An Egypt visa is required for most travelers, including American and British passport holders. Americans and citizens from 74 other countries can obtain an Egypt visa on arrival at the Cairo International airport at the bank kiosks before the immigration counters for $25 USD and are valid for a single visit for up to 30 days.
The easiest and best stress-free way to get an Egypt visa is with iVisa. For a service fee of only $45.49 USD, iVisa will do all the paperwork for you. Within four days, you’ll have your visa for Egypt.
Click here to check Egypt visa rates for your nationality
Egypt Covid Travel Entry Requirement in 2022
Do you need to be vaccinated to travel to Egypt?
No, as of May 2022, you do not need to have the Covid vaccine to travel to Egypt.
Do you need a Covid test to travel to Egypt?
No, you do not need a Covid test to travel to Egypt. Egypt has lifted all Covid testing requirements for travelers.
Do you have to quarantine when traveling to Egypt?
There is no quarantine requirement when traveling to Egypt after Covid.
Do you need health insurance to travel to Egypt?
No, you do not need health insurance. However, we strongly urge you to have some travel insurance, we use Safety Wing Travel Insurance.
Acceptable Covid-19 Vaccines in Egypt for travel
You no longer need to be vaccinated to travel to Egypt. If you are vaccinated, we still urge you to bring your vaccine card as some companies/hotels may ask for it.
Where Can You Get An Egypt Visa On Arrival?
Visa on arrivals can be obtained at anEgyptian port of entry (land borders and Egyptian airports.) We obtained our Egypt Visa on arrival at the Cairo International airport.
Next time we travel to Egypt, we plan on having our visas arranged with iVisa in advance. That way, we know for sure we have the visa in hand before traveling. Whenever you show up to a country expecting a visa on arrival, you are running the risk that you could be denied it.
BUT if you want to have your Egyptian visa in hand before you travel, click here for iVisa, which arranges Egypt visas for a service fee of $45.49 USD for passport holders from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, etc.
They arrange visas for all other nationalities, prices may vary. If you ask us, this is super cheap, and you won’t have to worry about having exact change or USD on you. Please do not email us/or comment below asking how to get a visa, instead, just click here.
Where Do I Get The Visa On Arrival?
When landing at the airport in Egypt, go to the visa on arrival window BEFORE getting in the queue for immigration. Here you will give them $25 USD, and they will give you a visa on arrival sticker.
Place the sticker on a blank page in your passport and get in the immigration queue. That’s it, get your stamp, collect your luggage, and head off exploring Egypt!
How Much Does A Visa On Arrival In Egypt Cost?
$25 USD only no other currencies will be accepted. It’s best to have exact change, it will only make things easier. DO NOT plan on using your credit card. YouCANNOT pay by credit card or with any other currency than USD.
We have been contacted by many readers time and time again who have tried to get an Egypt visa on arrival and didn’t have USD cash, and they all have said no other currency is allowed. If you cannot come up with $25 USD then you will have to purchase a visa when exiting Egypt for $50 USD. This is what we have been told by readers and something we didn’t experience.
You could also get an Egypt Visa before traveling to Egypt online. This way you don’t have to worry about going to the bank and having USD with you. We suggest arranging this with iVisa online here.
Don’t forget your travel insurance! We have usedSafety Wing travel insuranceWhich typically covers medical, trip cancellation, your belongings from theft or damage, baggage, car rental coverage, and more.
What Nationalities Can Obtain An Egypt visa On Arrival?
Citizens from the following countries can obtain a visa on arrival at Egyptian ports of entry:
- USA
- UK
- EU Nationals
- Australia
- Canada
- Georgia
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Republic of Korea
- Russian Federation
- Serbia
- South Korea
- Ukraine
If you are not a passport holder from one of the above countries, you will not be eligible for a visa on arrival. Instead, you must arrange your Egypt E-Visa in advance before traveling to Egypt. iVisa arranges Egypt e-visas for a small fee, usually $33.
Please do NOT send us an email asking us questions about getting an Egyptvisa, we will not respond to these emails. Please reach out to iVisa they can help with all your visa questions and needs.
Which Land Borders Issue An Egypt Visa on Arrival:
Please note we did not personally experience crossing the border into Egypt and obtaining a visa on arrival. We have heard from many locals that it isn’t advised and borders can close down at any moment. Before traveling, inquire about the current border crossing and confirm you can obtain a visa on arrival before traveling.
What’s The Different between an Egypt E-Visa and Visa On Arrival?
An e-visa you get in advance before travel. An email will be sent to you containing a PDF of your visa. The e-Visa will also be attached to your passport electronically, so when your passport is scanned at immigration. Citizens from 46 countries can apply for an Egypt e-Visa. You’ll need to apply online in advance. If you want a guaranteed visa before traveling, you’ll have to apply for Egypt e-Visa.
iVisa.com can help with the application, and they’ll submit it for processing and make sure it is applied for in the appropriate time frame according to your travel dates.
A visa on arrival is just that you get it on arrival. There is no application process or anything to do prior to your trip. Make sure to have $25 USD to purchase an Egypt visa on arrival.
Things To Know Before Applying For An Egypt Visa
- Egypt’s e-Visa’s are valid for 90 days after they are issued. If you go through iVisa, they will make sure to submit your application so your travel dates fit within this window.
- 30 days is the amount you can stay in Egypt, both e-Visa or visa on arrival is valid for 30 days. If you overstay your visa, you could be fined, deported, or even banned from Egypt for any future travel.
- A passport must be valid for six months from when arriving in Egypt.
- Minimum of one blank page in your passport.
- Printed e-Visa copy, if you obtained an e-Visa you must present a printed copy to the immigration officers.
Special Sinai Resorts Permission Stamp
Travelers from select countries that are traveling to Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, or Taba resorts and not leaving them, can get a free permission stamp for up to 14 days.
The permission stamp is only available at any international Sinai entry point: Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, or Taba. It’s often referred to as the “Sinai Only Visa.” The 14-day permission stamp only allows travel only on the Sinai’s Gulf of Aqaba coast which includes: Taba, Nuweiba, Dahab, and Sharm el-Sheikh.You will not be able to travel to mainland Egypt and other parts of the Sinai.
Citizens of the following countries can apply for the Sinai Only Visa:
- All European Union Countries
- Israel (only through Taba Border Crossing)
- United States
90-Day Egypt Visa
There is a multiple-entry Egypt Visa that is valid for 90 days. This would allow you to come in and out of Egypt over a 90-day period. The 90-day Egypt visa costs $60 on arrival, or for an additional $45.49 iVisa can arrange it for you.
Do you Need an Egypt Visa if Transiting Through?
No, you will not need an Egypt Visa if you are transiting through and your layover is under 48 hours. You will have to show your boarding pass for your onward flight. If you decide to leave the airport, you will have to hand over your passport.
*If you hold an Iran passport, you cannot leave the transit area. Iranians always require a tourist visa in Egypt.
Where to Stay in Cairo – Recommended Cairo Hotels
It is best to have your first few nights in Cairo prebooked, as once you leave the airport you will see how chaotic Cairo is. We would also highly recommend having your hotel or a driver meet you at the airport.
This will get a trip to Egypt off on the right foot. The traffic in Cairo is insane, you’ll appreciate having something pre-booked with AC. We spent 4 nights in Cairo on our trip to Egypt, here are some hotels in Cairo we’d recommend:
- Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah Check Prices Booking.com
- Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa Check Prices Booking.com
- Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski Check PricesBooking.com
- Novotel Cairo Airport Check Prices Booking.com
Recommended Cairo Tours and Things To Do In Cairo
If you are planning a visit to the Great Pyramids, you’ll be spending at least a night or two in Cairo. When planning your time in Cairo, don’t try and do too much in one day. The traffic in Cairo is terrible, and you could easily miss something if you didn’t allow enough time between tours.
Here are a few recommended tours you can book in advance on Viator.com. I prefer to book a few things in advance that way, I am not haggling for a fair price, and it’s less local currency to take out of the ATM.
- Giza Pyramids and Sphinx Tour from Cairo Airport during a layover, book here for $36
- Giza Pyramids and Sphinx Tour from Cairo Half Day tour, book here $8
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile with Belly Dancing Show from Cairo, book here for $53
- Private Full-Day Tour Visiting Giza Pyramids, Transfers & lunch, book here $37
- Click here to view all Viator a TripAdvisor company available Cairo Tours
Which countries can visit Egypt Visa Free?
There are 9 countries that can travel to Egypt visa free. They are:
- Bahrain
- Hong Kong
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Macao
- Oman
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
- Malaysia
FAQs
Is it easy to get a visa at Hurghada airport? ›
To obtain a visa, go straight to the Banks and currency exchange kiosks inside the terminal building, these are located before the customs and immigration counters. For visits of up to 30 days, you can get a visa by payment in Sterling, US Dollars or Euros; the visa fee is US$25.
How much is Egyptian visa on arrival? ›If you wish to get a visa on arrival, you can do so at approved bank kiosks within airport arrival halls, before reaching immigration counters. The visa fee is US$25, payable in US dollars as the preferred currency, although you may also be able to pay in pounds sterling or euros.
What documents do I need for Egypt visa? ›- Passport. You must provide your actual signed passport, including two copies of the personal information page of your passport. ...
- Photographs. ...
- VisaCentral Order Form. ...
- Visa Application Form. ...
- Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate. ...
- Visa Upon Arrival.
Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at Egypt's international airports. If you prefer to skip the airport queues and dive straight into exploring, you can apply for your visa online seven days in advance via the Egyptian Government's official e-Visa portal.
Do I need PCR test to enter Egypt if I am vaccinated? ›No. Passengers traveling to Egypt are not required to take a COVID-19 test to fly to Egypt. Egypt's COVID-19 entry restrictions were lifted on June 17, 2022. Previously, travelers who did not have a valid vaccination certificate needed to take a COVID-19 PCR or antigen test before flying.
How long does it take to get a visa for Egypt? ›Processing an application for an Egyptian visa normally takes 2-15 days, once all the documents have been successfully submitted.
Can you pay for Egypt visa by card? ›Applicants obtain their visas electronically after entering required information and making payments by a credit or debit card. A link to download your e-visa will be sent to you. Passport authorities at ports of arrival can check the validity of your e-Visa on their system.
How much does an E-visa for Egypt cost? ›The cost for standard processing of a Egyptian visa is USD $74.99. iVisa.com offer three different services: Standard processing (10 Business Days) - USD $74.99. Rush processing (8 Business Days) - USD $116.99.
How long does it take to get through Hurghada Airport? ›There are 3 checks to go through before you get air-side. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2+ hours to get through.
How long does Egypt E visa take? ›Egypt e-Visa applications are usually processed within 5 business days. Travellers are advised to apply at least 7 days in advance of the intended departure to Egypt, in the rare case of delays. In many cases, visitors will receive their e-Visa for Egypt much sooner — perhaps within a day or two.
Do you need a visa for Egypt Hurghada from UK? ›
Passports & Visas
As a British citizen, you must have a valid passport and a visa to enter Egypt. You can get your visa at the airport when you arrive in Egypt, or from the Egyptian Consulate. If you're only travelling to Taba and/or Sharm el Sheikh, you won't need a visa.
Hurghada Airport is the second busiest airport in Egypt, after Cairo Airport. Hurghada on the Red Sea is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the country.