Do you need a visa to go to Egypt? If you plan a trip to Egypt, you may hastily conclude that you need a visa, but this may not be true. It will surprise you that not every visitor requires an Egyptian visa, so if you don’t need one, it will be a waste of time and resources to apply for one when you can enter Egypt visa-free. This is why travelers are always advised to read the immigration policy and visa requirements before embarking on a journey to any country, not only Egypt.
Do You Need A Visa To Go To Egypt?
Whether you wed w visa to go to Egypt or not will depend on your nationality. Citizens from visa-exempt countries don’t need visas, while those from non-visa-exempt countries need visas. Let us explain the difference below.
Visa Exempt Country: The visa-exempt list is a selection of first-world countries whose citizens don’t need visas to visit Egypt. Some include the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand, and citizens from all 27 Schengen countries making the trip to Egypt. If you come from any of these countries, you don’t need a visa to enter the country of the Pharaohs, and you only need to show your passport at the airport and enter. The only reason people in this category may require an Egypt e visa is that they plan to stay much longer, and they must approach the Egyptian embassy in their respective countries for long term visas to apply for a visa.
Non-Visa Exempt Country: The second list is those from non-visa-exempt countries, consisting of second and third-world countries. You need a visa to enter Egypt if your country is on this list. The requirements for travelers from these countries differ, but the need for a visa is mandatory.
Visa On Arrival
There is another special list for visitors who require visas but can obtain them at the airport once they touch down in Egypt. Remember that only travelers with visas can enter the country, but there is a special exception for those eligible for a visa on arrival. The visa in arrival is only obtained at two locations; The Sharm El Sheikh Airport and the Cairo International Airport. If your country is on the visa-on-arrival list, you are free to travel down to Egypt and apply for this visa at the immigration kiosk.
However, you will have to be patient if you find a long queue of visitors waiting for the same visa but rest assured, you will get it. For visa on arrival, you must provide your passport, valid for at least 6 months, with nothing less than two empty pages. You will also need to show a return flight ticket to your country and a hotel reservation. The immigration officers may also request financial records to prove your financial capacity.
The Electronic Visa
Those who do not qualify for a visa waiver but qualify for a visa on arrival may opt for an e-visa or electronic visa if they don’t want to wait in line. The e visa is available in single and multiple entry formats and allows you to stay in Egypt for up to 30 days. The single entry version is valid for 90 days and can be used only once, while the multiple entry visa can be used several times and is valid for 180 days.
If you intend to visit the country a few times in the next six months, it is best to apply for a multiple entry visa instead of a single entry visa. Currently, citizens from 74 countries qualify for e visas to Egypt, and the form is available online. They don’t have to submit physical application forms and documents, and all they need is to fill out the form online, upload their passports, pay the application fee with their credit or debit card, and try are good to go.
Looking for how to apply for an e visa? Just log onto VisaHQ and do the following.
Visit VisaHQ
Select Egypt as your destination
Select your country of origin
Choose e visa
Fill out the application form
Scan and upload the required travel document
Pay the fee with your credit or debit card
Submit for approval
The e visa process takes only a few days, and if you are eligible, the visa will be forwarded to your registered email address. Please print out the e-visa and bring it along to Egypt. The immigration officers will review it and stamp your passport so you can enter legally.
So do you need a visa to go to Egypt? That will depend on your nationality and how long you wish to stay in the country.