Do You Need a Visa for Egypt? Essential Entry Requirements Explained

Planning a trip to Egypt and wondering, do you need a visa for Egypt? The answer depends on your nationality and the purpose of your visit.

Egypt offers several visa options, including visa-on-arrival and e-visa services, making it relatively easy for most travelers to explore this historic and culturally rich destination.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Egypt’s visa requirements, application processes, and tips for a hassle-free entry.

Do You Need a Visa for Egypt?

Not everyone needs a visa to visit Egypt, but there are a lot of countries that do require a visa to enter the country.  Some can

🌎 What Countries Can Enter Egypt Without a Visa?

There are only nine nationalities that are able to enter Egypt without a visa. These countries include Bahrain, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Lebanon, Macao, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

⭐️ Other Exceptions for Visas in Egypt

So if you aren't from one of these countries, do you need a visa for Egypt no matter? Actually, other than the 9 countries listed above, there are 11 other nationalities that have specific exceptions for having to get a visa to travel to Egypt.

• Afghanistan: those under the age of 16, or older than 50
• Algeria: children under the age of 14
• China: those that have a reservation at a 5-star hotel or resort, have an arrival/return flight ticket booked, an d have at least $2,000 (or the equivalent) in their bank account
• Jordan: If you have a Jordanian passport without a stamp on the back of it
• Libya: if you are a woman or a resident of the Butnan district
• Morocco: If you are 14 and under
• Palestine: Those under 18, over 50, or those that have a travel document issued by Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, or Syria
• Sudan and South Sudan: those under 16 or over 50
• Tunisia: those that are 14 and under
• Yemen: those that are traveling for medical purposes, are under 16 years old, or over 50 years old

🇺🇸 Do Americans Need a Visa for Egypt?

Just like many other nationalities, Americans are required to get a visa for Egypt, no matter the length of their stay.

Can US Citizens Travel to Egypt Visa Free?

US citizens are not able to visit Egypt visa free, and are required to get a visa before entering the country.

That being said, they are able to get visa upon arrival, so you won't need to worry about going to an embassy or doing the visa process online before you go.

Do US Citizens Need a Visa for Egypt on a Cruise?

US citizens need a visa, even when going on a cruise to Egypt. If you are arriving to Egypt on a cruise ship, oftentimes the cruise line will handle the visa process though. If not, you can easily get your visa upon arrival.

We'd recommend checking your check-in information from your cruise line, as each one handles visa processes in their own way.

Do you Need a Visa for Egypt? How to Get a Visa for Egypt

While many people need a visa for Egypt, it really isn't a massive deal. Visas are very cheap, and they also don't require a ton of time or paperwork.

There are three types of visas you can obtain for Egypt:

• E-Visa: Certain nationalities can apply for an e-Visa through the official Egyptian government portal, getting your visa in advance.
• Visa on Arrival: Available for citizens of many countries, this can be obtained at any international airport in Egypt. The process involves filling out a form and paying in cash.
• Consular Visa: If you’re not eligible for an e-Visa or visa on arrival, or if you have plans to stay for an extended period of time, you may need to apply for a visa at an Egyptian consulate before traveling.

💵 How Much Does a Visa for Egypt Cost?

• Single entry visas to Egypt cost $25 USD, and are valid for 30 days.
• Multiple entry visas cost $60, and allow multiple entries within a 180-day period.

Whether you are getting an e-Visa or a visa on arrival, the price is exactly the same! (with the exception of service fees online).

It's important to note that services like iVisa will charge you more, and it's totally unnecessary. There are also tourist services in the airport that will charge more, so we'd recommend avoiding any place that tries to charge you more than $25 USD.

💸 Can I Buy Egypt Visa on Arrival?

Buying an Egypt visa on arrival is actually really easy, and we'd argue takes less time than filling the form online. The only thing is you will need to pay the $25 USD in cash.

Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later? Just pin it!

🌍 Which Nationalities Can Get a Visa on Arrival in Egypt?

Do you need a visa for Egypt and want to get a visa on arrival? Here are the 106 nationalities that are able to get visa on arrival in Egypt.

🌏 Which Nationalities CANNOT Get a Visa on Arrival in Egypt?

Do you need a visa for Egypt and didn't see your country on the visa on arrival list? Well, here are the 84 nationalities that are not able to get visa on arrival in Egypt.

*People from these countries will need go to an embassy to apply for a visa for Egypt in person.

💻 E-Visas in Egypt

E-visas are available for a lot of countries that are also able to get visa on arrival.

Who is Eligible for an E-Visa for Egypt?

The following countries are able to get an e-visa before traveling to Egypt:

How Much Does an Egypt e-Visa Cost?

An Egypt e-Visa costs $25, but does have some extra service fees, which vary depending on how you apply.

Should I Get an e-Visa for Egypt?

If you are able to get visa on arrival and don't mind paying in cash, we'd reconsider doing the visa on arrival rather than the e-Visa. Even with the e-Visa you'll still have to wait in line to get through immigration.

How Long Does an Egypt E-Visa Take?

The Egypt e-Visa typically takes 5-7 business days. It can take up to a week, or if you pay an expedited fee you can get the visa as close to 2 days before your trip.

Do you need a visa for Egypt online though? If not, we definitely wouldn't recommend paying the expedite fee, unless you aren't eligible for visa on arrival.

🤔 E-Visas vs Visa on Arrival

While getting an e-visa allows you to pay with a credit card and avoid filling out the paper upon arrival, it really doesn't save you a ton of time, and in our opinion is more of a hassle.

Getting your visa online takes longer to fill out, as well as to receive. It is also quite confusing because of Google's algorithm showing visa services over the official website, which end up charging you absurd service fees.

We'd definitely recommend bringing cash and simply getting your visa right at the airport.

Is it Better to Get Visa on Arrival in Egypt?

Getting a visa on arrival is easy, as long as you make sure to go to the official counter. We actually saw a few counters of people trying to sell Egyptian visas, and they were selling them for more than the offiical booth! 

As long as you make sure to ignore the people trying to wave you over and go straight to customs, the visa on arrival process is pretty seamless. 

I arrived, paid the $25, and got my visa right away.

Fede on the other hand got an e-visa, and it definitely has its perks. You won't need to bring cash with you, you can eliminate a few minutes of your time in the airport, and you don't have to worry about getting scammed inside the airport. 

It doesn't need to be printed out, and the officers should have it in the system, but we would recommend just having proof of the visa readily available.

If you are able to, we'd recommend applying for your e-visa at least a week in advance. They typically take 2-5 business days, but can take up to a week.

How Much is an Egypt Visa on Arrival?

The Egypt visa on arrival is the exact same price as online! It is $25 USD, and must be paid in cash.

🛂 Requirements for Obtaining a Visa in Egypt

While I wasn't personally asked most of these while getting my visa upon arrival, it's always important to be prepared in case you have a strict officer and does require these things.

Do you need a visa for Egypt? Conclusion

While there are some exceptions, the majority of people do need a visa for Egypt. Visas are very easy to get, and if you are a nationality that can get one upon arrival, that is what we'd ideally recommend! It's quick, cheap, and you'll also have a nice little souvenir in your passport.

So now that you know the answer to "do you need a visa for Egypt?", you're ready to take care of more of the fun aspects of your trip. 

If you'd like some more helpful information, we have plenty of other Egypt travel guides, as well as more coming every week. Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with all of the latest articles!

Ready to plan an epic itinerary? How about find affordable flights and cool hotels? Well, now Scratch Your Mapa offers travel planning services so you can leave all of the hard work to us. Not only that, but we're creating really fun group trips to Egypt soon!

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