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 department.
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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:
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- Tourist Visa: is usually valid for a period not exceeding three months and granted on either single or multiple entry basis.
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- 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.
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- Transit Visa.
- Tourist Visa: is usually valid for a period not exceeding three months and granted on either single or multiple entry basis.
Major Ports of Entry to Egypt
Airports:
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- 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
- Cairo International (3 terminals)
Marine Harbors:
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- 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
- Alexandria, Mediterranean
Overland Entry Posts:
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- Salloum, northwestern border (to and from Libya)
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- Rafah, northeastern border (to and from Gaza strip, the Occupied Territories and Israel)
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- Taba, eastern border (to and from Israel)
- Salloum, northwestern border (to and from Libya)
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:
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- 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.
- Holders of diplomatic passports.
Visa Exemptions
The following are exempt from visa requirement when visiting Egypt:
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- 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.
- Nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arab Emirates.
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:
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- 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.
- Minor children entitled to special or ordinary residence in like manner to their deceased father.
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
Keep up the good job! The information you provide in your blog is very very useful. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ocarina : ) Glad you find it useful
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