the issue of website licensing has sparked widespread debate since the enactment of the Press and Media Regulation Law. While authorities view licensing as a tool to regulate the media sector, curb the spread of misleading news, and ensure a degree of financial transparency, many consider it a costly regulatory measure in terms of fees and administrative requirements, potentially impacting online freedom of publication and expression, and exacerbating the challenges faced by new websites and small media entities.
Note: This guide is an updated version of Masaar’s “Guide to Licensing Digital Press Websites,” issued earlier, prepared before the completion of the legislative framework governing website licensing and before the accumulation of practical experience with the licensing procedures.
Websites Requiring Licensing and Exemptions
First: Websites Requiring Licensing
Article 1 of Law No. 180 of 2018 regulating the press and media stipulates that its provisions apply to all press and media entities and outlets, as well as websites, within Egypt, with the exception of personal websites or accounts, unless otherwise specified by law. Accordingly, any website that provides journalistic, media, or advertising content to the public in Egypt is required to obtain a license. This category includes: news and press websites, media websites (such as those broadcasting visual/audio content online), as well as commercial websites that provide advertising content to promote businesses, services, products, or individuals.
Second: Websites Exempt from Licensing
Websites or online accounts of a purely personal nature, used to display biographies, hobbies, or personal opinions without providing news or media content to the public, are exempt from licensing requirements. This category of personal websites does not require a license from the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (such as a personal blog where the owner shares their experiences and opinions without engaging in public media activity).
Similarly, personal social media accounts do not require a license, even with a large number of followers. However, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation may impose penalties on influencers and personal accounts with more than 5,000 followers, treating them as equivalent to media outlets.
This expansion imposes professional and legal obligations on individuals similar to those imposed on institutional media entities, including adherence to the journalistic and media code of ethics. Accordingly, under this code, online accounts or personal blogs are prohibited from publishing or broadcasting false news, content that calls for or incites violation of the law, violence, or hatred, involves discrimination among citizens or advocates for racism or intolerance, content that infringes upon individuals’ honor or reputation through slander and libel, blasphemy (contempt for heavenly religions or religious doctrines).
Third: Government Websites
The scope of licensing also extends to websites affiliated with public governmental, research, or cultural entities. However, the law and the licensing regulations allow these entities to obtain a license without being required to establish a company or pay the prescribed fee, provided that the website adheres to its specified specialization.
How to Apply for a License: Step-by-Step
1. Make Sure the Basic Legal Requirement are Met
The law requires that the owner of the website be of Egyptian nationality, whether a natural or a legal person. If the owner is a natural person, they must not be deprived of the exercise of their political rights and must not have been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, unless their reputation has been restored.
However, if the owner is a legal entity (e.g., a company), it must be a company established under Egyptian law, owned by Egyptians, with a capital of not less than 100,000 EGP per website. Proof of capital must be provided, such as the company’s articles of incorporation, amendment contract, investment gazette, or commercial register.
2. Prepare Documents and the Application Form
The Supreme Council for Media Regulation issues ready-made license application forms. The applicant is required to fill out the electronic website license application form available on the Council’s official website. Separate forms are provided according to the type of owner (one for natural persons, another for companies, clubs, associations, etc.). The application form includes detailed information about the website and its owner, most importantly:
- Owner’s Information: Full name, title, nationality, and address; a copy of the national ID card for Egyptians (or passport for foreigners, if applicable); and a copy of the commercial registration if the owner is a company.
- Website Information: Website name and domain address (if available); the registered trademark of the website (if any) or proof of application for registration; the language in which content is provided; the type of activity (news/media/advertising, etc.); a brief description of the website’s objectives, target audience, and editorial policy. The location of the website’s hosting server must also be specified and should be within Egypt or contain a copy hosted in Egypt, in accordance with the licensing regulations.
- Administrative and Editorial Structure: Name and qualifications of the editor-in-chief responsible for the website; number of responsible editors (if any), and the department each supervises. According to the law, each website must have a responsible editor-in-chief who actively oversees published content; it is preferable for this person to be a registered member of the Journalists’ Syndicate if the site produces journalistic content. The application must also list the names of the chairman and board members of the owning company, if applicable (shareholding structure).
- Financial Aspects: Statement of the website’s capital (which must not be less than EGP 100,000), sources and methods of financing, and the website’s marketing plan (if any), in addition to an estimated budget or statement of financial resources available for operating the website. The company’s budget for the last three years may also be required.
- Supporting Documents: The application must be accompanied by documents such as the company’s articles of incorporation and bylaws (if the owner is a legal entity), and any permits or approvals required for a specific activity if the website is specialized (e.g., approval from the relevant authorities if the content is medical or specialized educational).
After filling out and signing the form by the owner or legal representative, the following documents shall be attached:
(a) A copy of the national ID card of the owner/legal representative and a copy of the company’s commercial register (after reviewing the original).
(b) A receipt for payment of the license fee of EGP 50,000 to the website.
)c) Any other documents mentioned in the application form or specified by the Supreme Council.
3. Pay the Fees
The applicant must pay an application fee of EGP 50,000 per website, covering a five-year license. Payment can be made at the Supreme Council’s treasury or via bank transfer as determined by the Council, and the payment receipt must be attached to the application. (In the case of license renewal after five years, the same fee must be paid again.
Note: Governmental and public research entities are exempt from this fee. License fees for foreign websites, social media platforms, or on-demand streaming services vary and can be higher, ranging from EGP 50,000–100,000 for a website affiliated with a foreign media outlet, and up to EGP 3 million for certain specialized services, in accordance with the Licensing Regulations.
4. Submit the Application to the Competent Authority
All documents, along with the completed application form, should be submitted to the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation at its headquarters in the Radio and Television Union building (Maspero) in Cairo. It is recommended to submit the application in hard copy to the Council’s headquarters, along with a copy of the application, supporting documents, and a copy of the payment receipt, via registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt.
Upon submission of the hard-copy file, the General Secretariat conducts an initial review to ensure that the form includes all required data and supporting documents. The applicant must retain a complete copy of the file, along with proof of submission to the Council (such as a stamped or signed receipt on the application letter, or an official incoming number issued by the Council’s General Secretariat).
5. Application Review
The application is then referred to the relevant Licensing Committee of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation for review and verification of compliance with legal and technical requirements. The committee also seeks the opinion of the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA) regarding technical aspects. The committee then submits its recommendations to the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, which makes the final decision to grant or reject the license after obtaining the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities.
According to the executive regulations, the Supreme Council must decide on the license application within 90 days of the date the application is complete with all required data and documents (this is a regulatory deadline, and failure to meet it has no legal consequences). The decision is issued by a majority vote of the members present at the Council meeting. If any data or documents are missing, the Council notifies the applicant within 60 days of the application’s submission to provide the missing documents. This may suspend the 90-day period until the missing documents are provided.
The license is issued as an official decision indicating the license number, its validity period (5 years), and any attached specific conditions. The applicant is notified of the Council’s decision, whether approval or rejection, via a formal registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt. In the case of rejection, the applicant has the right to appeal to the Supreme Council or challenge the decision before the Administrative Court within the legally prescribed deadlines, as the decision is considered an administrative act.
6. Receive the License and Activate the Website
Upon approval, the licensee must receive the license document from the Supreme Council and commit to clearly displaying the license number and the Council’s name on the website (e.g., on the “About Us” page or in the website footer) to indicate that the website is licensed.
From this moment on, the website can legally start/continue to operate. If the website does not begin its activities within one year from the license issuance date, the Supreme Council may revoke the license unless an extension of up to one additional year is granted. Therefore, launching operations within the first year is essential to prevent the license from lapsing.
Post-Licensing Obligations
Following the issuance of the website license, the licensee is obligated to comply with a number of controls and requirements during website operation, the most important of which are:
Appointing a Content Officer (Broadcast)
The licensed website must appoint a person responsible for broadcasting content and notify the Supreme Council of their name. This person must possess full legal capacity and is responsible for ensuring compliance with media regulations in all content published on the website. This person is often the same as the editor-in-chief named in the application.
The website is also obligated to ensure that the editor-in-chief and the editorial team are registered with the journalists’ or media professionals’ syndicate, depending on the nature of the content, in accordance with the provisions of the law prohibiting the practice of journalism and media work by those not registered with the relevant syndicates.
Retention of Archived Content
The website must retain a complete documentary record of all audio, video, and text materials broadcast or published for at least one year from the date of publication. A copy of any specific content must be provided to the Supreme Council upon request. This practically means maintaining an organized electronic archive (as well as any broadcast recordings, if they exist) for at least one year to facilitate easy reference when needed, whether for investigating a complaint or for review by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation.
Hosting Servers within Egypt
The Licensing Regulations stipulate that a copy of the servers hosting the website must be located in a secure facility within the Arab Republic of Egypt and must be known to the Supreme Council for Media Regulation. This hosting location may not be changed without prior written approval from the Council.
This means that if the website is hosted on a foreign server, a mirror server must be set up within Egypt to store a copy of the content, or the entire hosting must be moved to Egypt. The licensee must notify the council of the location of the server (or data center) within Egypt and update this information whenever there are any changes.
Financial Reporting
Licensed websites are required to publish their audited annual budgets and financial statements in two widely circulated daily newspapers within the four months following the end of the fiscal year. The website is also obligated to enable the Supreme Council to review its final accounts, books, and documents upon the Council’s request. The Council may engage specialized entities or accounting experts to assist in this review process. For the purposes of such review, the Council may engage competent authorities or certified accounting experts.
Notifying the Council of Any Substantial Changes
If any changes occur to the information included in the license application, such as a change to the website name, its activity or editorial policy, the website’s management headquarters or legal responsibility, or any change to its editorial structure, the licensee must notify the Supreme Council in writing (by registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt) to obtain the Council’s approval of the new information. It is prohibited to make any substantial change before the Council’s approval, and failure to notify and obtain approval may result in the suspension or revocation of the license.
No Transfer of Ownership or Management Rights without Permission
The license issued by the Supreme Media Council is personal to the website and its specified owner. The ownership of the website may not be transferred, nor may any share thereof be assigned to a third party or merged with another entity, except after submitting a request to the Supreme Council and obtaining its prior written approval.
A request to transfer ownership or shares must be submitted using a form prepared by the Council, accompanied by supporting documents (such as a sales or merger agreement). Listing the website’s shares on the stock exchange or offering them for public or private subscription is prohibited without the Council’s prior written approval. Any action taken without such approval is legally null and void. In other words, any change in the ownership structure of the website or its owning company requires prior authorization from the Council.
Compliance with Licensing Conditions and Relevant Laws
A licensed website must adhere to all the terms and conditions of its license and not deviate from the scope of its licensed activity. For example, if a website is licensed as a news website, it may not transform into an advertising one promoting products in a manner that contradicts its specified activity; otherwise, it will be considered a violation that requires the suspension or revocation of the license.
The website also commits to respecting the provisions of the Constitution and laws, particularly the Media Regulation Law, its executive regulations, and the decisions issued thereunder. The licensing regulations stipulate that the license itself includes a set of obligations for the licensee, such as: implementing the Supreme Council’s decisions immediately upon notification; providing a mechanism for the immediate handling of complaints regarding malfunctions or requests to block infringing content (within 24 hours); maintaining financial and technical records at the administration headquarters; and ensuring the continuity and quality of service.
Compliance with Media Standards and Codes of Conduct
The licensing regulations stipulate that the licensed website bears legal responsibility for any errors in its operations or violations of the values and standards (codes) issued by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation. In the event of non-compliance with these rules, the website will be subject to penalties and sanctions.
License Renewal Every Five Years
The license is valid for five years and is renewable. The renewal request must be submitted at least six months before the expiry date, along with payment of the renewal fee, which is equal to the original licensing fee (currently 50,000 EGP). The Supreme Council for Media Regulation reviews the renewal application to ensure that the website continues to meet regulatory standards, such as maintaining the required legal capital and having no record of serious violations.
Violations and Potential Penalties
Law No. 180 of 2018 regulating Press and Media, its executive regulations, the licensing regulations, and the sanctions regulations include a number of penalties and sanctions that a website and its founders may face. The following are the most prominent potential violations and their penalties:
Operating an Unlicensed Website
Establishing or managing a website in Egypt—or even a local office for a foreign website—without obtaining a license from the Supreme Council for Media Regulation constitutes a violation of Article 6 of the Press and Media Regulation Law. The law stipulates that anyone who manages a media outlet or website without a license shall be punished with a fine of no less than 1 million EGP and no more than 3 million EGP.
In addition to the fine, the court may order the closure of the website and the confiscation of equipment used in its operation, which is the most severe and serious penalty for the website’s activity. This means the penalty can extend to a permanent blocking of the website and imposing a substantial financial fine on the violator.
Violating License Conditions or Changing Website Activity without Authorization
If a website is granted a license for a specific activity or under a particular name and then violates the scope of the licensed activity or engages in media activities different from those specified in the license, this constitutes a violation of the licensed activity. Under the Press and Media Regulation Law, the website in this case is subject to a fine of no less than 1 million EGP and no more than 2 million EGP if the violation is proven. The court may also order the revocation of the license or a complete blocking of the website. In other words, exceeding the scope of the license or providing false information about the website’s activity may result in judicial termination of the license.
Breaching a Licensing Condition or Serious Violation of the Law
The Media Regulation Law stipulates the Supreme Council’s right to revoke a license in certain cases, including if the licensee fails to meet one of the essential licensing requirements or violates the provisions of the law. The license is revoked after notifying the violating party of the violation and granting them an appropriate period (between one week and one month) to rectify it. If the period expires without rectification, the Council may issue a decision to revoke the license. For example, if it is discovered that the capital of the website owning company has fallen below the minimum required level and the situation has not been rectified, the Council issues the decision, which can be appealed before the Administrative Court.
Publishing Prohibited or Non-compliant Content without Correction
Media violations that may expose the website and its officials to penalties include refraining from publishing a correction for false news, violating publication bans in specific cases, or unjustifiably infringing on individuals’ private lives. For example, failure of the editor-in-chief or responsible manager to publish a correction may result in a fine ranging between 50,000 and 100,000 EGP. This penalty falls directly on the responsible person, with the possibility of obligating the website to publish the conviction ruling in two newspapers and on its website.
The law also prohibits the publication of materials that incite violence or hatred or involve discrimination. Violating these controls may result in measures being taken by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, extending to the suspension or blocking of the non-compliant material. It is worth noting that the Council enforces a sanctions regulation that allows it to impose various administrative penalties on violating websites, such as warnings, fines, or temporary suspension of activity.
In cases where the content is deemed to constitute a criminal offense—such as certain instances of hate speech or threats to national security—the Council may refer the matter to the Public Prosecution to pursue criminal proceedings, in addition to taking urgent measures, such as temporarily blocking the website.
Key Practical Challenges Website Managers May Encounter During the Licensing Process
The Requirement of Submitting Financial Statements for the Last Three Years
The website license application form includes a clause obliging the applying company to submit copies of its financial statements for the past three years. This requirement poses a practical challenge for companies that have not been in operation for that period, as they are inherently unable to fulfill this requirement, rendering it, in such cases, a non-essential condition for submitting the application.
For companies that have been established for more than three years (practically, at least four years), they are required to attach copies of financial statements certified by a legal auditor (chartered accountant), provided that these statements have been submitted to the ordinary general assembly of the company applying for the license.
Trademark Certificate
According to Article 15 of the Licensing Regulations issued by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, the applicant is required to submit a certificate of the registered trademark as part of the documents attached to the license application. This means, in practice, that the applicant must already have a registered trademark before submitting the application, as this certificate is considered an essential document, even though it is not explicitly stipulated in the law or its executive regulations.
This requirement raises several issues, both regarding the rationale for including this document among the licensing requirements and its necessity during the application. In terms of rationale, there does not appear to be any essential reason for linking the issuance of the license to the existence of a trademark certificate, particularly given the presence of documents more directly related to the activity, such as the commercial registration certificate and the tax registration card, both of which the company’s license to operate is directly dependent on.
As for the nature of the document itself and the feasibility of obtaining it, it is difficult to conceive of trademark registration as a necessary or essential prerequisite for licensing a website, particularly where the website is purely news-oriented in nature. Moreover, trademark registration procedures before the competent administrative authority typically take a considerable amount of time—often up to a full year—until registration is completed. This is compounded by the lack of clarity on whether the Supreme Council for Media Regulation accepts, as an alternative, proof of application for trademark registration instead of the final registration certificate.
In practical application, this requirement effectively becomes a procedural challenge with a tangible impact on the ability to license websites, as it may prevent the completion of the licensing process altogether or, at the very least, result in a significant delay to the license issuance.
Shareholders Structure
The executive regulations of the Press and Media Regulation Law stipulate certain essential data that must be included in the licensing application, including details of the administrative structure of the applicant company, whether the application relates to a newspaper or a media outlet. However, the regulations do not explicitly identify this statement as one of the documents that must be attached to the website license application.
Furthermore, Article 15 of the Licensing Regulations lists the documents required to be submitted with the license application, without including any provision that mandates attaching a document specifically addressing the “shareholding structure”. Instead, with respect to proof of legal status, it sufficed with a copy of the national ID card and a copy of the commercial register (after verifying the original), without requiring a separate document detailing the names of partners or the shareholding structure.
Moreover, legal entities engaged in commercial activity that apply for a website license may take multiple legal forms, and they are not required to be joint-stock companies to have a shareholding structure in the precise sense. It is common for a company to be a limited liability company, a single-person company, or other legal forms that are not based on shareholders. In such cases, the very notion of a “shareholding structure” is inapplicable and cannot reasonably be required.
In such cases, requiring the submission of a document of this nature becomes practically impossible, effectively turning it into an additional procedural obstacle to the licensing of websites, or unjustifiably restricting the ability to obtain a license in practice to joint-stock companies to the exclusion of other legal forms of companies.
Board of Directors Documentation Requirements
The requirement to submit a certified statement listing the names of the members of the board of directors constitutes an additional procedural challenge, similar to that associated with the requirement to provide a shareholders’ structure. On the one hand, a board of directors exists only in the case of joint-stock companies, whereas many entities that may apply for a website license take other legal forms—such as limited liability companies or single-person companies—which are typically managed by one or more managers rather than by a board of directors.
On the other hand, the Licensing Regulations do not provide for this statement among the documents required to be submitted when applying for a website license. Article (15) of the Regulations exhaustively enumerates the required documents without referring to any document relating to members of the board of directors.
Proportions of Members Registered with Professional Syndicates
Law No. 180 of 2018 on Regulating Press and Media stipulates a number of requirements necessary for establishing print newspapers, their website, and online publications, if any. Among these requirements is that the editor-in-chief and the responsible editors must be registered with the Journalists Syndicate, and that the percentage of syndicate-registered editors must not be less than 70% of the actual workforce.
This requirement poses a practical and legal issue with respect to news websites, which are subject to licensing rules and conditions distinct from those governing electronic newspapers and the websites of print newspapers. Notably, neither the Licensing Regulation nor the Executive Regulations of the Law contain any provision requiring the fulfillment of these conditions in relation to applications for licensing websites.
Editorial Policies
Referencing the website’s editorial policy is one of the most important sections included in license application forms. The wording of this policy varies depending on the nature of the website, whether it is a general news, specialized news, commercial, marketing, or advertising website.
Nevertheless, a set of guiding elements can be identified and included when responding to this section, as follows:
Editorial Policy of (Website Name)
- About Us/ Vision/ Mission
(Website Name) is an Egyptian platform that provides (Type of Content) to (Target Audience/Scope). Our mission is to deliver accurate and clear information that serves the Egyptian audience while taking the local context into account.
- Our Core Values
Accuracy and Reliability: We verify information before publishing and attribute it to its sources.
Independence: We do not accept any interference that influences editorial content.
Transparency and Accountability: We publicly correct errors and clearly explain the reasons for any amendments.
Respect for the Law: We comply with Egyptian laws and all relevant professional codes and standards.
- Content Scope and Formats
News, reports, analyses, information services, and audiovisual content, as needed.
- ● Clear Separation between News and Opinion
- Opinion must be clearly labeled.
- Any promotional content is to be labeled as ‘Advertisement’/‘Sponsored’ and remains separate from editorial content.
- Publication and Verification Standards
- Reliance on primary sources and official documents whenever possible.
- Double-checking of essential facts and linguistic review before publication.
- Using undisclosed sources only when clearly necessary and with the approval of the editor, while protecting their identity.
- Language, Headlines, and Visual Materials
- Use of correct Arabic language and a clear style, avoiding exaggeration and misleading headlines.
- Images and videos are to be used in a way that does not alter the factual context and must be attributed to their sources.
- Privacy and Data Protection
- Do not publish personal data unless there is a clear public interest or necessity for doing so.
- Cookies and Privacy Policy
- Clearly indicate the privacy policy and the use of cookies, including a direct link to the policy on the website.
- Right of Reply and Correction
- Receive requests for replies or corrections via (email/form) and publish them within the legally defined timeframe (a reasonable period allowing verification), with the update time clearly indicated.
- User-Generated Content
- Manage comments and social media platforms by removing content that incites hatred, defamation, or exposes sensitive information.
- Provide a clear reporting channel: link/email.
- Compliance and Operating Environment
- Adhere to the “Journalistic and Media Code of Ethics” and relevant Egyptian laws.
- Maintain a complete separation between the editorial team and advertising.
- Comply with the requirements of local regulatory authorities, including hosting location in Egypt if required.
- Governance and Responsibilities
- Editor-in-Chief: name/role/authorization for approvals.
- Editorial Structure: departments/review workflow.
- Periodic Review
- This policy is effective from [Effective Date] and is reviewed annually or upon any substantial change.
- Contact
- Editorial Email: [email protected]
Documents and Procedures Checklist before Applying for a Website License
- Verify Owner Eligibility
- If the owner is an individual, they must be an Egyptian citizen with full political rights and must not have a criminal conviction for a felony or a dishonorable misdemeanor unless their civil rights have been restored.
- If the owner is a company, both the company and its shareholders must be Egyptian.
- Ensure Minimum Capital Requirement
- The paid-up or allocated capital for the website must be no less than EGP 100,000 per site. (This applies to websites owned by companies or investors, not personal websites.
- Establish a Legal Entity (If Applicable)
- If the website is commercial or media-related and not a personal project, it is preferable to be owned and managed through a company (single-person or multi-person) in accordance with legal requirements.
- Complete the necessary procedures for obtaining the company’s commercial registration and tax card.
- Appoint an Editor-in-Chief and Broadcast Manager
- Designate a qualified and experienced individual to serve as the Editor-in-Chief responsible for content (the owner may assume this role if eligible).
- Preferably, the Editor-in-Chief should be registered with the relevant professional association (Journalists’ or Media Syndicate) if applicable/necessary.
- Prepare the CV and experience certificates for the appointed person, upon request.
- Prepare Editorial and Advertising Content
- Develop a clear outline of the website’s editorial policy, objectives, and target audience. Indicate whether the website offers advertising or paid services, as this information is important for completing the application form and ensuring compliance later.
- Securing Hosting for the Website within Egypt
- Ensure that a server is located in Egypt or that there is a plan to host a copy of the website’s content within the country. If possible, obtain a document or confirmation from the hosting company specifying the server’s location for submission upon request.
- Downloading the Appropriate License Application Form
- Download the relevant application form (e.g., Form 10 for individuals, Form 11 for companies) from the Supreme Council for Media Regulation website, and make sure to use the latest available version.
- Complete All Sections of the Application Form
- All sections in the form must be filled out accurately and clearly. In some cases, extended answers may need to be attached in separate files if the space provided is insufficient (e.g., detailed editorial policy). No required field should be left unanswered.
- Prepare the Portfolio of Required Documents
- Assemble a clear copy of the owner’s or legal representative’s valid national ID, a recent copy of the company’s commercial registry (if applicable), and copies of any contracts or licenses relevant to the activity. Organize these documents in a single, orderly file.
- Pay the License Fee
- Pay the fee of EGP 50,000 to the Supreme Council for Media Regulation’s bank account or treasury, and retain the receipt as proof of payment. The original receipt or an official copy should be included with the application file.
- Final Review and Signature
- Conduct a thorough review of the application file, including the form, attached documents, and proof of payment. Ensure that the legal representative or authorized signatory has signed the application form in the designated place, as well as any additional documents issued by them (e.g., the editorial policy statement). It is recommended to include an index of the file contents to facilitate organization.
- Submit the Application to the Supreme Council
- Deliver the complete file to the Licensing Department at the Supreme Council for Media Regulation headquarters (Cairo – Maspero Building), ensuring that proof of submission is obtained (e.g., a stamped copy of the submission letter or a delivery receipt).
- Follow Up on the Status of the Application
- Record the date the application was submitted. If no response is received within 90 days of a complete submission, the applicant may contact the General Secretariat of the Council to inquire about the application status. If the applicant is notified within 60 days to provide or complete certain documents, these should be submitted as soon as possible.
- Keep a Copy of the Submitted File
- Maintain a complete copy of all submitted materials (paper or electronic) for future reference or for license renewal after several years.