Egypt: Visa Info

22/12/2020

For most visitors the necessary Egypt travel docs are a passport and a visa. However, there are some travelers who do not need a visa to enter Egypt.

1) Citizens from Bahrain, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Macao, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates can enter without a visa (for periods of up to 3 months).

2) Citizens from EU countries and the USA who travel to the resorts of Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, and Taba, for a maximum of 15 days, can get a free entry permission stamp on arrival. If the trip is longer or if the visitor plans to leave these resorts, they must obtain a visa.

3) Travelers transiting through Egypt do not need any travel documents for Egypt other than their passport, as long as the period of time is no longer than 48 hours. Passengers with a transit time of less than six hours can leave the transit area, but not the airport.

E-Visa:

Some nationalities from around the world are eligible to apply for Egypt’s electronic (Online) visa through a state-of-the-art online application portal. The Egypt Online Visa, or Egypt e-Visa, is a new electronic travel authorization system for citizens of eligible countries wishing to travel to Egypt for tourism. An e-Visa for Egypt can be obtained through an online application without the need to visit the embassy.

The new electronic visa system was implemented by the Government of Egypt. The Egypt e-Visa aims to simplify the process for visitors to Egypt to obtain a travel authorization. The online Egyptian visa program accelerates the visa application process.The eVisa for Egypt is a single or multiple-entry visa. Allows its holder to visit the country for a maximum duration of 30 days at a time. The single-entry visa allows for one single entry within a three-month period while the Egypt multiple-entry visa permits the holidaymaker numerous entries of a maximum of 30 days at a time during a six-month period. The Egypt Visa is a requirement for travelers wishing to visit Egypt for tourism purposes.

To apply for an Egypt Visa the applicant will need to complete the online Egypt visa application so that he/she may receive the approved e-Visa via email.

There are currently 46 Egypt e-Visa eligible countries, including the United States, Australia, and all European Union member states. As it can take up to 5 business days to process, e-Visa for Egypt eligible travelers are advised to submit the application at least 7 days before the intended departure day.

Citizens from the following countries are eligible to apply for an Egypt e-Visa:

Egypt Visa on Arrival:

The Egypt Visa on Arrival can be obtained upon arrival from any Egyptian port of entry. It allows visitors to stay in the country for periods of up to 30 days.

After landing visitors can obtain a visa on arrival by queuing at a booth. The process involves completing an application and paying a fee at the Egyptian border. Citizens of many of the same Egypt visa online eligible countries also have the option to get a visa on arrival at border entry points. Citizens of the following countries are able to obtain an Egypt visa upon arrival:

All European Union citizens
Australia
Canada
Georgia
Japan
South Korea
New Zealand
North Macedonia
Norway
Russia
Serbia
Ukraine
United States

Citizens of China, Malaysia, and Turkey can also obtain a visa on arrival in Egypt under certain conditions.

The Egyptian visa on arrival permits a maximum stay of up to 30 days for tourism or business purposes in Egypt. However, the application process at the border involves long waiting times, as opposed to the fast and simple online application for the e-Visa.

Additionally, while eligible applicants can obtain a multiple-entry visa for Egpyt through the e-Visa application, it's only possible to get a single-entry Egypt visa on arrival at the border. The multiple-entry Egypt visa allows holders to stay for a maximum of 30 days at a time over a 180-day period with multiple entries but must be applied for online before entering the country.

Citizens eligible for the Egypt visa for multiple-entry, and who wish to work long-term in Egypt, are able to use the document to first enter the country before applying for a work permit with the support of an Egyptian employer.

Embassy visa:

Citizens from countries that are not eligible for an Egypt e-Visa or a Visa on Arrival need to apply for a visa for Egypt in person at an embassy or consulate. The process can take up to several weeks and involve numerous different stages including a formal interview.

Embassy visa travel documents requirements for Egypt: Applicants need a passport which has at least six months remaining from the date of travel and need to provide two recent, color passport photos. The application form can be obtained from the embassy, or downloaded before you go there.

Nationalities that require Pre Approval prior to the Consulate granting a visa are as follows:

Afghanistan
Algeria
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Bosnia – (of Egyptian Origin)
Burundi
Cambodia
Chad
China
Congo
Cyprus
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Ghana
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Kosovo
Laos
Lebanon (ages 16 to 50 years old)
Liberia
Libya-(men ages 16-60 years old)
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Mauritania
Moldova (Female ages 15 to 35 years old)
Mongolia
Morocco
Myanmar
Nepal
Niger
Nigeria
North Korea
Pakistan
Palestine (Male ages 16 to 40 years old)
Peoples Republic of China
Philippines
Rwanda
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Syria
Tunis
Turkey (Male and Female ages 18 to 45 years old)

Tourist Application Requirements for an Egypt Visa

Passport

You must provide your actual signed passport, including two copies of the personal information page of your passport. Your passport must:

Be valid for the next six months
Have at least one blank visa page (amendments and endorsement pages cannot be used to fulfill this requirement)
Not be frayed, torn, separating, or altered in any other way

Photographs
- You must provide two color, passport-type photographs that meets the following criteria:
- Be taken within the last three months and printed on high-quality photo paper
- Be taken against an all-white background
- Be two inches by two inches
- Provide the full frontal view of your head with your face centered in the middle and displaying a neutral (non-smiling) expression
- You may wear neither eyeglasses nor headwear except for religious purposes
- Your photos should not be affixed to your application and it may not display evidence of adhesive tape or staples

Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate

Applicants arriving from a yellow fever risk area or applicants who transited through such an area for more than 12 hours must provide a yellow fever certificate. Applicants will also be required to present the Yellow Fever certificate upon arrival.