Visa policy of Egypt
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Visitors to Egypt must obtain a visa from one of the Egyptian diplomatic missions unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries that are eligible for visa on arrival.
Visitors must hold passports that are valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival to Egypt.
Visa policy map
[edit]
Visa exemption
[edit]Nationals of the following countries and territories may visit Egypt without a visa, for a stay up to the duration listed below:[1][2]
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6 months 3 months |
# - Must hold a normal 5-year passport that does not contain a stamp from the "Jordanian Registration Office" on the reverse side cover of the passport on page 60. Holders of "T-series" passports are not eligible for visa exemption, and must obtain a visa before entering Egypt.[3]
- In addition, holders of an United Nations Passport do not require a valid visa for up to 90 days.
- In addition, holders of an Interpol Passport do not require a valid visa for up to 90 days.
Conditional visa-free access
[edit]In addition, nationals of the following countries in certain age groups and genders may also enter Egypt without a visa, for a stay up to the duration listed below:[1][4]
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Indefinite stay 6 months
3 months 30 days |
1 - Visa exemption for female nationals.
2 - Visa exemption for male nationals aged below 18 or above 45 years old.
3 - Visa exemption for male nationals aged below 16 or above 50 years old.
4 - Visa exemption for all nationals aged below 16 or above 50 years old.
5 - Visa exemption for all nationals aged below 16 or above 50 years old.
6 - Visa exemption for all nationals aged below 14 years old.
7 - Visa exemption for male nationals aged above 40 years old.
Sinai resorts visa waiver
[edit]
According to the Egyptian Consulate General in the United Kingdom citizens of all European Union countries, the United States, and Israel (only through Taba Border Crossing[5]) do not require a visa prior to travelling as a free entry permission stamp will be granted upon arrival if they are travelling to Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resorts only without leaving them and for a maximum of 14 days:[2]
According to Timatic, citizens of all countries may enter Egypt without a visa at Sharm el-Sheikh, Saint Catherine or Taba airports, for a maximum stay of 15 days. This does not apply to citizens of the following 76 countries and territories: Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, DR Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.[1]
Other visa-free waivers
[edit]Furthermore, visa exemption also applies to nationals of the following countries under limited circumstances:
Israel - 14 days in the Sinai Peninsula if entering through Taba Border Crossing or Sharm El Sheikh International Airport.
Lebanon - if travelling to Alexandria and South Sinai; and if arriving at Borg El Arab Airport, Hurghada Airport or Sharm el Sheikh Airport on a charter flight.[6][7][8]
Libya - for male nationals who are husbands or children of female Egyptians; for all nationals who hold an "Investment Authority approval" for those entering Egypt for business; and for Libyan students who hold an accreditation certificate or valid Egyptian University ID card for the current academic year.[1]
Palestine - for male nationals in transit to the Gaza Strip via Rafah Border Crossing if the border crossing at Rafah is confirmed to be open; for male nationals who hold an official invitation issued to participants of international and regional conferences; and for male nationals who hold an "Investment Authority approval" for those entering Egypt for business related to companies or projects in Egypt.[1]
Qatar - Egypt suspended unconditional visa waivers for Qatari citizens in July 2017.[9] Nevertheless, according to Timatic, Qatari citizens who have received prior approval from the Ministry of Interior of Egypt can enter Egypt without a visa for a maximum stay of 6 months.[1]
Yemen - for nationals who are husbands, wives or children of Egyptians; and for nationals entering Egypt for medical reasons, provided they hold original supporting documents issued by an accredited Egyptian government hospital and are arriving directly from Yemen.[1]
If travelling as part of a organised tour group that consists of at least 2 people, nationals of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia who hold a signed guarantee letter from a travel agency, do not require a visa to enter Egypt.[1]
Visa exemption also applies to nationals of Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand who are spouses and children of Egyptians. To qualify, a copy of a birth certificate, passport or national ID card of the relative must be presented to prove the relationship.[1]
Visa exemption also applies to sons and daughters born to an Egyptian father (except nationals of Canada, Iraq, Qatar, Syria and Yemen), to an Egyptian mother if born after 25 July 2004 (except nationals of Canada, Iraq, Qatar, Syria and Yemen), and to wives of Egyptian nationals (except nationals of Canada, Iraq, Morocco, Qatar and Syria). To qualify for these visa exemptions, a copy of a birth certificate, passport or national ID card of the relative must be presented to prove the relationship.[1]
Non-ordinary passports
[edit]
Holders of the following diplomatic, official, service or special passports do not require a visa for Egypt:[1]
* - Not visa-exempt, but may obtain a visa on arrival.
D - Diplomatic passports
O - Official passports
S - Service passports
Sp - Special passports
VIP - VIP passports
Visa exemption agreements for holders of diplomatic, service and special passports were signed with Bulgaria and Burundi, but they have not yet entered into force.[10][11]
Visa on arrival
[edit]According to Timatic, nationals of the following countries may obtain a visa on arrival in Egypt for stays up to the duration listed below, provided the purpose of entering Egypt is for tourism only:[1]
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30 days
1 month 15 days |
- In September 2024, Egypt announced that it would waive prior visa requirement for Canadian citizens.[13]
- In Oct14th 2024 , The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that visas will now be available upon arrival at Egyptian borders starting 1 December 2024 for all Canadians arriving in Egypt from that date onwards. Additionally, the option to apply for an electronic visa (E-VISA) will be reactivated.[14]
Conditional visa on arrival
[edit]On 17 December 2020, Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt announced, on Twitter, that a decree has been activated that allows tourists holding valid visas from the US, the UK, or Schengen countries to apply for visa on arrival at airports in Egypt.[15]
According to Timatic, such visas are valid for a maximum stay of 30 days, and that nationals of Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Mali, Niger, Sudan and Yemen are not eligible for visas on arrival under this decree.[1]
Nationals of Iraq are instead eligible for a similar policy, in which they must hold a multiple-entry visa from the US, the UK, or Schengen countries, a confirmed return / onward ticket, a hotel reservation confirmation and proof of sufficient funds to be eligible for a visa on arrival, for a maximum stay of 1 month.[1]
Nationals of Yemen are also eligible for a similar policy, in which they must hold a multiple-entry visa from the US, Schengen countries, or a GCC member state to be eligible for a visa on arrival.[1]
Tour groups
[edit]If travelling as part of a organised tour group that consists of at least 2 people, nationals of India who hold a signed guarantee letter from an authorized Egyptian travel agency can obtain a visa on arrival in Egypt.[1]
If travelling as part of a organised tour group that consists of at least 15 people, nationals of Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand who hold a signed guarantee letter from an authorized Egyptian travel agency can obtain a visa on arrival in Egypt.[1]
If travelling as part of a organised tour group (arranged by an Egyptian tourism company certified by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities) that consists of at least 3 people, nationals of Iraq can obtain a visa on arrival in Egypt, valid for a maximum stay of 1 month.[1]
Nationals of Armenia, Georgia, India and Kyrgyzstan can also obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 1 month, if they hold a "Letter of Guarantee" issued by a local travel agency.[1]
Other visa on arrival conditions
[edit]Nationals of Canada holding proof of valid or expired Egyptian nationality can obtain a visa on arrival.[1]
Nationals of Syria holding a residence permit issued by a GCC Member State can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 90 days.[1]
Nationals of Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia who are husbands or wives of a GCC national can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days. To qualify for a visa on arrival, they must hold a marriage certificate and travel into and out of Egypt with their spouses.[1]
Nationals of Iraq aged below 16 or above 60 years old can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 1 month.[1]
Egyptian Consulate General in the UK
[edit]According to the Egyptian Consulate General in the United Kingdom, citizens of the following countries can obtain a visa upon arrival at any of the Egyptian ports of entry:[2]
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Electronic visa (e-Visa)
[edit]
Since 3 December 2017, citizens of 46 countries were eligible to apply for tourist or business visas valid for 30 days online through the e-Visa system.[16] 28 countries more were added from July 1, 2021, with North Korea apparently being removed back in 2018.[17]
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Authorised visa required
[edit]According to the Egyptian Consulate General in the United Kingdom visitors holding passports of the following countries must apply for a visa in person and a visa approval must be sought for them from the proper authorities in Egypt and takes several weeks to process.[2]
Transit without a visa
[edit]Holders of onward tickets can transit for a maximum time of 48 hours. This is not applicable to nationals of Iran who are required to hold a transit visa. Leaving the airport is permitted for passengers with transit time between 6 and 48 hours.
Passengers with transit time of less than 6 hours may leave the transit area but not the airport. This is not applicable to nationals of Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine and Philippines who must remain in the transit area (airside) and must continue by the same or first connecting aircraft.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Visas - General Information". The Consulate General of the Arab Republic of Egypt in The UK. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ^ Male nationals aged between 19 and 39 who hold "T-series" passports must also obtain prior approval before entering Egypt.[1]
- ^ "Libya and Egypt agree border residents can cross frontier without visas". libyaherald.com. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ "Tourist Visa Table" (PDF). mfa.gov.il. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ "Lebanese to enter Egypt without visa, other Arab nationalities to soon follow - Egypt Independent". egyptindependent.com. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ "Lebanese to enter Egypt's Alexandria without visa on new charter airline". english.alarabiya.net. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ "Lebanese Nationals Can Now Travel to Alexandria Without a Visa". Cairo Scene. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ "Egypt ends visa-free entry for Qatari citizens".
- ^ @nshingamateka (27 January 2022). "The @nshingamateka just analysed and adopted the ratification bill on visa exemption agreement for holders of diplo…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "x.com".
- ^ Including all classes of British nationality.
- ^ Egypt to waive prior-entry visa requirement for Canadian travelers soon: Foreign ministry
- ^ "Egypt nullifies pre-arrival visa requirements for Canadians starting 1st December". Ahram Online.
- ^ @TourismandAntiq (16 December 2020). "تفعيل قرار منح تأشيرات سياحية بمنافذ الوصول للحاصلين علي تأشيرات سارية من أمريكا أو انجلترا أو دول شنجن Egypt act…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Egypt e-Visa Portal". Ministry of Interior (Egypt). Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ^ "Egypt adds 28 new countries to tourist e-visa list".
External links
[edit]
Egypt travel guide from Wikivoyage