Egypt has been an observer State to IOM since 1974, becoming a full-fledged member in 1991 when IOM established its mission in the country, with its office in Cairo. Soon after entering into an agreement with the Government of Egypt, IOM has established excellent working relations with migration-related ministries, as well as United Nations partners and civil society in the country.

Over the last 30 years, IOM Egypt has continuously expanded its engagement in new fields of concern, encompassing a wide range of activities in many programmatic areas that include humanitarian assistance to migrants in vulnerable situations, assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR), migration and health, resettlement and movements, and capacity-building, in addition to analysis of cross-cutting themes such as gender equality, migration and youth, and, to an extent, the IOM Green Policy.

The IOM Country Strategy for Egypt (2021–2025) focuses on a collaborative approach that emphasizes the role of the Government, local communities, community-based and civil society organizations, faith-based groups and the private sector in achieving better migration governance and building integrated communities. The Organization intends to continue building on existing strategic partnerships and fruitful cooperation with the Government of Egypt and (inter)national partners and counterparts while playing an integral role in numerous cross-cutting issues.