An Egypt visa is required for most travelers, including American and British passport holders. Americans and citizens from 74 other countries can obtain an Egypt visa on arrival at the Cairo International Airport at the bank kiosks before the immigration counters for $25 USD and are valid for a single visit for up to 30 days.
Should you get a visa on arrival in Egypt or an Egypt eVisa? Yes, there is a difference.
The easiest and best stress-free way to get an Egypt visa is with iVisa. For a small service fee, iVisa will do all the paperwork for you. Within four days, you’ll have your visa for Egypt eVisa.
Click here to check Egypt visa rates for your nationality
Easiest Way to Get an Egypt Visa
In less than 10 minutes, you can apply for Egypt eVisa online here. Have your visa in your hands in as little as 3 business days.
How To Get An Egypt Visa On Arrival 2024
Where Can You Get An Egypt Visa On Arrival?
Visa on arrivals can be obtained at an Egyptian port of entry (land borders and Egyptian airports.) We obtained our Egypt Visa on arrival at the Cairo International Airport.
Next time we travel to Egypt, we plan on having our visas arranged with iVisa in advance. That way, we know for sure we have the visa in hand before traveling. Whenever you show up to a country expecting a visa on arrival, you are running the risk that you could be denied it.
But if you want to have your Egyptian visa in hand before you travel, click here for iVisa, which arranges Egypt visas for a service fee of $61.99 USD for passport holders from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, etc.
They arrange visas for all other nationalities. Prices may vary. If you ask us, this is super cheap, and you won’t have to worry about having exact change or USD on you.
Please do not email us/or comment below asking how to get a visa. Instead, just click here.
Where Do I Get The Visa On Arrival?
When landing at the airport in Egypt, go to the visa on arrival window BEFORE getting in the queue for immigration. Here, you will give them $25 USD, and they will give you a visa on arrival sticker.
Place the sticker on a blank page in your passport and get in the immigration queue. That’s it. Get your stamp, collect your luggage, and head off exploring Egypt!
How Much Does A Visa On Arrival In Egypt Cost?
$25 USD only. No other currencies will be accepted.
It’s best to have an exact change. It will only make things easier. DO NOT plan on using your credit card. You CANNOT pay by credit card or with any other currency than USD.
We have been contacted by many readers time and time again who have tried to get an Egypt visa on arrival and didn’t have USD cash, and they all have said no other currency is allowed. If you cannot come up with $25 USD, then you will have to purchase a visa when exiting Egypt for $50 USD. This is what we have been told by readers and something we haven’t experienced.
You could also get an Egypt Visa before traveling to Egypt online. This way, you don’t have to worry about going to the bank and having USD with you. We suggest arranging this with iVisa online here.
Don’t forget your travel insurance! We have used Safety Wing travel insurance Which typically covers medical, trip cancellation, your belongings from theft or damage, baggage, car rental coverage, and more.
What Nationalities Can Obtain An Egypt visa On Arrival?
Citizens from the 104 following countries can obtain a visa on arrival at Egyptian ports of entry:
- EU Nationals
- USA
- Canada
- UK
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua
- Barbuda
- Argentina
- Bahamas
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Brunei Darussalam
- Cambodia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Fiji
- Georgia
- Grenada
- Guinea
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Iceland
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Laos
- Liechtenstein
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Marshall Islands
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Russia
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome & Principe
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- South Suda
- Saint Vincent & Grenadines
- Suriname
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- East Timor
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
If you are not a passport holder from one of the above countries, you will not be eligible for an Egypt visa on arrival. Instead, you must arrange your Egypt E-Visa in advance before traveling to Egypt. iVisa arranges Egypt e-visas for a small fee, usually $33.
Please do NOT send us an email asking us questions about getting an Egypt visa. We will not respond to these emails. Please reach out to iVisa; they can help with all your visa questions and needs.
Which Land Borders Issue An Egypt Visa on Arrival:
Please note we did not personally experience crossing a land border into Egypt and obtaining a visa on arrival. We have heard from many locals that it isn’t advised, and borders can close down at any moment. Before traveling, inquire about the current border crossing and confirm you can obtain a visa on arrival before traveling.
What’s The Difference Between an Egypt E-Visa and Visa On Arrival?
An Egypt eVisa you get in advance before travel. An email will be sent to you containing a PDF of your visa. The e-Visa will also be attached to your passport electronically, so when your passport is scanned at immigration.
Citizens from 46 countries can apply for an Egypt e-Visa. You’ll need to apply online in advance. If you want a guaranteed visa before traveling, you’ll have to apply for Egypt e-Visa here.
iVisa.com can help with the application, and they’ll submit it for processing and make sure it is applied for in the appropriate time frame according to your travel dates.
A visa on arrival is just that you get it on arrival. There is no application process or anything to do prior to your trip. Make sure to have $25 USD to purchase an Egypt visa on arrival.
Things To Know Before Applying For An Egypt Visa
- Egypt’s e-Visa’s are valid for 90 days after they are issued. If you go through iVisa, they will make sure to submit your application so your travel dates fit within this window.
- 30 days is the amount of time you can stay in Egypt. Both the Egypt eVisa and visa on arrival are valid for 30 days. If you overstay your visa, you could be fined, deported, or even banned from Egypt for any future travel.
- A passport must be valid for six months from when arriving in Egypt.
- Minimum of one blank page in your passport.
- Printed e-Visa copy, if you obtained an e-Visa you must present a printed copy to the immigration officers.
Special Sinai Resorts Permission Stamp
Travelers from select countries that are traveling to the Sinai Red Sea Resorts, Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, or Taba and not leaving them can get a free permission stamp for up to 14 days.
The permission stamp is only available at any international Sinai entry point: Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, or Taba. It’s often referred to as the “Sinai Only Visa.” The 14-day permission stamp only allows travel only on the Sinai’s Gulf of Aqaba coast, which includes Taba, Nuweiba, Dahab, and Sharm el-Sheikh. You will not be able to travel to mainland Egypt and other parts of the Sinai.
Citizens of the following countries can apply for the Sinai Only Visa:
- All European Union Countries
- Israel (only through Taba Border Crossing)
- United States
- UK
90 Day Egypt Visa
There is a multiple-entry Egypt Visa that is valid for 90 days. This would allow you to come in and out of Egypt over a 90 day period. The 90 day Egypt visa costs $60 on arrival, or iVisa can arrange it for you here.
Do you Need an Egypt Visa if Transiting Through?
No, you will not need an Egypt Visa if you are transiting through and your layover is under 48 hours. You will have to show your boarding pass for your onward flight. If you decide to leave the airport, you will have to hand over your passport.
*If you hold an Iranian passport, you cannot leave the transit area. Iranians always require a tourist visa in Egypt.
Where to Stay in Cairo – Recommended Cairo Hotels
It is best to have your first few nights in Cairo prebooked, as once you leave the airport, you will see how chaotic Cairo is. We would also highly recommend having your hotel or a driver meet you at the airport.
This will get a trip to Egypt off on the right foot. The traffic in Cairo is insane. You’ll appreciate having something pre-booked with AC. We spent four nights in Cairo on our trip to Egypt. Here are some hotels in Cairo we’d recommend:
- Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah Check Prices Booking.com
- Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel and Spa Check Prices Booking.com
- Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski Check PricesBooking.com
- Novotel Cairo Airport Check Prices Booking.com
Recommended Cairo Tours and Things To Do In Cairo
If you are planning a visit to the Great Pyramids, you’ll be spending at least a night or two in Cairo. When planning your time in Cairo, don’t try and do too much in one day. The traffic in Cairo is terrible, and you could easily miss something if you don’t allow enough time between tours.
Here are a few recommended tours you can book in advance on Viator.com. I prefer to book a few things in advance. That way, I am not haggling for a fair price, and it’s less local currency to take out of the ATM. This is the best tour we took.
- Giza Pyramids and Sphinx Tour from Cairo Airport during a layover, book here
- Giza Pyramids and Sphinx Tour from Cairo Half Day tour, book here
- Dinner Cruise on the Nile with Belly Dancing Show from Cairo, book here
- Private Full-Day Tour Visiting Giza Pyramids, Transfers & lunch, book here
- Click here to view all Viator a TripAdvisor company available Cairo Tours
Which Countries Can Visit Egypt Visa Free?
There are 10 countries that can travel to Egypt visa free for up to 90 days visa free. They are:
- Bahrain
- Hong Kong
- Kuwait
- Lebanon
- Macao
- Israel *special conditions apply
- Oman
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
- Malaysia
Egypt Covid Travel Entry Requirement in 2024
Do you need to be vaccinated to travel to Egypt?
No, as of May 2023, you do not need to have the Covid vaccine to travel to Egypt.
Do you need a Covid test to travel to Egypt?
No, you do not need a Covid test to travel to Egypt. Egypt has lifted all Covid testing requirements for travelers.
Do you need health insurance to travel to Egypt?
No, you do not need health insurance. However, we strongly urge you to have some travel insurance. We use Safety Wing Travel Insurance.
