Egypt Visa
Egypt is a transcontinental country in North Africa with its capital located in its largest city, Cairo. Egypt is best known as the home of the ancient Egyptian civilization, with its temples, hieroglyphs, mummies, and – visible above all – its pyramids.
In March 2015 it was announced that all foreigners travelling to Egypt for tourism will require visas in advance as of May 15, 2015. The only exemption will be for organized groups visiting through an Egyptian travel agency. From November 2017, for stays under 30 days this will take the form of a tourist e-Visa which can be obtained simply and quickly through an online application process.
TYPES OF EGYPT VISAS
Regardless of whether you are working, studying or touring in Egypt, you must purchase a tourist/entry visa when you arrive in Egypt. Tourist visas are only valid for a single entry. The fee for the tourist visa is $25 and it is valid for 30 days.
If you’re traveling to Egypt to study, you must first obtain a tourist visa in order to enter the country, and then within seven days of entering, go to a local police station to register with your information.
EGYPT VISA REQUIREMENTS
No matter what type of visa you need, you should have the following documents on hand:
- Valid passport
- Several passport-size photos
- Application forms (available through the consulate)
- Proof of financial means to support yourself while living in Egypt (or, if you will be working, a letter from your employer proving that you will be working there)
- Proof of a return tickets or funds to purchase a return ticket to your country of origin
Student visa requirements
You must first obtain a tourist visa in order to enter the country, and then within seven days of entering, go to a local police station to register with your information. While in this process, you must also fill out a visa application form that should be provided by your institution of study. When you have your application form ready, you’ll have to take it, along with your valid passport and a passport-sized photo, to the Ministry of the Interior to finish your application. The fee will be somewhere between 50 EGP and 100 EGP, which translates to around $3 -$6 USD.
Work visa requirements
In addition to the usual valid passport and application, you’ll need seven passport photos, both the originals and copies of your certificate (college degree, etc.) that qualifies you for the position, a reason that a foreigner should have the job rather than a qualified Egyptian, a representative from your employer to sponsor you, approval from Egypt’s State Security office proving that you are not a threat to the nation, and approval from the ministry relevant to your field. Finally, an application fee of 1,000 EGP must be paid to complete the application. That equates to $56.28 USD.
Residence visa requirements
First, you’ll need the tourist/entry visa, which is essentially the same thing, and then you’ll need to apply at the local police station with an application in both English and Arabic, a valid passport that should be current up to six months, and a passport-style photo. These requirements may subject to change, you should check with your local Embassy of Egypt to be sure before heading out.
HOW TO APPLY FOR AN EGYPT VISA
Download and fill out the visa application form
Gather all required documents for you types of visa.
Visit the Egypt Embassy to submit your visa application form and meet other relevant requirements and pay visa fees.
Wait for result and take your stamped visa.
COST OF EGYPT VISA
Cost may vary depending on your nationality and types of visa. It may cost about US$15-$91.
Exemptions from Visa Fees
Egyptian visa fees do not apply to the following:
- Holders of diplomatic passports.
- Officials of international organizations and specialized agencies and state delegates to conferences.
- Arab League officials.
- Non-national spouses of Egyptian nationals.
- Non-national members of the clergy, prominent scientists, journalists and members of official cultural, educational and sports delegations.
- Non-national students studying in Egyptian institutions.
- Non-diplomatic personnel of diplomatic and consular missions affected in Egypt.
- Parents, siblings and adult children of members of the diplomatic and consular corps affected in Egypt.
- Nationals of Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Russia and the United States are partially exempt from Egyptian visa fees and will, therefore, pay a reduced fee.
EGYPT VISA PROCESSING TIME
When applying for an Egypt visa, processing time and fees are very dependent on the visa class, as well as the nationality of the applicant and the time of year. Both the time taken to process the visa application and the cost are subject to change, but the standard processing time is 10 working days.
EGYPT VISA APPLICATION FORM
All visa applicants will be required to fill out the Visa Application Form which can be downloaded from: Egypt Visa Application Form
VISA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Do I need a visa to visit Egypt?
All visitors to Egypt are required to have both a passport and a visa unless you come from one of the visa exempt countries or territories, which include Bahrain, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macao, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (as of May 2018). Citizens from some countries in the North Africa and the Middle East can also visit Egypt visa-free under certain conditions.
2. How much do visas cost and where is the easiest place to get them?
Depending on your nationality, costs and procedures can differ. If youre an American citizen, you can purchase your visa at the airport upon arrival at a cost of $15 (US) per person. However, different nationalities have different rules.
For detailed information on visas and fees, please contact the Egyptian Embassy or Egyptian Consulate nearest you.
3. Can I obtain a visa upon arrival at Egypt?
Egypt visa on arrival policy applies to the following countries: the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, all European Union countries, Norway, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Serbia, Malaysia, Macedonia, Japan, South Korea, China (as of May 2018).
If you are a citizen of one of these countries, you can obtain a visa with your passport information, personal information and details about your travel plans upon arrival at an Egyptian port of entry. The visa on arrival is usually valid for 30 days.
4. How can I get an Egyptian tourist visa in advance?
If your country is not listed above, you need to apply for the visa at an Egyptian embassy or consulate in your country either in person or by post.
Your passport must have at least six months of validity and one blank page. Other documents required for visa application vary depending on the applicant’s nationality. Please consult an Egyptian consulate in your country for more details.