Egypt will start suspending access to a broad range of government services for people who refuse to pay court-ordered alimony under final rulings, according to a justice minister’s decision published Sunday in the Egyptian Gazette. The move covers services ranging from ration cards to real estate registration.
The measure, effective March 16, will block services such as ration cards, real estate registration, professional licenses, and utility permits until offenders settle their debts. Authorities will restore access only after receiving official certification that payments have been made in full.
The decision activates a legislative amendment added to the Penal Code six years ago under Law No. 6 of 2020, which created a new penalty for those who evade paying spousal or child support and other family maintenance expenses. In addition to possible jail time already stipulated under Article 293 of the Penal Code, the amendment allows offenders to be denied government services.
Those affected will be denied a wide range of services, including issuance of new ration cards, replacement of lost or damaged cards, and the addition of new beneficiaries through the Supply Ministry.
The suspension also covers Local Development Ministry services tied to issuing or renewing professional driver’s licenses, licenses for operating public shops, and advertising permits; Electricity Ministry services related to installing a new meter, changing the subscriber’s name, or obtaining excavation permits; and all real estate registration and notarization services provided by the Justice Ministry.
At the Housing Ministry, all services in new cities will be suspended for those convicted, including building permits, land allocation, reconciliation in building violations, and legalization of status. All services provided by the New Urban Communities Authority will also be suspended, including building and reconciliation services, licenses for operating shops and industrial and commercial activities, land allocation or legalization requests, and the issuance of permits and occupancy approvals.
The suspension also applies to farmer cards and fertilizer disbursement services through the Agriculture Ministry; customs-related services through the Finance Ministry, specifically the issuance or renewal of customs clearance profession licenses; foreign work permits and craft licenses through the Manpower Ministry; hotel licenses and tourism activity permits through the Tourism Ministry; and disability services cards through the Social Solidarity Ministry.
Under the decision, Nasser Social Bank must notify all the bodies listed of the names of those convicted of non-payment in alimony cases, and must also notify them immediately once the debt has been paid so the restrictions can be lifted.
The decision also gives the justice minister the authority to add other bodies or services in the future at the request of the ministries concerned.
When the law was issued in 2020, the Social Solidarity Ministry described it as “a step that strengthens support for families and helps ensure a decent life for their members,” saying it supports Nasser Social Bank’s Family Care Fund in carrying out its role for people who have lost their breadwinner, in a way that protects social cohesion and the sound upbringing of children.
Sherif Farouk, the current supply minister, who was then deputy chairman of Nasser Social Bank, described it at the time as “a victory for Egyptian women and protection for the rights of wives, children, and parents,” noting that the bank was then enforcing about 239,000 court rulings benefiting 385,000 people, with payments reaching 63 million Egyptian pounds ($1.21 million today) a month.
He said the new legal safeguards would curb evasion and ensure that breadwinners pay alimony on time.
