If you are traveling to Egypt, you will need the following documents:
• Valid passport (valid for 6 months from the date of arrival)
• Visa (for some citizens of the world countries you will need a tourist visa to Egypt)
• Booked round-trip airline tickets
• Proof of booking or hotel rental agreement, or tour program if you are traveling as a tourist
• Invitation letter from the host country or company/organization in Egypt (if any)
• Health insurance policy
Visa to Egypt: who needs it, types of visas, rules of registration
Depending on your citizenship and purpose of travel, you may need a tourist visa to enter Egypt. However, there are some countries whose citizens are exempt from visa requirements, have the right to obtain a visa upon arrival, or apply for an e-visa.
To find out more about whether you need a visa to Egypt, how to obtain one, or how long you can stay in the country without needing a visa, depending on your nationality, use the search engine on the page by entering your nationality.
For citizens of countries that have a visa-free regime with Egypt, the total period of stay in the country can be 90 days.
A tourist visa to Egypt can be obtained in three forms, depending on your nationality:
• e-visa;
• regular visa, sticker in the passport document
• upon arrival at the checkpoint
Electronic visa for Egypt: rules of registration
An e-visa allows citizens of certain countries to obtain a visa online, quickly, without the need to visit an Egyptian embassy or consulate. Such a visa is valid for one entry into the country within 90 days from the date of issue and allows you to stay in Egypt for a maximum of 30 days.
Application rules:
1. Go to the official e-visa website and register an account
2. Fill out the online application form on the Evisa website;
3. You will be required to provide personal information such as your name, date of birth, nationality, address, and passport details. Indicate your expected date of arrival in Egypt and length of stay;
4. Attach scanned copies of all required documents (e.g. passport);
5. Pay the e-visa fee. You need to pay a consular fee of $25 for a single visit (30 days) and $60 for multiple entries;
6. After successful confirmation of your application, download and print your e-visa. You must present a printed version of the e-visa at the port of entry.
Tourist visa issued by an embassy/consulate
Not everyone is eligible to apply for an e-visa or visa on arrival. Therefore, citizens of many countries need to apply directly to the Egyptian embassy or consulate in their country of residence to apply for a tourist visa.
Please note: citizens of Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Mauritania, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Yemen, before applying for an Egyptian visa at the consulate, must obtain prior permission from the Egyptian state security authorities.
How long can I get a tourist visa to Egypt?
• Single-entry tourist visas to Egypt are valid for 6 months and allow you to stay in the country for up to 60 days.
• Multiple-entry tourist visas to Egypt are also valid for 6 months and allow you to stay in the country for up to 90 days per visit.
Brief instructions on how to apply for a tourist visa to Egypt:
1. Contact the Egyptian embassy or consulate to make an appointment.
2. Fill out the Egypt visa application form, which can be provided at the Egyptian embassy or consulate.
3. Gather the necessary documents (list below)
4. Pay the visa application fee before submitting your application (using a bank card) or afterwards, at the embassy itself. The cost of the fee differs depending on your country of origin.
5. Submit the documents and application to the Egyptian embassy/consulate.
6. Consult with them about the application process, as some offices require you to submit the documents in person, while others also allow you to submit them by mail.
7. Wait for the application to be processed (the processing time is at least 10 business days).
8. Pick up your passport (or have it mailed to you) with the visa stamped if your application is approved.
Documents required to apply for a tourist visa to Egypt
- Visa application form (two copies)
- Two passport-size 2 x 2 photos on a white background
- A passport valid for at least six months from the date of entry into Egypt
- A document confirming the availability of accommodation in Egypt (hotel reservation, rental accommodation, etc.)
- Receipt of payment of the visa fee
- If you are applying by mail, please also include a self-addressed, pre-paid envelope so that the Egyptian embassy/consulate can return your passport and documents
- Health insurance policy
- Booked round-trip tickets
Please note that the Egyptian authorities responsible for issuing visas in your country of residence have the right to require you to submit additional documents in addition to the above.
Visa upon arrival in Egypt
If you are a citizen of one of the countries that can obtain an Egyptian visa on arrival, you need to obtain it upon arrival in Egypt, but before going through immigration control.
• After landing at the Egyptian airport, you need to find the nearest visa issuance window. Wait for your turn at the immigration desk.
• You will be given an application form, fill it out. Bring your passport/ID card and cash to buy a visa.
• You will be given a stamp to put in your passport.
• Go to the immigration control counter and the passport control officer. Here you must present your passport with a stamp, booked airline tickets and documents confirming your accommodation reservation.
• Visas on arrival can be purchased in US dollars, British pounds sterling or euros, but only in cash. Currently, the cost of a single-entry tourist visa is equivalent to USD 25.
• After that, a border guard officer checks the documents and the absence of prohibitions on entry to Egypt, affixes a stamp, marks the border crossing and allows entry into the country.
Visa exemption at the Sinai resort in Egypt
Some foreigners do not need a visa if their travel plans include only a visit to one of the resorts on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. This visa exemption currently applies to citizens of the United States, all European Union countries, and travelers from Israel (applicable when crossing the border at the Taba border crossing).
Instead of a visa, the respective persons receive a stamp of free entry in their passports upon arrival at a certain port in Egypt.
This visa exemption applies to all travelers arriving at Sharm el-Sheikh, St. Catherine or Taba airports and intending to visit one of the following resorts in the Sinai Peninsula:
- Sharm el-Sheikh
- Dahab
- Nuweiba
- Taba
The granted permission for free entry to the Sinai Peninsula allows you to stay there for a maximum of 15 days, provided that during this period travelers will not travel outside the resort of their choice.
Health insurance in Egypt
You may need a health insurance policy to travel to Egypt. You can purchase insurance on the Visit World website here. Remember that a reliable insurance policy is the key to your confidence while traveling. Do not risk your own finances and health, choose the right insurance package and let your trip leave only pleasant memories.
