Egypt Visa Guide: What Most Travelers Actually Need

Visa rules vary by passport, but here's what applies to most travelers booking with us. Most nationalities (including the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia) can get a visa on arrival at Cairo, Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh airports — pay in cash (USD or EUR, exact change helps) at a bank kiosk before immigration, then queue for passport control. It's usually a 10–15 minute process outside of peak arrival times. The e-visa (applied for online in advance at visa2egypt.gov.eg) is the safer bet if you'd rather not deal with cash on arrival or you're arriving somewhere without a visa-on-arrival kiosk. It typically takes a few business days to process, so apply at least a week before you fly. A handful of nationalities need to arrange a visa through an Egyptian embassy before traveling — check your specific passport on the official portal, since this list changes. Sinai-only visitors (staying exclusively in Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba and not traveling to mainland Egypt) can get a free 15-day Sinai-only entry stamp instead of a paid visa — worth knowing if your whole trip is a Red Sea dive holiday. One thing we tell every guest: bring your passport with at least 6 months' validity from your travel date, and keep a photo of the visa/entry stamp on your phone in case you're asked for it later in your trip.