Summary
Most visitors need a visa for Egypt, and getting one is easy. You can buy an e-Visa online before you fly ($30 single entry, $65 multiple entry) or a visa on arrival at the airport ($30 cash for eligible nationalities, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia and the EU). At Cairo Airport a new digital QR-code visa ($36 by card) has been running since 1 August 2026. If you fly straight to Sharm El Sheikh and stay in the South Sinai resorts, a free entry stamp covers up to 15 days. Your passport must be valid for six months after you arrive.
Fees checked against the official Egypt e-Visa portal and the UK government’s travel advice on 4 October 2026. Rules can change at short notice, so check again before you travel.
Do I Need a Visa for Egypt?
Almost every nationality needs a visa. The table shows the usual route for the countries most of our guests travel from.
| Passport | Visa needed? | Best option |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | e-Visa or visa on arrival |
| United Kingdom | Yes | e-Visa or visa on arrival |
| Canada | Yes | e-Visa or visa on arrival |
| Australia & New Zealand | Yes | e-Visa or visa on arrival |
| European Union | Yes | e-Visa or visa on arrival |
| India | Yes | e-Visa (visa on arrival only with a valid US, UK or Schengen visa) |
| Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar | No | Entry without a visa |
Citizens of Jordan, Lebanon, Hong Kong and Macau can also enter without a visa, and Malaysians for up to 14 days. Rules for other nationalities vary: check the official portal, or ask us when you book.
How to Get an Egypt e-Visa
The e-Visa is the simplest option: you arrive with your visa already approved and go straight to passport control.
- Go to the official portal, visa2egypt.gov.eg. Use only the address ending in .gov.eg; look-alike sites charge extra for the same visa.
- Create an account and choose a tourist visa, single or multiple entry.
- Enter your passport details, travel dates and your hotel or tour address in Egypt, and upload a scan of your passport photo page.
- Pay by Visa or Mastercard: $30 for single entry, $65 for multiple entry.
- When the approval arrives by email, print it and carry it with your passport.
Approval usually takes a few working days. Apply at least a week before you fly. A tourist visa allows a stay of up to 30 days.
Egypt Visa on Arrival
Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, the EU and many other countries can buy a visa when they land, at Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Egypt’s other international airports.
The paper visa: before passport control, go to one of the bank counters and pay $30 in cash, ideally the exact amount in US dollars. You get a visa sticker to put in your passport, then join the immigration queue.
The digital visa at Cairo Airport: since 1 August 2026, Cairo Airport has also issued the visa as a QR code, for $36 ($30 visa plus a $6 issuing fee) paid by card. You can get the code online before you fly, through the official app, or at self-service machines in the arrival halls, and it is valid for seven days from issue. Border officers scan it with your passport. During the pilot the paper visa is still sold alongside it; other airports keep the paper visa for now.
Egypt Visa Cost in 2026
| Visa | Cost | How you pay |
|---|---|---|
| e-Visa, single entry | $30 | Card, online |
| e-Visa, multiple entry | $65 | Card, online |
| Visa on arrival (paper) | $30 | Cash (US dollars) at the airport bank counter |
| Digital visa on arrival (Cairo Airport) | $36 | Card, online, app or airport machine |
| Sinai-only entry stamp | Free | Sharm El Sheikh arrivals, up to 15 days |
Choose the multiple-entry visa if you will leave Egypt and come back during the same trip, for example a side trip to Jordan.
The Free Sinai Entry Stamp
If you fly directly into Sharm El Sheikh and stay for up to 15 days in the resorts of Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba, you can ask for a free Sinai-only entry stamp instead of a visa.
The stamp does not cover the rest of Egypt. If you want to see the pyramids, Luxor or Aswan, or join a Nile cruise, buy a full tourist visa on arrival instead. You cannot upgrade the stamp later at a hotel or checkpoint.
8-Day Cairo, Siwa and White & Black Desert Adventure
Planning the trip itself? Start here.
View This TripUS, UK or Schengen Visa Holders
If your nationality cannot normally get a visa on arrival, you may still qualify if you hold a valid, used visa for the United States, the United Kingdom or the Schengen area. This is how many Indian travellers enter Egypt. The rule is applied at the border and can change, so confirm it with your airline or the nearest Egyptian embassy before you fly. If in doubt, apply for the e-Visa.
Entry Requirements: Passport, Health and Customs
- Passport: valid for at least six months after the day you arrive, with at least one blank page for the visa and entry stamps.
- Documents to carry: your printed e-Visa approval (if you have one), your hotel or tour booking, and your return or onward ticket.
- Vaccinations: none are required for most visitors. A yellow fever certificate is required if you arrive from, or have recently transited, a country with a risk of yellow fever.
- Drones: do not bring one. Drones need a special permit and are confiscated at the airport without it.
- Cash: declare cash over $10,000 (or the equivalent) when you arrive.
- Insurance: not required for the visa, but we strongly recommend travel insurance that covers medical treatment.
Extending Your Egypt Visa
A tourist visa can be extended at the passport and immigration offices: in Cairo, the main office is in Abbasiya, and Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada and other cities have their own. Bring your passport, a photo, and proof of where you are staying. Apply before your visa expires: overstaying means a fine when you leave the country. If you are travelling with us, we can tell you what to bring.
Visa Help When You Travel With Us
When you book a trip with Top Class Egypt Travel, our representative meets you at the airport and helps you with the visa counter or the digital visa machines, then takes you through passport control and to your transfer. Tell us your nationality when you book and we will confirm the best visa option for you.
Ready to plan? Browse our Egypt tour packages, see the best time to visit Egypt, or ask us for a tailor-made trip.
Egypt Visa FAQ
Do US citizens need a visa for Egypt?
Yes. US citizens can apply for an e-Visa online before travelling ($30 single entry) or buy a visa on arrival at the airport for $30 in cash; at Cairo Airport the digital QR visa costs $36.
Do UK citizens need a visa for Egypt?
Yes. British citizens can use the e-Visa or the visa on arrival. If they fly to Sharm El Sheikh and stay in the South Sinai resorts for up to 15 days, a free Sinai-only stamp is enough.
How much is an Egypt visa in 2026?
The e-Visa costs $30 for a single entry and $65 for multiple entries. The visa on arrival costs $30 in cash, and the digital visa at Cairo Airport costs $36.
How long does an Egypt e-Visa take?
Usually a few working days. Apply at least a week before your flight and use only the official portal, visa2egypt.gov.eg.
Is the Egypt e-Visa better than the visa on arrival?
The e-Visa saves the bank-counter queue and you know before you fly that it is approved. The visa on arrival costs the same and works well if you carry exact US dollars in cash.
How long can I stay in Egypt on a tourist visa?
Up to 30 days. You can extend it at a passport and immigration office in Egypt.
Plan Your Egypt Trip
- Before you go: the complete guide
- Best time to visit Egypt
- Is Egypt safe? Travel advice & tips
- Travel insurance for Egypt
- How much a trip to Egypt costs
- Money, cards & tipping
- SIM cards, eSIM & internet
- What to wear in Egypt
- Packing list for women
- Summer packing list
- Winter packing list
- What to pack for a Nile cruise
































