Which is the best visa to apply for? An Egypt e-visa or visa on arrival? While some travelers favor the evisa, others favor the visa on arrival, and there are arguments for and against both visas. Which is the best to go for? What should you consider in making a choice? This article addresses these concerns, so keep reading to find out.
EGYPT Visa Policy
The government of Egypt has different visa policies for travelers coming into the country. Most visitors require a visa to enter Egypt, while only a few nationalities can enter and stay without a visa for a short time. There are different types of visas, but two of the popular ones are the e-visa and the visa on arrival.
What Is An eVisa?
An eVisa is an online visa program introduced in 2017 to streamline visa application processes online. With the introduction of this online visa, citizens from 74 countries may apply for it online rather than visit Egyptian Embassies in their countries to apply for it. There were two reasons why this visa was introduced; the first was to make it easier and quicker for applicants to get visas, so they are not delayed by waiting times at the embassy; the second purpose was to decongest the embassies so visa officers can pay more attention to long term visa applications.
Suffice it to say that the process has yielded fruit and has become the number one visa application method for tourists and other short-term visitors.
How To Apply For an eVisa?
Applying for an eVisa is easy visa VisaHQ in a few steps
Visit VisaHQ
Choose Egypt as your destination
Choose your country of citizenship
Select e-visa
Complete the application form
Scan and attach your travel documents
Pay the visa fee using your credit or debit card
Submit for processing
E-visas are forwarded to the applicant's email inbox, which they must print out and bring to Egypt.
What Is A Visa On Arrival?
The second one is the visa on arrival. As the name suggests, this visa is obtained at the airport's arrival section; the visa on arrival is not for all visitors, only nationals from selected countries. If you are eligible for it, you don't have to travel to Egypt with a visa; once you arrive at Cairo International Airport or Sharm El Sheikh Airport, you simply join the visa on the arrival queue and apply for it. How long you wait will depend on the crowd waiting in line, but on average, the visa takes only a few minutes to fill out and process.
How To Apply For A Visa On Arrival?
Once you arrive at the airport, you must wait in line for the visa. The immigration officers on duty will issue you the application form, which you must fill out. Submit it along with your passport to the officers for review but note that you will be asked to pay a visa fee before it is reviewed and your passport stamped. Once you receive the all-clear, you will be allowed into Egypt.
Which Should You Apply For? Egypt eVisa or Visa on Arrival
So which one should you go for? An eVisa or a visa on arrival? The choice is yours, but we always recommend the visa for one major reason; to save time.
It takes only 30 minutes or less to complete the e-visa application at your home, and your mind will be at ease that you have a visa in hand for your trip. Once you arrive at the airport, you don't have to face the stress of waiting in line to submit a visa-on-arrival application; you have your passport stamped and be on your way.
On the other hand, a visa on arrival may require long waits in line, especially on days when so many visitors arrive in the country. Imagine spending an hour or more in line after traveling for hours. You don't have to be in this situation if you have an eVisa.
To be safe, we recommend the e-visa; only opt for a visa on arrival if you cannot apply for the former before leaving your country.
Where To Get a Visa On Arrival?
Visitors coming to Egypt can get a visa on arrival at the following centers
Borg El Arab International Airport
Cairo International Airport
Hurghada International Airport
Sharm El Sheikh International Airport
St Catherine International Airport
Luxor Airport
While eligible visitors can enter Egypt through land borders with a visa on arrival, some border posts do not have the facility to issue this type of Egyptian visa.
Processing Cost
The cost for an eVisa and a visa on arrival is $25
If you are eligible for Egypt eVisa or Visa on Arrival, we recommend eVisa to avoid stress at the airport.