WARNING US CITIZENS 29-30TH JUNE 2011

Date:           June 29, 2011
To:             The U.S. Citizen Community
From:           Embassy of the United States, Cairo
Subject:        Warden Message No. 13: Continued Potential for Demonstrations

This warden message is being issued to alert U.S. citizens in Egypt of the potential for continued demonstrations in Cairo over the next few days.  The Embassy reminds all U.S. citizens to avoid areas with heavy police presence or crowds assembling and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any large public gatherings and demonstrations. 
As a result of events at Tahrir Square during the previous days and nights, indications are that sporadic or planned demonstrations will continue in the immediate future.  Tahrir Square Metro Station is closed as of mid-afternoon June 29.  U.S. citizens who do not live or work near Tahrir Square should avoid the area during the afternoon and night of June 29.  U.S. citizens resident in Egypt should monitor local news broadcasts for updated information about locations of demonstrations.  U.S. citizens visiting Cairo should seek information from their hotel or tour guide in planning their activities in the next week.  Even demonstrations or events intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.  If caught unexpectedly near a demonstration, U.S. citizens should seek to depart the area as quickly as possible and should follow the instructions of Egyptian police and military personnel.
On Wednesday June 29, 2011, a soccer game is scheduled between the Al Ahly and Zamalek teams at approximately 6:00 p.m.  The game will take place at the Cairo Stadium in Nasr City on Salah Salem Road.  Attendance is expected to be as high as 70,000 fans and will begin to negatively impact traffic as early as 2:00 PM in the surrounding areas.  The sheer volume of people travelling to the game may lead to some road closures and traffic disruption in the general vicinity of these areas.  Police preparations might cause similar traffic disruptions.  The Embassy urges U.S. citizens to avoid the area of Nasr City and the Cairo Stadium during the immediate time leading up to and in the hours after the match.  Those who must go to Nasr City, Heliopolis and the Cairo Airport should plan to arrive at their intended destinations on time.
In addition, several groups have called for demonstrations at the Embassy over the next few days.  At this time the Embassy has no specific information on the size of the protests or indication of violent intent.  There is likely to be an increased police and military presence in the area of the Embassy.  The Embassy plans to be open for normal consular services on Thursday June 30.  Consular clients should be prepared to show their consular appointment letters and identification at security checkpoints near Tahrir Square and the Embassy.  Should the Embassy need to close on short notice because of security concerns, instructions for consular clients will be posted on the Embassy website at http://egypt.usembassy.gov.  The Embassy will be closed on Monday July 4 in celebration of U.S. Independence Day.
The Embassy reminds U.S. citizens to review their personal security plans and remain alert to their surroundings at all times in Egypt.  For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State’s Internet website where the Worldwide Caution,  Country Specific Information for Egypt, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts, including the current Travel Alert for Egypt, can be found.  You can also follow the Bureau of Consular Affairs on Twitter and on Facebook.  Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or, for callers outside of the United States and Canada, on a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
U.S. citizens are advised to maintain valid travel documents and enroll with the Department of State or the U.S. Embassy Cairo through the State Department Smart Traveler Enrollment Program website, https://travelregistration.state.gov.  For further information, U.S. citizens may call the Embassy’s American Citizen Services Unit at 2797-2301 during business hours, Sunday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.  For emergencies after business hours and on weekends and holidays, U.S. citizens can contact the Embassy Duty Officer via the Embassy switchboard on 2797-3300.  The Embassy is located at 5 Tawfik Diab Street (formerly known as Latin America Street), Garden City, Cairo.

Non-Egyptians will not be allowed to own land in Sinai

Ahram Online, Monday 27 Jun 2011

Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has announced that non-Egyptians will not be allowed to own land in Sinai.

Sharaf also stated that the Council of Ministers will cancel fees formally imposed on Sinai produce, and create a special authority mandated with developing the peninsula.
link

The Sinai Development Committee is preparing a draft law to guarantee the best ways to use and manage land in Sinai, and allow citizens of the peninsula to own land there.

According to the law, a special authority would be formed for the comprehensive development of Sinai. It would be tasked with creating job opportunities, improving services and opening a university for the residents of the peninsula.

It would also regulate the buying and leasing of land for Egyptians, while foreigners would still be banned from such practices.
link

Egyptian Visas for foreigners

Tourist Visas to enter Egypt as a foreigner:

Two options

1) Application made to the relevant Egyptian Embassy in your home country. Applications made at Embassy will be given a 3 Month Tourist visa valid for 90 days.

or

2) On arrival at the Egyptian airport before passport control there are windows where Egyptian visas can be bought. The current price is $15 per visa and this visa is valid for 30 days. This is the most popular way of getting the visa but may involve a short queueing time before passport control and immigration. Please have $15, 10 UK Sterling pounds, or 100 EGP ready as all currencies mentioned are accepted by the visa office.

If a foreigner wishes to extend their trip in Egypt they must go to the Mogamma in Cairo or any visa office throughout Egypt and apply for an extended 3 month visa. This will allow 90 days travel within Egypt and is usually stamped into your passport the same day if you apply in the morning. On expiry the foreigner MUST leave the country and re enter purchasing another 30 day visa at the airport of arrival.

Note:

If your visa has expired or you have the wrong visa then you will be in Egypt illegally and seen as an Illegal Alien. You are then subject to Egyptian Law and if found to be in non criminal activity or not working illegally you will then be immediately deported to your home country.

If you have been involved in criminal activity or working illegally you will be subject to Egyptian Law.

Since 25th January Revolution 2011 the Ministry of Manpower has issued a decree that all foreigners MUST be in possession of a valid work permit to work in Egypt. See:link

UPDATE: July 2011

Two newpaper articles on difficulties obtaining renewals.
link 
link  

Egyptian Visa/Egyptian Residency updated May 2011

Visas and Passports

Non-Egyptian visitors arriving in Egypt are required to be in possession of a valid passport. Entry visas may be obtained from Egyptian Diplomatic and Consular Missions Abroad or from the Entry Visa Department at the Travel Documents, Immigration and Nationality Administration (TDINA). It is, however, possible for most tourists and visitors to obtain an entry visa at any of the Major Ports of Entry. Please check with your nearest Egyptian Consular mission for more details concerning visa regulations applying to your citizenship.

Note: Most travelers obtain their Visa upon entry to Egypt, and need not use the forms below to obtain a visa. Visa applications are normally passed out by airlines prior to landing at an Egyptian airport. Tour Egypt may make visa arrangements for guests that have booked tours through its travel This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it department.

Download Zipped Visa Form

Or

Download Page 1 in Gif Format

Download Page 2 in Gif Format

The visa form must then be completed, either by printing it out and filing it in or via a graphics editor and sent to the nearest Egyptian Embassy or Consulate.

Notes

• Visitors entering Egypt at the overland border post to Taba to visit Gulf of Aqaba coast and St. Catherine can be exempted from visa and granted a free residence permit for fourteen days to visit the area.
  

• Citizens of the following countries are required to be in possession of a pre-arrival visa: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chechnya, Croatia,Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Lebanon, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldavia, Montenegro, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, The Philippines,Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Sri-Lanka, Tadzhikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and all African countries.
  

• Residents of the above countries may apply for a visa through their nearest Egyptian Consulate or Embassy. Click here to find the Embassy or Consulate nearest you. Those in possession of a residence permit in Egypt are not required to obtain an entry visa if they leave the country and return to it within the validity of their residence permit or within six months, whichever period is less.
  

There are three types of Egyptian visa:

• • Tourist Visa: is usually valid for a period not exceeding three months and granted on either single or multiple entry basis.
    
  • 
    
  • Entry Visa: is required for any foreigner arriving in Egypt for purposes other than tourism, e.g. work, study, etc. The possession of a valid Entry Visa is needed to complete the residence procedure in Egypt.
    
  • 
    
  • Transit Visa.
    

Major Ports of Entry to Egypt

Airports:

• • Cairo International (3 terminals)
    
  • Alexandria Nozha
    
  • Alexandria, Burg El Arab
  • Luxor, Upper Egypt
    
  • Aswan, Upper Egypt
    
  • Hurghaga, Red Sea
    
  • Sharm El-Sheikh, South Sinai
    
  • Marsa Alam Airport

Marine Harbors:

• • Alexandria, Mediterranean
    
  • Port Said, Mediterranean
    
  • Damietta, Mediterranean
    
  • Suez, Gulf of Suez
    
  • Nuweiba, Gulf of Aqaba
    
  • Hurghada, Red Sea
    
  • Safaga, Red Sea
    
  • Sharm El-Sheikh, Red Sea
    

Overland Entry Posts:

• • Salloum, northwestern border (to and from Libya)
    
  • 
    
  • Rafah, northeastern border (to and from Gaza strip, the Occupied Territories and Israel)
    
  • 
    
  • Taba, eastern border (to and from Israel)
    

Visa Fees

Some examples of Egyptian tourist visa fees at a variety of consular missions:

	Tourist Visa Fees
Country	Single Entry	Multiple Entry
Argentina	18 US$	23 US$
Australia	35 $A	42 $A
Austria	300 AS	380 AS
Belgium	1100 BF	1300 BF
Brazil	25 Cr$	30 Cr$
Canada	25 $c	31 $c
Cyprus (Cypriot nationals)	8 Pound;
Cyprus (other nationals)	12 Pound;	14 Pound;
Denmark (Danish nationals)	132 Kr
Denmark (other nationals)	188 Kr	240 Kr
Finland (Finnish nationals)	100 Mk	Mk
Finland (other nationals)	140 Mk	175 Mk
France	25 €	30 €
Germany (German nationals)	25 €
Germany (other nationals)	30 €	35 €
Greece	25 €	30 €
Holland	25 €	30 €
Indonesia	45,000 Rp	60,000 Rp
Ireland	16,5 £	20,5 £
Italy	25 €	30 €
Japan	5,500 Yen;	7,000 Yen;
Malaysia	46 M$	57 M$
Norway (Norwegian nationals)	130 Kr
Norway (other nationals)	180 Kr	215 Kr
Portugal	25 €
Russia (Russian nationals)	53,000 Rub
Russia (other nationals)	85,000 Rub
Singapore	46 S$	58 S$
South Korea	15,000 W	20,000 W
Spain	25 €	30 €
Sweden	170 Kr	220 Kr
Switzerland	50 SF	60 SF
United Kingdom	15 Pound;	18 Pound;
United States (US nationals)	15 $
United States (other nationals)	20 $	23 $

(All above figures are correct at the time of posting but may be subject to change without prior notice)


Exemptions from Visa Fees

Egyptian visa fees do not apply to the following:

• • Holders of diplomatic passports.
    
  • Officials of international organizations and specialized agencies and state delegates to conferences.
    
  • Arab League officials.
    
  • Non-national spouses of Egyptian nationals.
    
  • Non-national members of the clergy, prominent scientists, journalists and members of official cultural, educational and sports delegations.
    
  • Non-national students studying in Egyptian institutions.
    
  • Non-diplomatic personnel of diplomatic and consular missions affected in Egypt.
    
  • Parents, siblings and adult children of members of the diplomatic and consular corps affected in Egypt.
    
  • Nationals of Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, Russia and the United States are partially exempt from Egyptian visa fees and will, therefore, pay a reduced fee.
    

Visa Exemptions

The following are exempt from visa requirement when visiting Egypt:

• • Nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.
    
  • Holders of diplomatic passports of Argentina, Bosnia Herzegovina, Italy, Malaysia, Malta, Singapore, the Slovak Republic and Turkey.
    

Residence in Egypt for Foreign Nationals

Egypt grants legitimate foreign nationals the right for temporary residence in the country. There are two main cases of resident permits in Egypt:

• Special Residence: is usually granted for a period of 10 years, renewable. Special residence is granted to those born in Egypt prior to 26/5/1952 or those having resided in the country for the 20 years preceding 26/5/1952 and whose stay has been uninterrupted; it is also granted to their wives and minor children.
  
• Ordinary Residence: is granted for a period of either 3 or 5 years.
  

Three-Year Residence

Non-nationals are entitled to obtain temporary 3-year residence (renewable) in Egypt if they belong to any of the following categories:

1. Non-national husbands of Egyptians.

2. Children:

• • Minor children entitled to special or ordinary residence in like manner to their deceased father.
    
  • 
    
  • Adult children whose father is entitled to special, ordinary or 3-year residence provided a source of income is available to them.
    
  • Adult Palestinian male children of those employed by the Department for the Governor General of Gaza, or of those retired therefrom, who have completed their studies and are not working in the country.
    

3. Those employed by the government, public institutions, public sector companies and public business sector.

4. Palestinians employed by the Department for the Governor General of Gaza and those retired therefrom.

5. Palestinians in possession of travel documents issued solely by Egyptian authorities who have been resident in Egypt for a period of 10 years.

6. Non-nationals who receive a monthly pension from the National Authority for Insurance and Pensions.

7. Non-national residents of homes for the elderly and disabled.

8. Political refugees.

9. Refugees registered at the UN Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

10. Spouses of those non-nationals entitled to special or ordinary residence.

11. Egyptian spouses who forfeited their nationality of origin following marriage to non-nationals and the acquisition of the latter's citizenship.

12. Spouses and children of those non-nationals exempt from residence permits and restrictions.

13. Non-nationals who, for any reason, waived their entitlement to special or ordinary residence.

14. Those non-nationals employed by the Swiss Institute for Architectural and Archeological Research in Egypt.

15. Non-nationals who, according to international treaties, are entitled to obtain 3-year residence.

16. Those granted approval on 3-year residence from the Ministry of Interior.

17. Spouses and children of those non-nationals entitled to 3-year residence under any of the previous cases.



Five-Year Residence

Non-nationals are entitled to obtain temporary 5-year residence (renewable) in Egypt if they belong to any of the following categories:

1. Investors.

2. Egyptians and their minor children who forfeited their nationality of origin due to their admission to a foreign citizenship.

3. Children:

a. Of Egyptian mother.
b. Whose father was granted Egyptian citizenship.
c. Adult children whose mother is entitled to special, ordinary or 5-year residence in case of the death of the father.


4. Those of age 60 or more who have been resident in Egypt for 10 years provided that a source of income is available to them.

5. Non-nationals who, according to international treaties, are entitled to obtain 5-year residence.

6. Spouses and widows of Egyptians.

7. Spouses of those non-nationals entitled to ordinary residence.

8. Spouses and children of those non-nationals entitled to 5-year residence under any of the previous cases.


Special Services

Foreigners arriving in Egypt on board of ships are granted a permission to visit the port of arrival for 24 hours and catch their ship at the same port. They can also be granted a permission to enter the country for a visit not exceeding a period of 3 days before catching their ship at the port of arrival or at any other port.

Air passengers transiting in Egyptian airports are allowed entry for a quick trip not exceeding the period of 24 hours. In the event of emergency landing, passengers are entitled to enter Egypt for a period of:

24 hours in case of poor weather conditions.

48 hours in case of technical faults to the aircraft.

UPDATE!

Special Residence Permit
A Special residence Permit is granted to foreigners who were born in Egypt prior to May 26, 1952 as well as to those individuals, their families and minor children who have been continuously living in Egypt for a period of more than twenty (20) years prior to May 26, 1952 and this residence permit is valid for ten years and is renewable for a fee.

Regular Residence Permit
A regular residence permit is granted to foreigners and their minor children who have resided in Egypt on a continuous basis for the past fifteen (15) years prior to May 26, 1952 and is valid for a period of five (5) years renewable for a fee.

A Leave of Absence
Those individuals who have been granted a special or regular residence permit may request a leave of absence prior to their departure if they plan to be outside the country for a period of more than six (6) months. The leave of absence can be obtained from the directorate or from any of the Egyptian Consulates abroad at no charge, provided that it is before a period of six (6) months from the date of departure. The duration of the leave of absence should not exceed a period of two (2) years unless it is for educational purposes or for the performance of obligatory military service.

Five Year Residence
A Temporary Residence permit is valid for a duration of five (5) years, is renewable and is granted to foreigners who fit the following categories:
1. Foreign Investors subject to special restrictions.

2. Egyptians, and their children, who have lost their Egyptian nationality in the process of acquiring a foreign nationality and are no longer entitled to the Egyptian nationality.

3. Children who are the following:
a. Children whose mother is an Egyptian national.
b. Children whose parents have been granted the Egyptian nationality.
c. Adult children who have reached the age of maturity under the guarantee of their mothers who have been granted special, regular or five-year residence and in the event of the father’s death.

4. Those who have passed the age of 60 and who have lived in Egypt for a period of at ten (10) years or more, and have a source of income.

5. Foreigners who are entitled to the five (5) years residence permit according to international agreements.

6. Wives and widows of Egyptians.

7. Wives of foreigners who are granted regular residence.

8. Wives and children of foreigners who are granted temporary residence for a period of five (5) years.

Tertiary Residence
Foreigners who fit the following categories are granted Tertiary residence, which is valid for a period of three (3) years and is renewable:
1. Foreign husbands of Egyptians.

2. Children who fit the following criteria:
a. Minor children who have been granted special or regular residence similar to their deceased father.
b. Adult children who have reached the age of maturity and whose parents are granted special, regular or tertiary residence provided that they have a source of income.
c. Palestinian male children who have reached the age of maturity and are working at the ruler’s administration or those who have reached retirement age and who have concluded their studies in the country.

3. Those individuals who work for the government, the general organizations, the general sector companies and the business sector.

4. The Palestinians who work for the ruler’s administration and those who have reached retirement age.

5. The Palestinians who hold travel documents issued by the Egyptian authorities and who have settled in Egypt for the past ten (10) years, provided that they have a source of income in the country.

6. Foreigners who receive a monthly pension from the general authority for insurance and pensions.

7. Disabled or elderly residents of a nursing home in Egypt.

8. Refugees registered in the refugee affairs office of the United Nations.

9. Political refugees.

10. Widows of a foreigner who have been granted special, regular or tertiary residence.

11. Egyptian women who have lost their Egyptian nationality upon marrying a foreigner and acquiring his native nationality.

12. Wives and children of foreigners exempted from limitations of the residence permits.

13. Foreigners who have lost their special, regular or tertiary residential rights for any reason.

14. Foreigners working at the Swiss Institute of Architectural and Archaeological Research Center.

15. Foreigners who are entitled to tertiary residence license according to international agreements.

16. Those individuals who are granted a tertiary residence permit by the Ministry of Interior.

17. Wives and children of foreigners who have been granted a tertiary residence permit in all the previous mentioned cases.

Temporary Residence for Non-Tourist purposes
This type of residence is granted to individuals, as well as their wives and children who fall into the following categories:
1. Those working for the government, the general organizations, the general sector, the national local government units or units of the general business sector.

2. Those who work for the private sector or the investment sector subject to a work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Employment.

3. Those studying at Egyptian universities, institutes or schools upon presentation of educational enrollment certificates.

4. Mothers and fathers of the students who are given a permit to receive an education in Egypt.

5. Foreigners arriving to the country to undergo volunteer work at their own expense.

6. Foreign husbands of Egyptian women are granted a residence permit valid for one (1) year under the guarantee of the Egyptian wife.

7. The adult children who have exceeded the age of maturity are granted a residence permit upon presenting a work permit from the Ministry of Human Resources and Employment.

8. Mothers and fathers of investors who are granted a temporary residence permit for non-tourist purposes, tertiary residence or the one-year residence under the guarantee of the investor and upon a letter of recommendation from the investment authority.

9. Divorcees of Egyptian men.

10. The husbands and minor children of foreigners who have been granted a personal temporary residence permit.

11. Those who have an open bank account with an Egyptian bank that is authorized to take such deposits in the Arab Republic of Egypt. The balance of such deposits must not be less than Fifty thousand US Dollars ($50,000) or the equivalent of that sum in free currencies, and the deposit of that sum must be frozen for a period of at least a year. These individuals are granted temporary residence for non-tourist purposes for a period not to exceed one (1) year amenable to renewal.

12. Those individuals who own real estate registered by means of proprietorship contracts registered in the notary public authority, in addition to their wives and children provided that the estimated value of the real estate is not less than Fifty thousand US Dollars ($50,000) to be transferred through an Egyptian bank.

13. Relatives of Egyptian Citizens related up to second-degree relation are granted temporary residence for non-tourist purposes valid for duration of one (1) year and amenable to renewal under the individuals guarantee.

14. Those who have exceed the age of fifty (50) years and have resided in Egypt for five continuous years, provided that they have a source of income, or are under the guarantee of a relative whose relation can be up to fourth degree.

Temporary Residence for Tourist Purposes
A temporary residence permit for tourist purposes may be granted and is valid for a period of one (1) year amenable to renewal. This type of residence permit can be granted for the purpose of tourism, visits or medical treatment.

At the end of your residence in Egypt, you may leave within fifteen days following the end duration of residence directly through the country's outlets. You may renew your residence for another period, but you should apply to the proper Egyptian authority or its branches


Certificates and Notifications
It is possible, upon request, to get a certificate or a passport stamp certifying that the concerned person has resided in the country for 5 consecutive years, or a certificate demonstrating his residence in Egypt. Such certificates and stamps are issued at the Residence Administration at the Authority Certificate Unit. It is also possible to obtain the residence and leave data certificate to be presented to legal entities through the Department of Legal Affairs at the organization. link