To visit Egypt, you will need a valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining, calculated from the date of your arrival. The citizens of most countries also need a visa.

what do i need to travel to egypt

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What Do I Need To Travel to Egypt?

Do I need a visa to travel to Egypt? Yes, in addition to your passport, you will almost certainly also need a valid visa in order to enter the country. Only a very small number of countries have arrangements with Egypt that allow their citizen visa-free entry.

So, what do I need to travel to Egypt besides a valid passport and a visa? Since you will not be allowed into the country without a visa, let’s first take a look at how to go about obtaining your visa for Egypt.

Applying for Egypt Entry Visas

The criteria for obtaining an entry visa for Egypt vary depending on your nationality and/or what passport you will be traveling on. For example, some nationalities can apply for a visa online, or get a visa on arrival when they land in Egypt, while others need to apply for their visas prior to travelling to Egypt. When it comes to obtaining an entry visa for Egypt, there are three options:

Apply for a visa at an Egyptian Embassy or consular office
Apply for a visa on arrival at any international airport in Egypt
Apply online for an Egypt e-Visa

Visa Applications at an Embassy or Consular Office

Egypt’s entry requirements differ from one nationality to the next. As a general rule of thumb, if you are a citizen of a country whose nationals are able to apply for an online e-Visa or a visa on arrival when arriving in the country, then the process of applying for a visa at an embassy or consular offices is very straightforward.

If you are from a country whose citizens cannot get a visa on arrival or on online e-visa, then you may need to provide things like proof of employment when applying for your Egypt entry visa. You may also be asked for a copy of your planned travel itinerary and for information relating to where you will be staying during your trip to Egypt.

If you are from a country in Africa, Asia, or South America we strongly recommend getting in touch with your nearest Egyptian embassy or consular office before booking flights and/or an Egypt tour package. You should also consider working with an established visa agent that has experience arranging visas for Egypt.

Visas on Arrival

Providing you are from a qualifying country, you will have the option of getting a visa on arrival at Cairo International Airport. To do this, simply join the queue at one of the kiosks that you will pass on your way to immigration and passport control. You will be required to complete a visa application form, and then pay the visa fee which, at the time of writing, was $25 U.S. Dollars.

Once you have paid the visa fee, you will be given a sticker which you stick on your passport. All you need to do now is hand your passport to one of the immigration officials who will then stamp your passport, allowing you into the country.

Visas on arrival are available at all international airports rather than only Cairo International Airport. These visas are Single Entry visas that allow you to stay in the country for up to 30 days. You cannot obtain a Multi-Entry visa on arrival, and neither can you get a business visa on arrival.

Online e-Visa

As a general rule of thumb, anyone who is able to obtain a visa on arrival in Egypt, is also able to apply for a visa online. To apply for an online e-Visa, visit the official Egypt E-Visa Portal and set up an account. Once you have set up your account, simply log into your account and apply for your visa and pay the visa fee with a credit card or debit card.

As of the time of writing, two types of visa were available online:

Single entry tourist visa – $25.00
Multiple entry tourist visa – $60.00

If you are able to apply for an Egypt e-Visa, we highly recommend doing so because it is considerably more convenient than visiting an Egyptian embassy or standing in long queues to get a visa on arrival.

If you need a business visa you will need to apply for it at an Egyptian embassy or consular office.

Covid – 19 Travel Restrictions

What do I need to travel to Egypt in terms of Covid-19 travel restrictions? You only need a valid passport and a valid entry visa in order to visit Egypt. On the 17th of June 2022, the Egyptian government lifted all the last remaining Covid-19 travel restrictions which were previously in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to the lifting of restrictions visitors either had to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination or they had to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test done no more than 72 hour before boarding their flight to Egypt. This is no longer the case. Egypt is once again 100% open for tourists, as are all of the country’s major archaeological sites.

Those flying to Egypt do however need to fill out a Public Health Card containing your contact details. This is so the Egyptian authorities can notify you if they have reason to believe that you may have been infected by someone you were travelling with. You will need to present your Public Health Card to the Egyptian authorities on arrival in Egypt.

Be aware that the Egyptian government is constantly monitoring the Covid-19 situation. If deemed necessary, certain travel restrictions could potentially be re-imposed, and this could be done at very short notice.

Vaccination / Immunization

What do I need to travel to Egypt in terms of vaccinations? For the vast majority of travellers, there are no mandatory vaccinations required for travel to Egypt. However, if you live in a country where Yellow Fever is prevalent, you will need to show proof of Yellow Fever immunization. You will also need to show proof of immunization if you have recently visited a country where Yellow Fever is prevalent.

Recommended Vaccines

While there are no compulsory vaccines, there are some which all travelers should consider getting before travelling to Egypt:

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is spread through contaminated food and/or water. You can get Hepatitis A in Egypt regardless of where you stay and where you eat, so this is one vaccine which everyone should consider getting before travelling to Egypt.

Typhoid

Typhoid can also be caught by eating or drinking contaminated food and/or water. People who intend staying in small cities or towns, or staying in rural areas, should consider Typhoid vaccination before visiting Egypt. The same applies for people who intend staying with friends or relatives in Egypt.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is spread by body fluids of people who are infected. If you intend getting a tattoo in Egypt or having sex with a new partner, you should consider a Hepatitis B vaccine before travelling to Egypt

Rabies

Rabies is spread by infected dogs and other animals. If you are going to visit rural areas or places where it is likely that you will come into contact with animals you should get your Rabies vaccines before travelling.

Travel Insurance

While you are essentially free to travel to Egypt without any travel insurance, doing so is rather reckless. If you pay for your airline tickets and your Egypt tour package using a credit card or debit card, travel insurance may be supplied by your card provider. Nonetheless, it is always best to get proper health/travel insurance from a company that specializes in travel insurance.

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