How to Get a Tourist Visa for Egypt

Getting a Tourist Visa Ahead of Time

Apply for a passport well in advance of your trip. Regardless of when and where you plan to obtain your visa, you will need a passport in order to enter Egypt. You can often apply at a local post office or governmental office. You will need an application form, birth certificate, and other forms of identification. If you already have a passport, make sure it is not due to expire soon. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date of your arrival in Egypt. If you have an official or diplomatic passport, you must obtain your visa before arriving in Egypt, even if you are traveling as a tourist.

Consult your local government website for information on traveling to Egypt. Your country's government should provide current information on obtaining an Egyptian tourist visa and other entry requirements specific to travelers from your country of origin. For example, if you are from the USA, visit the travel information website of the State Department and look for information on traveling to Egypt. The State Department website offers information on entry and exit requirements (including passport and visa requirements), current travel alerts and warnings, health information, information about local laws and customs, contact information for American embassies and consulates in Egypt, and a general description of the country.

Apply for a tourist visa through your local Egyptian consulate or embassy. You may visit your embassy in person or apply by mail. Keep in mind that applications by mail will take additional time to process. In order to apply for a visa at your local embassy, you will need: A completed visa application (form available for download from most consulate/embassy websites). Two 2 inch x 2 inch (5.08 cm x 5.08 cm) current passport photos, against a white background. Your passport, which must be valid at least six months past your planned date of entry into Egypt. Two copies of your passport information page.

Bring money for your visa application fee. Most consulates or embassies will accept only cash or cashier's checks. Depending on your country of origin, tourist visa fees range from US $15-$30. For Single Entry you have to pay $25 visa fee and for multiple entry charges will be $60.

Bring additional documentation, if needed. Depending on your country of origin, you may need additional documentation, such as copies of your round-trip tickets or itinerary, or a letter from your school or employer. If you're a resident alien in the country from which you are traveling, you may need to provide a copy of your residency card.

Apply for pre-approval at the Egyptian Consulate, if necessary. Travelers from some countries must obtain pre-approval before obtaining an Egyptian tourist visa. This process can take up to 6 weeks and must be completed before the visa can be processed. Consult your local Egyptian embassy or consulate to learn the proper procedure for getting pre-approval to obtain a visa. Currently, pre-approval is required for citizens of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda, Liberia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mali, Niger, Chad, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, the Philippines, Lebanon (for travelers ages 16 to 50 years old), Morocco, Mauritania, Nigeria, Tunis, Bosnia (for travelers of Egyptian Origin), Congo, People's Republic of China, Somalia, Algeria, Cyprus, Sudan, Kosovo, Libya (for men ages 16-60 years old), Pakistan, Moldova (for women ages 15 to 35 years old), Syria, Turkey (for travelers ages 18 to 45 years old), Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Yemen, and North Korea.

Applying for a Tourist Visa on Arrival

Check with your local Egyptian consulate to see if you qualify for a visa on arrival. While Egypt grants visas on arrival to visitors from many countries, it is best to find out ahead of time if this service is available to you. Check ahead of time if you are uncertain about Egyptian entry policies regarding travelers from your country, or if you have any concerns about your personal eligibility to enter Egypt or obtain a visa.

Make sure you have all the documents you need. If you want to get your visa on arrival in Egypt, you will need to have a valid passport with at least one blank visa page, two current passport photos, two copies of the information page from your passport, and a completed visa application form. Check with your local consulate or embassy to find out if you may need any other documents.

Apply for your visa upon arriving at an Egyptian airport. Travelers from many countries can obtain visas upon arrival from bank kiosks located in the airport arrival halls. Visas obtained on arrival typically cost US $25, or US $35 for a multiple entry visa. Be sure to buy your visa from an official bank kiosk. You may encounter agents who will attempt to sell you overpriced visas. Most tourist visas that can be obtained on arrival are valid for 30 days. Travelers from some countries, such as the UK, may obtain free entry permits valid for up to 15 days when traveling directly to resorts at Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, and Taba.

Renewing Your Visa in Egypt

Have your documents ready. If you plan to stay in Egypt beyond 30 days, you will need to renew your tourist visa. To renew the visa, you will need the same basic documents required for an initial visa application: Your passport Two passport photos Two copies of your passport information page and of the page with your original entry visa

Go to the nearest passport office to renew your visa. You should find out ahead of time where the nearest passport office is in the area where you plan to stay. The fee for renewing your visa may vary, but it should be about Egyptian £15.

Be prepared to pay a fine if you do not renew your visa. Tourist visas typically expire after 30 days in Egypt, with a 14 day grace period after the day of expiration. If you fail to renew your visa within this grace period, you may have to pay a fine at the airport before you can leave the country. If you find yourself in this situation, try to find out ahead of time how much the fine will be so that you can be sure of having enough Egyptian currency on hand when you go to the airport.