Egypt Tourist Entry Requirements For 2026

Published on Nov 29, 2025, 8:59 pm CST

14 min read

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Planning a trip to Egypt means dealing with a visa system that looks simple at first glance, but actually varies by your passport, where you plan to go, and how often you visit. This guide focuses on short stay tourists and typical business visitors heading to Cairo, the Nile Valley, and the Red Sea resorts in late 2025 and 2026, and helps you understand which entry route fits your situation.

You will see references to visas on arrival, the official Egypt eVisa portal, seasonal visa waivers for specific resort areas, and a newer five year multiple entry visa for frequent visitors. Because Egyptian authorities can change fees, eligibility lists, and procedures with little notice, and because border officers always have discretion, you should treat this as general information only and confirm details with official sources before you book or travel.

Entry Snapshot

For most travelers, short visits to Egypt work on a straightforward pattern.

Almost all foreign visitors need some form of visa or entry permission.
Many nationalities can choose between an eVisa and a visa on arrival for stays up to about thirty days.
Some resort areas, especially in South Sinai, offer short stay entry permission stamps without a full visa for limited visits.
Your passport usually needs at least six months validity beyond your arrival date and at least one blank page.

The exact route depends on your citizenship, your travel history, and whether you plan a single trip, a series of visits, or longer stays.

Who Can Visit And For How Long

Egypt welcomes tourists and short stay business visitors from a wide range of countries, but the way you enter and how long you can stay changes significantly by passport. There is no single rule that applies to everyone.

If you hold a passport from many European Union countries, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, or a number of Asian and Gulf states, you are typically eligible for both an eVisa and a visa on arrival for short visits. These tourist visas usually allow a stay of up to thirty days per entry, with the exact duration set by the entry stamp that border officers place in your passport.

Travelers whose nationalities are not on Egypt's eVisa or visa on arrival eligibility list usually must obtain a visa in advance at an Egyptian embassy or consulate that serves their place of residence. Egyptian consular sites emphasize that many applicants should secure a visa before travel, and that emergency visas at the airport are discretionary, not guaranteed.

There are a few common short stay exemptions. If you fly directly into certain South Sinai resorts such as Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, or Taba and stay fewer than about fifteen days, you may receive a free entry permission stamp on arrival instead of a full visa, but this normally restricts you to that region and does not cover travel to Cairo or the rest of Egypt. Seasonal promotions have sometimes waived visa fees for direct flights into Luxor or Aswan, but these are time limited and should never be assumed without checking current official notices.

Egypt has also introduced a five year multiple entry tourist visa aimed at frequent visitors, priced in the hundreds of dollars, that lets eligible travelers stay for extended periods on each visit, recently increased up to one hundred eighty days per entry. Eligibility is limited to specified nationalities and often linked to holding valid visas for certain partner countries, so you should treat this as a special case that requires direct confirmation with Egyptian authorities before you count on it.

Whatever route you use, overstaying your authorized period can lead to fines, complications on departure, and problems with future entries. You should always plan your itinerary so that you leave Egypt before the date or number of days shown in your entry stamp, and speak with local immigration offices about extensions well in advance if you think you need more time.

Visa Options And Common Exemptions

For most short term visitors there are four practical visa pathways, plus a couple of special regime cases.

Electronic visa (eVisa)

Egypt runs an official electronic visa system for tourists and some business travelers that lets eligible passport holders apply online before they fly. You create an account on the official Egypt eVisa portal, enter your personal and trip details, upload or enter any requested documents, pay the fee, and receive an approval document that you print and carry with your passport.

The standard eVisa for tourism usually allows a stay of up to thirty days from the date you enter Egypt. Official and partner information typically cites a fee of about twenty five US dollars for a single entry visa and about sixty dollars for a multiple entry version, although government and tour operator advisories warn that costs can change without much notice. Authorities recommend applying at least seven working days before travel, and you should only use the official portal, since the State Department warns that many third party sites mimic the service and may overcharge.

Visa on arrival

If your passport is on the eligibility list, you can obtain a visa on arrival at major international airports and some other ports of entry. In practice this usually means paying a fee at a bank or visa counter in the arrivals hall, receiving a visa sticker, then joining the passport control queue where officers place the entry stamp. Official advisories for United States citizens describe a renewable single entry thirty day tourist visa on arrival for roughly twenty five US dollars in cash, and a multiple entry option at about sixty dollars.

Egypt is currently upgrading this process, testing a more digital visa on arrival system that uses QR codes and aims to streamline payments and verification across airports by 2026, but at ground level you should still expect a mix of manual counters and new machines for some time. To reduce stress, arrive with small denomination US dollar or euro notes, and do not assume that every counter will accept cards.

Embassy and consulate visas

If you are not eligible for an eVisa or visa on arrival, or if you need a visa category that goes beyond tourism, you will usually need to apply through an Egyptian embassy or consulate before your trip. Consular sites outline requirements such as application forms, recent photos, a passport with at least six months remaining validity, proof of legal residence in the country where you apply, and sometimes supporting letters from employers, hosts, or tour organizers.

These visas cover categories such as long term study, work, official visits, and some types of extended tourism or multiple entries that are not handled through the standard eVisa. Processing times can vary widely, so you should not book non refundable flights or tours until your passport is back in hand with the correct visa.

Short stay resort entry permissions and fee waivers

If you only visit specific Red Sea or South Sinai resorts for fewer than about fifteen days, you may be eligible for an entry permission stamp rather than a full visa. This can be convenient for short package holidays, but it restricts your movement to the named areas and may not permit side trips to Cairo or Luxor. From time to time, Egypt has also waived visa fees for visitors flying directly into Luxor or Aswan during summer campaigns, but these programs are temporary incentives, not permanent rights.

If you plan to leave the resort area, travel overland, or combine your beach stay with wider sightseeing, you should obtain at least a standard tourist visa instead of relying on a regional stamp or fee waiver.

Documents You Should Prepare Before Travel

Even when a visa on arrival is available, airline staff and Egyptian immigration officers can refuse boarding or entry if your documents do not meet baseline rules. Preparing a simple document file in advance reduces the chance of last minute problems at check in or passport control.

At a minimum, you should expect to need:

A passport that is valid for at least six months from your arrival date and has at least one, and ideally two, blank pages.
A printed copy of your eVisa approval, if you applied online.
Proof of onward or return travel, such as a return air ticket or confirmed itinerary.
Proof of accommodation for at least your first nights, such as hotel or tour vouchers.
Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay, for example recent bank statements or credit cards.
Details of travel insurance that includes medical cover, which many tour operators strongly recommend or require.

Passport validity is one of the most common trip ruining issues. Several government advisories specify that your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date you enter Egypt, and some tour companies advise six months beyond your planned departure to provide extra margin. Airlines will usually check this at check in, and can deny boarding even if an immigration officer might have exercised discretion.

Proof of onward travel and accommodation is sometimes requested at the airport, and is built into many eVisa application forms. A clear itinerary, even if you keep your plans flexible, helps demonstrate that you are visiting for tourism and intend to leave within the allowed time.

Health related entry rules sit mostly outside this guide, but note that Egypt expects travelers arriving from or transiting through yellow fever risk countries to carry an appropriate vaccination certificate, and health recommendations can change, especially after outbreaks. If your itinerary passes through sub Saharan Africa or parts of South America, you should confirm these requirements through both your home country health authority and Egyptian government sources.

What To Expect At The Border

At major airports such as Cairo International, Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh, and Luxor, arrival is organized but can feel busy, especially at peak tour times. After disembarking, you will follow signs for arrivals, where the process splits depending on whether you already hold an eVisa or plan to obtain a visa on arrival.

If you are using a visa on arrival, you usually go first to a bank or visa counter to pay the fee and receive a visa sticker, then proceed to passport control. There, an officer will examine your passport, ask basic questions about the purpose of your visit, length of stay, and accommodation, and stamp your entry. Some tour operators station staff in the arrivals hall to guide their clients through this sequence, but even in that case, the officer retains full discretion over your entry and length of stay.

If you hold an eVisa, you go directly to the foreign passports queue at passport control, present your printed approval and passport, and answer similar questions. Officers may scan the QR code or reference number from your eVisa approval and still decide to admit you for a shorter or equal period than the visa's theoretical validity, based on their assessment and any system checks.

Land borders are more variable. Crossings in North Sinai and along the Libyan frontier often sit under heightened security or travel advisories, and may be closed or restricted to specific categories such as residents, aid workers, or commercial traffic. Even where tourism is technically permitted, not all land posts provide visas on arrival, so if you intend to enter overland from Israel, Jordan, or Sudan, you should confirm both the security situation and the visa procedures with your embassy and with Egyptian authorities before you commit.

Cruise passengers and river cruise guests typically have much of the formal paperwork handled in bulk by the cruise line, which often collects passports temporarily and arranges group visas. You should still carry a copy of your passport bio page and any individual visa or permission documents whenever you leave the vessel for shore excursions.

Throughout, remember that having an eVisa approval, a visa sticker, or a consular visa in your passport is never an absolute right to enter Egypt. Border officers have the power to question you in detail, adjust your period of stay, or in rare cases refuse entry without detailed explanation, as official advisories explicitly note.

When Rules Are Different

The rules in this guide assume you are visiting as a tourist or for short business meetings. If your situation differs, you should not rely on standard short stay pathways.

If you plan to work, volunteer, study, or engage in journalism or other professional activity, you will almost always need an appropriate visa or permit arranged in advance, typically with supporting documents from an Egyptian employer, university, or sponsor. Using a tourist visa for these purposes can put you at risk of refusal at the border, fines, or removal.

Frequent visitors who are considering the five year multiple entry visa or any of the newer extended stay options face a more complex landscape. The headline promise of longer allowed stays per visit and easier repeat entries is attractive, but eligibility rules, permitted activities, and application channels can change as the program evolves. In these cases you should treat marketing articles as secondary, and base decisions only on current wording from Egyptian government sites or detailed guidance from your nearest Egyptian consulate.

Special caution is also warranted if you hold dual nationality, if you have previously overstayed in Egypt or another country, if you have a criminal record, or if you are a minor traveling alone or with only one parent. Airlines and border officers may ask for additional documents such as parental consent letters, court orders, or evidence of rehabilitation, and practices vary by port and officer. If your situation is complex, you should consult a qualified immigration attorney or speak directly with an Egyptian consulate and your own government's travel advice service before you rely on this guide.

Where To Confirm The Latest Rules

Because Egyptian visa policy and fees have changed several times in recent years, and because new digital systems are rolling out through 2026, you should always confirm the latest position shortly before you apply or travel.

Your first reference point should be the official Egypt eVisa portal, which lists eligible nationalities, explains application steps, and publishes current fees and payment methods. Take care to use the genuine government site, not a third party service with a similar name that charges extra processing fees.

Next, check the website of the Egyptian embassy or consulate responsible for your country of residence. These sites publish visa categories, local application procedures, and any additional paperwork required for residents, long stay visitors, and non eligible nationals.

Finally, cross check with your own government's foreign travel advice pages, which often summarize Egyptian entry rules in plain language and add security context such as regional travel warnings, demonstration risks, and advice about land borders. This combination of Egyptian and home state sources gives you the best sense of both the legal framework and how it is being applied in practice.

Remember that this guide is general information, not legal advice. Only Egyptian authorities and your own government's consular services can give binding decisions or commitments about your ability to enter and stay.

Before You Book

To keep your trip to Egypt focused on the experience rather than the paperwork, treat entry planning as part of your booking process, not an afterthought. Before you commit to flights and tours, confirm whether you are eligible for an eVisa or visa on arrival, check your passport expiry date and blank pages, and decide whether a simple thirty day tourist visa matches your plans or whether you need a more specialized visa category.

Once you have chosen a visa route, apply only through official channels, gather more documentation than you expect to show, and keep both printed and digital copies of your key documents close at hand whenever you travel. If your situation falls into any of the edge cases described above, speak with a qualified attorney or with the relevant embassy or consulate before you rely on general information. Rules can and do change without notice, and final decisions at the border always rest with Egyptian immigration officers.