Practical before departure
Egypt visa: what you need to enter
In short: US, UK, Canadian, Australian and EU passport holders need a visa for Egypt, and there are two easy ways to get one. You apply for an e-visa online through the official portal visa2egypt.gov.eg (USD 30 single entry, USD 65 multiple entry, apply at least 7 days before departure), or you buy a visa on arrival at the airport in Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh for USD 30 in cash. Your passport must be valid for at least six months on arrival and have a blank page. Only for a beach holiday in the South Sinai resorts is there a free Sinai-only stamp. Fees and eligibility checked on 6 November 2026; rules change, so check the official sources again before you leave.
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E-visa through visa2egypt.gov.eg: USD 30 single entry, USD 65 multiple entry, paid by card, applied for at least 7 days before departure, printed and shown at the border (portal checked 6 November 2026).
Visa on arrival: USD 30 in cash at the airport counter in Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh, valid for a stay of up to 30 days; bring US dollar notes to be sure.
We help with the e-visa: the application asks for your hotel and itinerary details, and your trip documents from us contain exactly what you need.
Which travel documents do you need for Egypt?
For a tour of Egypt you bring: a passport that is still valid for at least six months on arrival and has a blank page, your e-visa printout or the cash for a visa on arrival, your flight tickets and proof of your travel insurance. The official e-visa portal also lists a travel itinerary and hotel bookings among the entry requirements for tourists, which is exactly what your trip documents from us contain. Children need their own passport and their own visa, whatever their age; being entered in a parent’s passport is not possible. We recommend keeping a digital copy of all documents separately, for example in your email.
Passport: what Egypt checks
Egypt requires your passport to be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival; the official e-visa portal, the UK FCDO and the Government of Canada all state this rule (checked 6 November 2026). You also need at least one blank page for the entry stamp. Check too that the name on your flight ticket matches your passport exactly, including middle names. A new passport takes several weeks in most countries, and longer in busy periods: arrange it well before departure. Travel on your passport, not a national identity card: only German citizens can formally enter on an identity card under extra conditions, and the e-visa is tied to a passport number in every case, so without a passport you cannot apply for one.
The e-visa step by step
The e-visa is the digital visa you apply for online before departure through the official portal of the Egyptian Ministry of Interior, visa2egypt.gov.eg. You create an account, enter your passport details, arrival date, port of entry and the details of your host or accommodation (your hotel in Egypt), pay by Visa, Mastercard or another card, and receive the approved e-visa by email as a download link. Print it and show it with your passport at the border; the officer can also check it in the system. The portal requires you to apply at least 7 days before departure, so we suggest two to four weeks ahead. On 6 November 2026 the portal listed a single-entry tourist e-visa at USD 30 and a multiple-entry tourist e-visa at USD 65; the fees rose from USD 25 and USD 60 in April 2026. The single-entry e-visa is valid for three months from issue for a stay of up to 30 days, the multiple-entry version for six months with stays of up to 30 days each; the portal confirms the exact validity at checkout. Citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and all EU member states are on the portal’s list of eligible nationalities (checked 6 November 2026).
Visa on arrival at the airport
If you prefer not to apply in advance, you can buy a single-entry tourist visa on arrival at the international airports of Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, as well as Aswan and Marsa Alam. You pay USD 30 per person in cash at the bank counter before passport control, receive a sticker or a QR code and queue for passport control with it. The fee rose from USD 25 to USD 30 on 1 March 2026. The UK FCDO and the Government of Canada both describe the fee as payable in cash in US dollars; in practice euro and sterling notes are often taken at the day’s rate, and the German Foreign Office mentions the euro equivalent, but no counter accepts cards, Egyptian pounds or coins. So bring exact US dollar notes to be sure, in good condition. The visa on arrival is valid for a stay of up to 30 days; overstaying leads to a fine on departure. Since 2026 Cairo Airport has been replacing the visa stickers with digital QR-code visas: at the self-service kiosks you can buy one by card for USD 36 (USD 30 plus a USD 6 fee), or you register in advance on the official site visaonarrival.gov.eg and pay the same.
The free Sinai-only stamp for Sharm el-Sheikh
If you fly directly to Sharm el-Sheikh and stay less than 15 days in the resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba, you do not need a visa: you receive a free entry permission stamp on arrival at Sharm el-Sheikh Airport (UK FCDO, checked 6 November 2026). At the Taba land border from Israel the same stamp is valid for 14 days (Government of Canada). The stamp is strictly limited to the South Sinai resorts: it does not cover Cairo, Luxor, the Nile, Hurghada or even an excursion to St Catherine’s Monastery, and it does not allow a stay beyond 15 days. For every tour we plan, and for any Sinai stay that includes a day trip outside the resorts, you need the regular e-visa or visa on arrival. Arriving in Sharm el-Sheikh and continuing to Cairo later? Then buy the full visa on arrival at Sharm el-Sheikh Airport or hold an e-visa.
E-visa or visa on arrival: which should you choose?
For most travellers on a tour, the e-visa is the easier option: it costs the same as the visa on arrival, you avoid the queue at the bank counter after a long flight, and you walk to passport control with your printout while others are still counting dollar notes. The visa on arrival is the better choice when you decide late (less than 7 days before departure), when your e-visa application has not come back in time, or when you prefer not to pay online. Both are single-entry tourist visas for a stay of up to 30 days, which covers every route we offer, from the five-day Historic Cairo to the fifteen-day Complete Egypt. Only if you combine Egypt with Jordan or another country and return to Egypt afterwards does the multiple-entry e-visa make sense.
How Egypt Travel Planner helps with the visa
The e-visa form asks for a host or accommodation in Egypt, your arrival date and your port of entry, and the entry requirements mention a travel itinerary and hotel bookings. That is where we come in. Once your trip is confirmed, you receive trip documents with the names and addresses of your hotels, your arrival flight details and your day-by-day route, so you can fill in the form in a few minutes and show the itinerary at the border if asked. Lars Janssen, who plans your trip and is your single point of contact, reminds you of the 7-day deadline and checks with you before departure that the visa is approved and printed. The application itself you submit in your own name through the official portal, because the e-visa is personal and tied to your passport; we never ask you to use a third-party visa website, which charges extra for the same visa.
Avoid copycat sites and last-minute stress
Search for Egypt visa and you will find dozens of commercial sites that look official and charge USD 60 to USD 100 for a USD 30 visa, sometimes with slower processing. The only official e-visa site is visa2egypt.gov.eg, run by the Egyptian Ministry of Interior, and the only official pre-registration for the Cairo visa on arrival is visaonarrival.gov.eg. Check your passport, names and visa requirements as soon as the trip becomes serious: most problems at departure come down to an expired passport or a name difference between ticket and document, and both are easy to avoid well in advance. Visa rules change; the fee increases of March and April 2026 are the latest example. We therefore refer you to the official portal and to the entry requirements of your own government before departure, and update this page at every check. Wondering how safe the trip is once you are through passport control? Read Is Egypt safe? for the current travel advice and tipping in Egypt for what to carry in cash.
Typical route
The places that often come together in a strong Egypt trip.
Cairo is the usual arrival airport for a tour and offers both the visa on arrival and, since 2026, a digital visa by card at self-service kiosks.
Hurghada is the arrival airport for routes that start on the Red Sea; the cash visa on arrival works there too.
Sharm el-Sheikh has the free Sinai-only stamp for resort stays under 15 days, but a tour that continues to Cairo or Luxor needs the regular visa.
Domestic flights and Nile cruise check-ins ask for your passport, so keep it and your visa printout within reach throughout the trip.
Sample itinerary
One possible structure, always adapted to your pace.
Check your passport
Check that your passport is valid for at least six months after your arrival date and has at least one blank page, and that the names on your flight tickets match it exactly.
Apply for the e-visa
Apply through the official portal visa2egypt.gov.eg with your passport details, arrival date, port of entry and the hotel details from your trip documents. Pay by card and wait for the approval email.
Latest moment for the e-visa
The portal requires the application at least 7 days before you depart. Missed it? Then the visa on arrival at the airport is your fallback: bring USD 30 in cash per person.
Documents to hand
Have your passport, the printed e-visa or the cash for the visa on arrival, and your trip documents ready. Your driver waits in the arrivals hall after passport control.
Keep a copy
Keep a digital or paper copy of your passport and visa separately, for example in your email, and carry your passport on domestic flights and the Nile cruise.
Practical
Passport
Valid for at least six months from the date of arrival, with at least one blank page. Canada advises six months beyond your planned departure date, which is the safer rule to follow.
E-visa or on arrival
The e-visa costs the same as the visa on arrival (USD 30) and saves you the queue at the bank counter. Multiple entry (USD 65) is only useful if you leave Egypt and come back, for example for a side trip to Jordan.
Our role
You apply for the visa yourself through the official channels; we give you the hotel details, arrival information and timing you need for the form, and we check with you before departure that everything is in order.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Egypt?
Yes, US, UK, Canadian, Australian and EU passport holders need a visa for Egypt. You apply for an e-visa online through the official portal visa2egypt.gov.eg before departure, or you buy a visa on arrival at the airport in Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh. The only exception is a resort stay of under 15 days in the South Sinai with a free Sinai-only stamp. Always check the current rules before you leave.
How much does an Egypt visa cost?
USD 30 for a single-entry tourist visa, whether you buy it on arrival at the airport or apply for the e-visa online; the multiple-entry e-visa costs USD 65 (official portal, checked 6 November 2026). At Cairo Airport the digital visa by card at the kiosks costs USD 36 including a USD 6 fee. The fees rose in March and April 2026, so older guides still quoting USD 25 are out of date.
Can I get a visa on arrival in Egypt?
Yes, US, UK, Canadian, Australian and EU citizens can buy a single-entry tourist visa on arrival at the international airports of Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Aswan and Marsa Alam. You pay USD 30 in cash at the bank counter before passport control; the visa allows a stay of up to 30 days.
Which currency do I need for the visa on arrival?
US dollars in cash: the UK FCDO and the Government of Canada both describe the USD 30 fee as payable in cash in US dollars, and that is the one currency every counter accepts. Euro and sterling notes are often taken at the day’s rate, but not everywhere, and cards, Egyptian pounds and coins are never accepted at the cash counter. Bring clean US dollar notes for the exact amount per person. At Cairo Airport you can alternatively pay USD 36 by card at the digital kiosks.
How long is the Egypt e-visa valid?
The single-entry tourist e-visa is valid for three months from the date of issue for a stay of up to 30 days; the multiple-entry e-visa is valid for six months with stays of up to 30 days each. The UK FCDO confirms that tourist e-visas are valid for up to three months and the portal shows the exact validity at checkout. The visa on arrival allows a stay of up to 30 days from entry.
How far in advance should I apply for the e-visa?
At least 7 days before departure, which is the minimum the official portal requires; we recommend two to four weeks so there is time to correct a typo or resubmit. Approval usually arrives by email within a few working days. If you are inside the 7-day window, use the visa on arrival instead.
Do I need a visa for Sharm el-Sheikh only?
No, not if you fly into Sharm el-Sheikh and stay less than 15 days in the resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba: you receive a free Sinai-only entry stamp at the airport. As soon as you leave the South Sinai resorts, for a day trip to Cairo, Luxor or St Catherine’s Monastery, or stay longer than 15 days, you need the regular e-visa or visa on arrival.
How long must my passport be valid for Egypt?
At least six months from the date you arrive in Egypt, with at least one blank page for the stamp. Canada advises six months beyond the date you expect to leave, and airlines may apply the stricter rule, so check well before departure. Renewing a passport takes several weeks in most countries.
Do children need a visa for Egypt?
Yes, every child needs their own valid passport and their own visa, whatever their age. The e-visa is applied for per person and tied to each passport number, and the visa on arrival is paid per person, children included. The six-month passport validity rule applies to children too.
Do you arrange the visa for me?
We help, but you submit the application yourself: the e-visa is personal and tied to your passport, so it must be applied for in your own name on the official portal. We give you the hotel details, arrival information and itinerary the form asks for, remind you of the 7-day deadline and check before departure that your visa is approved and printed. We never refer you to a paid third-party visa site.
What do I enter as host on the e-visa form?
The hotel where you spend your first nights in Egypt, with its name, address and phone number, which you find in the trip documents from Egypt Travel Planner. If the form asks for an invitation letter, that applies to business and family visits only; for tourists the portal asks for hotel bookings and an itinerary, and your trip documents cover both.
Which documents do I bring to Egypt?
A valid passport (at least six months on arrival, one blank page), your printed e-visa or USD 30 in cash for the visa on arrival, your flight tickets, proof of travel insurance and your trip documents with hotel details and itinerary. Keep a digital copy of your passport and visa separately, for example in your email or cloud storage.
Read on
How to plan a trip to Egypt
Route, season, duration, budget and the choices that shape your trip, in the order you should make them.
Is Egypt safe?
An honest assessment of the current situation for culture travellers, with practical advice.
Best time to visit Egypt
Month by month: when Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea are at their most comfortable.
Tipping in Egypt
How much to tip your guide, driver, hotel staff and on a Nile cruise, and whether to use euros, dollars or pounds.
Egypt Highlights (10 days)
Private tour through Cairo, Luxor and Aswan with the great sights of ancient Egypt.
Talk to us about your Egypt trip
Tell us what you are looking for. We will think along on route, duration, hotels, guides and budget, with no obligation.
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