Visa policy of Egypt

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 exemption
Nationals of the following countries and territories may visit Egypt without a visa, for a stay up to the duration listed below:


 * 1) - 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.

Conditional visa-free access
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 - 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 15 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


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 ) 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:

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.

Other visa-free waivers
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.
 * 🇱🇾 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.
 * 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.
 * 🇶🇦 Qatar - Egypt suspended unconditional visa waivers for Qatari citizens in July 2017. 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.
 * 🇾🇪 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.

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.

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.

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.

Non-ordinary passports


Holders of the following diplomatic, official, service or special passports do not require a visa for Egypt:

D - Diplomatic passports O - Official passports S - Service passports Sp - Special passports VIP - VIP passports
 * - Not visa-exempt, but may obtain a visa on arrival.


 * A visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic, service and special passports was signed with Burundi, but it has not yet entered into force.

Visa on arrival
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:

Conditional visa on arrival
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.

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.

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.

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.

Tour groups
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.

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.

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.

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.

Other visa on arrival conditions
Nationals of Canada holding proof of valid or expired Egyptian nationality can obtain a visa on arrival.

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.

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.

Nationals of Iraq aged below 16 or above 60 years old can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 1 month.

Egyptian Consulate General in the UK


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:

1 - Nationals of Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Portugal can enter with a national ID card. They must bring a passport photo to be affixed to the visa.

Nationals of Bangladesh with a valid and used visa or residence permit issued by Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom or a Schengen Member State can obtain a visa on arrival for a maximum stay of 30 days. This was announced on August 18, 2022, and initially was valid until April 2023. Later on in March 2023, this scheme was extended until further notice.

Electronic visa (e-Visa)
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. 28 countries more were added from July 1, 2021, with North Korea apparently being removed back in 2018.

Authorised visa required
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.

Transit without a visa
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.