Egypt Visa Policy

Familiarize yourself with the visa policy for Egypt and discover Egyptian visa requirements for your nationality.

Visa Policy for Egypt

The visa policy of Egypt determines the requirements for all foreign nationalities wishing to travel to the country. Most foreign visitors who want to visit Egypt need a visa as well as a valid passport.

The quickest and simplest way to get a tourist visa is to apply for an e-Visa through a simple online application. In line with Egypt’s visa policy, nationals of many countries are eligible to use the streamlined system to get an Egyptian visa from the comfort of their own home.

An Egypt tourist e-Visa allows a total stay of 30 days per entry, and may be approved as either a single or multiple-entry authorization, depending on the needs of the applicant.

Citizens of certain countries are able to obtain a visa on arrival at an immigration checkpoint at Egypt’s border. However, this visa option often involves waiting in a long line to submit an application to an official and requires payment in local cash currency. It also runs the risk of being denied entry and having to return home if the visa application is unsuccessful.

For these reasons, it is recommended to get an e-Visa in advance rather than waiting until arrival.

There are currently about 130 countries and territories around the world whose citizens need to obtain an embassy visa from an Egyptian diplomatic office before traveling, no matter the purpose of the stay or the intended length of the trip. This usually requires making a consular appointment well in advance of departure.

All non-tourist visas for Egypt must be applied for at an Egyptian embassy or consulate, regardless of the traveler’s citizenship.

Certain travelers may qualify for visa exemption for Egypt for short stays for select purposes.

Learn more about the Egyptian visa policy below.

Tourist Visa Policy for Egypt

The Egypt tourist visa policy states that the majority of travelers who want to enter the country for tourism must obtain a visa. 

This can be done in the following ways:

  • Applying for an electronic travel visa (e-Visa) online
  • Submitting a visa application at the nearest government diplomatic office
  • Queuing for a visa on arrival from a border entry checkpoint

The Egypt tourist e-Visa is considered the quickest and most convenient option for citizens of eligible countries. Unlike the other tourist visa types, an e-Visa is normally quickly processed and approved. It can be obtained via a simple online application.

It  eliminates the need to go to an embassy in person or spend travel time waiting in border queues.

The electronic visa will only be issued for eligible travelers who want to visit Egypt for tourism activities. Tourists not eligible for the e-Visa are required to obtain a visa on arrival at Egyptian immigration control or through the nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate.

Consult the map below for further information about the tourist requirements for your nationality to enter Egypt.

Egypt e-Visa

The Egypt visa policy states that there are currently over 70 countries that can apply for an electronic visa for Egypt through a quick online application.

The Egypt e-Visa is regarded as the easiest and most convenient way to visit the country for tourism purposes.

Simply complete a short form online and you will receive the Egypt e-Visa for tourism by email within 2 days — much faster than the processing times for embassy visas.

Eligible travelers can choose either a single or multiple-entry e-Visa. Both can be used to enter the country within 3 months of approval. The single-entry option only allows 1 entry during this time, while the multiple-entry visa permits multiple trips to Egypt within 6 months of the first entry.

The visa policy of Egypt states that e-Visa holders can stay for up to 30 days per permitted entry to the country.

When applying for an Egyptian e-Visa, the traveler must have an eligible passport valid for 6 months minimum from the expected date of arrival in Egypt.

Once approved, the e-Visa will be electronically linked to the passport  and a copy will also be sent via email. Travelers must print out the e-Visa and present it at immigration control when traveling to Egypt.

Egypt e-Visa-eligible travelers who wish to visit for non-tourist purposes such as to work or study, are required to apply for a visa through the nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate.

Find below a full list of all the countries for which an e-Visa is needed to visit Egypt.

Egypt e-Visa: Country list

  • Albania
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bolivia
  • Brazil
  • Bulgaria
  • Chile
  • China
  • Colombia
  • Croatia
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Ecuador
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kuwait
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macedonia
  • Malta
  • Mexico
  • Moldova
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Puerto Rico
  • Qatar
  • Republic of Cyprus
  • Romania
  • Russian Federation
  • San Marino
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Serbia
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Uruguay
  • Vatican City
  • Venezuela

Visa on Arrival

Citizens of around 60 countries around the world are able to obtain a visa on arrival at an immigration checkpoint in Egypt.

A visa on arrival is a singleentry travel document which permits a short stay of up to 30 days in Egypt from the moment of approval.

Applying for a visa on arrival for Egypt usually involves a lengthy wait in an immigration queue after the long journey to receive a visa on arrival application to complete.

After completing the form with a range of personal details, passport data, and travel information, the applicant is required to pay the Egypt visa on arrival fee in the local cash currency. Payment by credit/debit card is not accepted.

To receive an approved Egyptian visa on arrival, the applicant must also have a valid passport with at least 2 blank pages to which a visa sticker will be attached.

If the Egypt visa on arrival application is denied for any reason, you will not be allowed to enter Egypt. You will have to purchase a flight ticket home.

To avoid the risk of visa denial at the border and spending unnecessary time applying at immigration, it is highly recommended to get an Egypt visa in advance. The easiest way to do this for eligible travelers is by applying for the e-Visa online.

Check the list below to see if your nationality is eligible for the Egypt visa on arrival.

Visa on Arrival: Country list

  • Andorra
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Bahamas
  • Bhutan
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cambodia
  • Costa Rica
  • Cuba
  • Dominica
  • Dominican Republic
  • Federated States of Micronesia
  • Fiji
  • Grenada
  • Guinea
  • Guyana
  • Haiti
  • Jamaica
  • Kiribati
  • Laos
  • Liechtenstein
  • Maldives
  • Marshall Islands
  • Nauru
  • Nepal
  • Nicaragua
  • Palau
  • Panama
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Samoa
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • Seychelles
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Sudan
  • Suriname
  • Timor Leste
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tuvalu
  • Vanuatu

Visa on arrival vs e-Visa

Many travelers who are eligible for a visa on arrival still choose to obtain the e-Visa before they travel.

  • Visa on arrival is a single-entry visa only.
  • The e-Visa can be issued for multiple entries.

The e-Visa process is simpler and faster and gives travelers the peace of mind that they already have the authorization to enter the country.

In contrast, a visa on arrival may be refused, in which case they will have to immediately return to their country of origin at their own expense.

Finally, an e-visa is an online process that you can complete in the comfort of your home, and with a visa on arrival, you will need to wait in line at the visa application desk to process the visa.

Embassy or Consular Visa Required

Egypt’s immigration rules state that citizens of countries who are not exempt from Egypt visa requirements and who are not eligible to receive an e-Visa online or a visa on arrival must apply through an Egyptian embassy or consulate in their country of residence. Around 130 nationalities around the world are required to apply for an embassy visa to visit the country.

In addition, all non-tourist visas (e.g. business visas, work visas, etc.) or long-term visas must be obtained from a diplomatic mission, regardless of the traveler’s nationality.

The protocol of obtaining an Egyptian embassy visa involves requesting an appointment at an Egyptian consular government office.

It is recommended to make the appointment well in advance of the expected travel dates, since it may take up to 2 weeks or more for an embassy visa application to be processed and approved.

All applicants for an embassy visa must hold a passport with a minimum validity of 6 months from the intended date of arrival in Egypt.

Single-entry Egypt tourist visas are valid for 6 months and allow a traveler to stay in Egypt for a maximum of 60 days.

Multiple-entry Egypt tourist visas are valid for 6 months and allow a traveler to stay in Egypt for a maximum of 90 collective days.

Applicants must also provide supporting documentation depending on the desired purpose of stay, whether for tourism, business, transit, or to work, study or become a resident of Egypt.

All individuals applying for an embassy visa for Egypt are also required to complete an application form with relevant information and pay a visa fee before the travel document can be approved.

Browse the list below and discover if an Egypt embassy visa is required for your nationality to travel to the country.

Embassy or Consular Visa Required: Country list

  • Afghanistan
  • Aland Islands
  • Algeria
  • American Samoa
  • Angola
  • Anguilla
  • Antarctica
  • Aruba
  • Bangladesh
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Benin
  • Bermuda
  • Bonaire
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Botswana
  • British Indian Ocean Territory
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Burkina Faso
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Cape Verde
  • Cayman Islands
  • Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Christmas Island
  • Cocos Islands
  • Comoros
  • Congo
  • Cook Islands
  • Curacao
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Djibouti
  • El Salvador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Ethiopia
  • Falkland Islands
  • Faroe Islands
  • French Guiana
  • French Polynesia
  • Gabon
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Greenland
  • Guadeloupe
  • Guam
  • Guatemala
  • Guernsey
  • Guinea Bissau
  • Honduras
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Isle of Man
  • Israel
  • Ivory Coast
  • Jersey
  • Kenya
  • Kyrgyzstan
  • Lebanon
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Mali
  • Martinique
  • Mauritania
  • Mauritius
  • Mayotte
  • Mongolia
  • Montserrat
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Myanmar
  • Namibia
  • New Caledonia
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • Niue
  • Norfolk Island
  • North Korea
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Pakistan
  • Palestinian Territory
  • Philippines
  • Pitcairn Islands
  • Reunion
  • Rwanda
  • Saint Barthelemy
  • Saint Helena
  • Saint Martin
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Senegal
  • Sierra Leone
  • Sint Maarten
  • Somalia
  • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sudan
  • Svalbard and Jan Mayen
  • Swaziland
  • Syrian Arab Republic
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Togo
  • Tokelau
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Turkmenistan
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Uganda
  • United States Virgin Islands
  • Uzbekistan
  • Vietnam
  • Wallis and Futuna
  • Yemen
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Visa Not Required

The Egyptian visa policy states that certain travelers can visit Egypt visa-free if they meet certain criteria.

Tourists of certain nationalities staying in specific resorts on the Sinai Peninsula may be visa-exempt for Egypt.

Previously, citizens of certain countries did not need a visa for Egypt for a short period of stay. Now, these countries have been added to the e-Visa system.

The Egypt visa-free program also applies to citizens of a number of countries who comply with certain conditions depending on their age, gender, place of residence, destinations, or passport conditions, which vary according to nationality. Additionally, most foreign citizens who are relatives of Egyptians, whether children or spouses who have proof of marriage, are visa-exempt for the country. These countries include Afghanistan, Algeria, Libya, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Sudan, South Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen.

In order to pass through the Egyptian border without a visa, it is usually necessary to present an eligible passport valid for at least 6 months.

Visa-free entry to Egypt also applies to transit, as long as the stopover is brief. If someone is transiting and their stay in Egypt is less than 6 hours, they do not need a transit visa but cannot leave the airport. For transits with stays of over 48 hours in Egypt, applying for a transit visa is necessary.

Below you can find a full list of the Egypt visa not required countries.

Visa Not Required: Country list

  • Jordan
  • Macau

Sinai Resort Visa Exemption for Egypt

A visa is not required for a number of foreign citizens if the traveler is only planning to visit one of the resorts located on Egypt’s Sinai peninsula.

This currently includes nationals of the United States, all European Union countries, and Israel (if they are traveling through Taba Border Crossing). In place of a visa, these eligible travelers are issued a free entry permission stamp in their passport upon arrival at select ports in Egypt.

This visa exemption applies to all eligible citizens arriving at either Sharm el Sheikh, Saint Catherine or Taba airports, and who are planning to travel to any of the following Sinai resorts:

  • Sharm El Sheikh
  • Dahab
  • Nuweiba
  • Taba

The free entry permit for the Sinai Peninsula allows the holder to stay for a maximum of 14 days, on the condition that they do not leave their resort during their stay.

To stay in the Sinai resorts for longer periods, or travel outside the peninsula, It will be necessary to apply for the relevant Egypt visa type.

This content has been reviewed by

Ekaterina Powell

US Immigration Attorney

Ekaterina Powell is a U.S. attorney licensed in the State of California, working in the area of U.S. immigration law for over 12 years. She has been featured as one of the top immigration lawyers in her state and city several times and has contributed to notable industry publications.

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