Get a Tourist Visa for Egypt

Egypt is a country in Northern Africa that connects to Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. The country has a thriving tourist industry based largely on its preserved history of ancient civilizations. Famous monuments include the Great Sphinx, the Giza Pyramids and the Valley of the Kings. All travelers to Egypt are required to have both a passport and a visa. The tourist visa process depends upon your country of nationality and where you plan to enter Egypt. You will need to begin planning well before your trip. Read more to find out how to get a tourist visa for Egypt.

Steps

  1. Apply for a passport well in advance of your trip, if you do not have 1 already. You can often apply at a local post office or governmental office. You will need a birth certificate, application form and other forms of identification.
    • Apply for a passport a few months in advance of your trip. You may need it in order to apply for an Egyptian tourist visa. Your visa must be valid for at least 6 months after your departure date.
  2. Apply for a tourist visa upon entry through an Egyptian airport. You can do this if you are a citizen of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Korea, Croatia, Georgia, Macedonia, Serbia, the Ukraine, a country that is part of the Russian Federation, or a country that is a member of the European Union.
    • Upon arrival at an Egyptian airport, you will need to apply for a visa with your personal information, details about your travel plans and passport information. You will need to pay $15 or the equivalent amount in Egyptian pounds. Your tourist visa is valid for 30 days.
  3. Apply for a tourist visa from an Egyptian Consulate if your country is not listed above. Also apply for a visa in advance if you are arriving overland, if you have had difficulties in the past or if you are arriving for diplomatic purposes.
    • You can apply for a visa from the consulate either in person or by mail. You should allow 7 to 10 business days for visa processing. Please allow more turn-around time for mail applications.
    • You will need to provide a passport, 2 passport photos and a copy of your itinerary and/or round trip plane tickets within 30 days of arrival in the country. The visa will be affixed to your passport and sent back to you. A visa is valid for 6 months after the date of its approval.
    • Some other documents may be required depending upon your nationality. For example, Chinese visitors must provide a letter from their employer or university.
  4. Apply for clearance in addition to a visa at the Egyptian Consulate. This can take up to 6 weeks and must be completed before the visa can be processed. Submit 2 copies of your visa application, 2 copies of your travel documents, 2 copies of your passport and 2 passport photos.
    • Clearance is required for citizens of Myanmar, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan, Somalia, Indonesia, Morocco, Thailand, Algeria, Sri Lanka, Lebanon, the Philippines, Iraq, Moldova, Palestine, Kosovo, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Eritrea, Afghanistan, Sudan, Israel, Djibouti, Chad, Mauritania, Niger, Comoros, Mali, Burundi, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria.

Tips

  • Travelers to certain Egyptian resorts, such as Sharm El Sheikh, Nuweiba, Taba and Dahab do not need a tourist visa if they stay less then 15 days. However, they will need a tourist visa for any travel outside of the resorts.
  • You can also apply at an Egyptian Consulate for a multiple entry visa for extended travel to Egypt. This type of visa will allow you to stay in Egypt for 90 days and return more than once within 6 months.
  • Diplomats, South Africans, and wives or parents of Egyptian Nationals will have their visa fee waved.
  • Malaysian nationals are allowed to stay in Egypt for up to 2 weeks without a visa. Any travel beyond the 2 weeks will require a travel visa.
  • Pay attention to travel warnings, especially in the Sinai Peninsula. You can visit your country's embassy website in Cairo to stay on top of any threats in Egypt or travel restrictions.

Warnings

  • Israeli citizens and those with Israeli visas or stamps will be refused entry into Egypt. The same will also happen if there is any evidence of a visit to Israel.

Things You'll Need

  • Passport
  • $15
  • 2 passport photos
  • Copy of travel itinerary
  • Copy of round-trip plane tickets
  • Letter from employer or university (optional)

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Sources and Citations

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