Entry Rules for Egypt
The Red Sea, ancient architecture, excursions, cool hotels — a vacation in Egypt includes it all. The plus is that getting into the country is as easy as pie. Planes are flying again, towel swans are beautifully folded, resorts are welcoming tourists. All that's left is to buy tickets to Egypt and pack your bags.
Is a visa required?
Russian tourists arriving in Egypt need a visa. However, there is no need to prepare a dozen 3x4 photos or stand in line at the consulate — the visa is issued upon arrival, right at the airport.
Everything happens simply and quite quickly: immigration cards are handed out for completion while still on the plane. You exchange this card and 25 US dollars for a visa, which is pasted into your passport.
The visa is paid in cash, so to avoid getting stuck waiting for change, it's best to prepare the exact amount.
To eliminate the slightest chance of participating in a queue flash mob, you can apply for a visa in advance on the website. This will take 1–3 business days. When submitting the application, you will need to provide passport details, hotel booking information, or your travel itinerary.
The e-visa will need to be printed and shown to the Egyptian border service.
Only a single-entry tourist visa is issued at the airport, while an electronic visa can be multiple-entry. It costs 60 dollars.
A tourist visa for Egypt is valid for 30 days. It can be easily extended for another two months at the Egyptian passport and visa service. This is free of charge.
If you buy flights on Kupi.com Moscow — Sharm El Sheikh and do not plan to stay there for more than 14 days, then a visa is not needed at all. In this case, an immigration card is filled out and a Sinai stamp is placed in the passport.
And everything would be perfect if movements with this stamp were not restricted to certain territories: Nuweiba, Dahab, Ras Mohammed National Park, Bethlehem, Taba, and Saint Catherine's Monastery. Traveling with a Sinai stamp for excursions to other parts of Egypt is officially prohibited.
It's clear that Egypt has a resort vibe. But not for border guards. They take visa overstays very seriously: even a one-day delay will result in a fine of 100 dollars or more.
What documents are needed to enter Egypt?
1. International passport
Its validity period must be at least six months from the date of entry into Egypt.
2. Visa
Issued on arrival or online in advance.
3. Medical insurance
This is an optional but highly recommended item to avoid significant expenses.
No coronavirus documents are required for entry into the country. All restrictions were lifted on 17.06.2022.
Entry Rules for Children
There are no extraordinary rules here either. For traveling with children, you will need:
• passport;
• birth certificate (original);
• exit permit, if the child is traveling without parental accompaniment or with only one parent.
There are many urban legends about obtaining an international passport for a child. Please note that most countries may now refuse entry if the child's details are simply entered into a parent's passport.
In Egypt, if a child is not older than 12 years, an separate international passport is often overlooked. But it's not worth risking your vacation: it's easier to get an international passport and pay for another visa.
The cost of a visa for a child with their own international passport is the same as for adults.
Information regarding international passports for children is constantly updated. Check it on the website of the Russian Embassy in Egypt or when booking with a tour operator.
The immigration card is filled out only for an adult; children's details are entered into the same card.
Which bank cards work in Egypt?
Due to sanctions, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and JCB cards issued in Russia are not serviced in Egypt. The "MIR" card also does not work, although there are rumors about plans for its integration with Egyptian banks.
This restriction can be circumvented by obtaining a bank card from Belarus, Kazakhstan, or Turkey. We explained how to do this in this article.
In addition, there is the UnionPay payment system. Users say it works less often than it doesn't, but when there are no other options, it's worth a try.
The company's website claims that the card works with terminals of Banque Misr and Arab African International Bank. You can try to withdraw cash at ATMs of National Bank of Egypt, Egyptian Banks Company and AlAhli, Commercial International Bank.
There is also Contact — a transfer method used by both tourists and local Russians. You need to transfer money to yourself and specify EGP as the receiving currency. After that, a list of Contact system partner banks in Egypt will open. Only a passport is needed to receive money on site. On average, such a transfer is processed in about 24 hours.
Transit Rules through Egypt
If you do not intend to leave the transit zone, no additional visa will be required.
To collect luggage and check in for another flight, you need to go through customs control with the standard visa acquisition procedure.
For example, if you buy flights on Kupi.com Moscow — Hurghada, Hurghada — Brussels with different airlines, you will have to obtain a visa, collect your luggage, and check in again for the next flight.
For a stopover — a long layover — you will also need to get a visa to leave the airport and enter the city.
A PCR test is not required for a transit layover in Egypt. Read more about transit flights here.
Are there any coronavirus restrictions?
As of June 17, 2022, Egypt has lifted all coronavirus restrictions for Russian tourists. There is no need to present a negative PCR test, a vaccination certificate, or a recovery certificate.
Within the country, anti-COVID measures are formally still in effect, although few people comply with them.
Exit Rules
Entering Egypt is quite simple, but there might be issues with exiting. For example, foreign citizens who have stayed in the country for more than 30 days are often not allowed to depart from Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada airports on charter flights. For their flight, they need to choose an airline with regular flights.
If a passenger arrived in Egypt on a charter flight, they can only depart on a charter flight from the city where the plane landed.
It's important to remember that there is also customs control upon exiting the country. They check whether you are exporting plants, animals, or corals. Even empty souvenir seashells can become a problem.
Questions may also arise regarding antiques. According to Egyptian laws, any item older than one hundred years becomes an antique and represents cultural value. Therefore, if you buy something resembling Aladdin's lamp, it's best to keep the receipts from the stores. They will be the best safeguard against fines.
Regarding returning to Russia, as of October 21, 2022, Rospotrebnadzor canceled PCR testing for Russians, which was mandatory after returning from abroad. Although selective testing is still possible.
Egypt is a hospitable country, and if you follow simple rules, entry will be as quick and easy as possible. So if you want a spontaneous and not-too-expensive weekend getaway, Egypt is an excellent option.
And don't forget to subscribe to our Telegram channel! There you'll find: selections of inexpensive tickets, private sales for subscribers, the most up-to-date news on entry rules for countries around the world, and simply interesting travel content — travel hacks, guides, and expert advice.
