Key Takeaways
- Most visitors need an Egypt tourist visa. Nationals of 78 countries can buy an e-visa online for US$30 (single entry) or US$65 (multiple entry).
- A visa on arrival costs US$30 in cash at approved airports, and Cairo Airport also issues a digital version for US$36 by card.
- A free Sinai entry stamp covers stays of under 15 days in Sharm El-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, and Taba, but not the rest of Egypt.
- Passports must be valid for at least six months from arrival and have at least one blank page.
- From 1 January 2027, a government decree raises the fixed visa fee, and the single-entry visa is expected to cost US$33.
Table of Contents
Most visitors need an Egypt tourist visa, and the right route depends on your passport, your arrival point, and how far you plan to travel. Nationals of 78 countries can buy an e-visa online before they fly, many travellers can pay for a visa on arrival instead, and short stays at the South Sinai resorts need only a free entry stamp. A few nationalities need no visa at all.
This guide explains who qualifies for each Egypt tourist visa route, how to apply for the e-visa, what each option costs, and what changes when fees rise in January 2027. For work, study, residence, and citizenship routes, see our overview of Egypt visa types.
Egypt Tourist Visa Options at a Glance
Egypt offers five main ways to enter as a tourist, plus an embassy visa for everyone else. The table below compares them using fees published on the official Egypt e-Visa Portal and in the UK government’s Egypt entry requirements.
| Route | Who can use it | Cost | Permitted stay | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-visa (single entry) | Nationals of 78 eligible countries | US$30 | Up to 30 days; visa valid up to 3 months* | Official Egypt e-Visa Portal |
| E-visa (multiple entry) | Nationals of 78 eligible countries | US$65 | Up to 30 days per entry* | Official Egypt e-Visa Portal |
| Visa on arrival | Eligible nationalities at approved airports | US$30 in cash | Up to 30 days | Bank kiosks before immigration |
| Digital visa on arrival | Eligible nationalities arriving at Cairo Airport | US$36 by card | Up to 30 days | Self-service machines or the Visa on Arrival portal |
| Sinai entry stamp | Visitors to the South Sinai resorts only | Free | Under 15 days | Sharm El-Sheikh Airport |
| Embassy visa | Nationalities not eligible for the routes above | Set by the embassy | Set by the embassy | Egyptian embassy or consulate |
| Fees as of 9 November 2026, from the Egypt e-Visa Portal and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. *The e-visa portal does not state the permitted stay; check the dates on your visa. | ||||
Egypt tourist visa fees are set in US dollars. To see what the US$30 fee is worth locally, check the live US$30 to Egyptian pound conversion; card payments made abroad may also carry bank charges.
Who Needs an Egypt Tourist Visa?
Most nationalities need an Egypt tourist visa, whether bought online, on arrival, or from an embassy. A short list of countries is exempt, and Egypt also waives the visa for some travellers based on age, sex, or organised group travel.
Visa-Exempt Nationalities
Egypt’s Ministry of Interior does not publish its exemption list online, so the table below relies on published visa-policy summaries. Confirm your status with your airline or an Egyptian embassy before you travel.
| Nationality | Reported exemption |
|---|---|
| Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates | No visa needed for tourist stays of up to three months |
| Hong Kong and Macao | No visa needed for tourist stays of up to three months |
| Malaysia | No visa needed for stays of up to 14 days |
| Lebanon | Exemption limited to certain airports, regions, or age groups |
| Source: published visa-policy summaries, not confirmed by Egypt’s Ministry of Interior. Check with your airline or an Egyptian embassy before you travel. | |
Several of these countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, also appear on the e-visa list. That gives their nationals a documented alternative if an airline queries the exemption.
Age, Sex, and Group-Tour Exemptions
Visa-policy summaries also report exemptions that depend on who is travelling. They include children aged 14 and under from Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia; travellers aged 16 and under or 50 and over from Afghanistan, Sudan, South Sudan, and Yemen; and women from Libya, Sudan, and South Sudan. Rules for Jordanian and Chinese nationals depend on passport type, or on proof of funds and hotel bookings.
Organised tour groups of at least five people from countries including China, India, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey can reportedly enter without a visa if they hold return tickets, booked accommodation, and a guarantee letter from a licensed travel agency. Tour operators arrange this in advance, and independent travellers from these countries still need an Egypt tourist visa.
How to Get an Egypt Tourist Visa Online
The e-visa is the simplest way to arrange an Egypt tourist visa before departure. Egypt’s Ministry of Interior runs the official Egypt e-Visa Portal, and border officers check approved e-visas electronically on arrival.
Who Can Apply for the E-Visa
The portal lists 78 eligible nationalities. They include every EU member state, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, and most Gulf states. The list changes over time, so check the portal before applying.
Nationals of countries not on the list need a visa from an Egyptian embassy or consulate, unless they qualify for a visa on arrival or an exemption.
How to Apply for the E-Visa Step by Step
- Open the official portal at visa2egypt.gov.eg and register with your email address.
- Choose a single-entry or multiple-entry visa.
- Enter your passport details, travel dates, and accommodation information.
- Pay the fee by credit or debit card.
- Download the e-visa from the link the portal sends, and print a copy to carry.
The portal does not publish a processing time, and the UK government advises applying in advance to avoid delays. Several commercial websites also sell Egyptian e-visas at a mark-up; the official portal address ends in gov.eg.
Documents to Carry on Arrival
Border officers can ask to see supporting documents, and entry remains at their discretion. Carry the following:
- a passport valid for at least six months from your arrival date, with at least one blank page
- a printed copy of the e-visa
- your travel itinerary and a return or onward ticket
- hotel bookings or details of the places you plan to visit
- an invitation letter if you are visiting family or attending business meetings
Getting an Egypt Tourist Visa on Arrival
Travellers who have not bought an e-visa can usually get an Egypt tourist visa on arrival at approved airports, provided their nationality is eligible. The visa costs US$30, paid in cash at bank kiosks before the immigration counters, and allows a stay of up to 30 days. Eligibility varies by nationality, so check with your airline before departure.
Digital Visa on Arrival at Cairo Airport
Since 1 August 2026, Cairo International Airport has also issued a digital visa on arrival. It costs US$36, including a US$6 digital service fee, and travellers pay by card at self-service machines or through the Visa on Arrival portal. Travel-trade reports say the system will expand to other airports, but no dates have been announced.
The Sinai Entry Stamp
Visitors who fly into Sharm El-Sheikh Airport and stay only at the South Sinai resorts can skip the Egypt tourist visa altogether. A free entry stamp covers stays of less than 15 days in Sharm El-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, and Taba.
The stamp does not cover travel beyond those resorts, such as day trips to Cairo or Luxor, or stays of 15 days or more. Travellers planning either need a full visa, bought online or on arrival.
Travellers entering Sinai by land at Taba, from Israel, pay a border tax instead: US$20 for a Taba-only stay or US$120 for wider travel within Sinai, according to the UK government’s travel advice for Egypt. Both give a stamp of up to 15 days, and the charges can change at short notice.
Egypt Tourist Visa Fees and the January 2027 Change
Egypt tourist visa fees are due to rise on 1 January 2027. Prime Ministerial Decree No. 2553 of 2026 raises the fixed fee built into entry and transit visas from US$12 to US$15. The Egyptian Travel Agents Association has told its members that the single-entry visa will rise from US$30 to US$33, but the government has not published new consumer prices.
| Visa | Fee now | Expected from 1 January 2027 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-entry e-visa | US$30 | US$33 | Expected; portal not yet updated |
| Multiple-entry e-visa | US$65 | Not announced | No change published |
| Visa on arrival (cash) | US$30 | Not announced | Decree applies to visas issued at ports of entry |
| Digital visa on arrival (Cairo) | US$36 | US$39 | Expected, per travel-trade circular |
| Sinai entry stamp | Free | Free | No change announced |
| Prime Ministerial Decree No. 2553 of 2026 raises the fixed fee in entry and transit visas from US$12 to US$15. Expected prices come from Egyptian Travel Agents Association Circular No. 173/2026 and are not yet confirmed by the government. | |||
Sources disagree on whether the e-visa portal price will change on the same date. As of 9 November 2026, the portal still listed US$30 and US$65, so check the fee on the portal before paying.
Extending an Egypt Tourist Visa and Overstays
Visitors who want to stay longer can apply for an extension at a Passport, Immigration and Nationality Administration office before their visa expires. The UK government warns that leaving Egypt on an expired visa may cause difficulties, and a fine applies once a visa has expired by more than 14 days. The fine amount is not published.
An Egypt tourist visa does not permit work. Foreign nationals who take a job in Egypt need an Egypt work permit and a separate residence permit.
Choosing the Right Egypt Tourist Visa Route
For most eligible nationalities, the e-visa removes a queue and a cash payment on arrival, and the multiple-entry version suits travellers combining Egypt with Jordan or Israel. The cash visa on arrival works for travellers who prefer not to apply in advance, while the digital version at Cairo Airport suits those who would rather pay by card.
A Red Sea holiday of under two weeks in Sharm El-Sheikh may need only the free Sinai stamp. Travellers whose nationality isn’t eligible for the e-visa or visa on arrival should apply at an Egyptian embassy, and our general guide on how to apply for a tourist visa covers that process. For every other way to enter or live in Egypt, see the full guide to Egypt visa types.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Egypt Tourist Visa
How much does an Egypt tourist visa cost?
The single-entry e-visa costs US$30, and the multiple-entry e-visa costs US$65. A visa on arrival costs US$30 in cash, and the digital visa on arrival at Cairo Airport costs US$36 by card. The single-entry fee is expected to rise to US$33 from 1 January 2027.
How long can I stay in Egypt on a tourist visa?
A visa on arrival allows a stay of up to 30 days. Tourist e-visas are valid for up to three months, and most visitors can stay up to 30 days per entry, so check the dates on your visa. The free Sinai stamp covers stays of under 15 days.
Which nationalities can get an Egypt e-visa?
Nationals of 78 countries, including all EU member states, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, China, and India, can apply on the official Egypt e-Visa Portal, which publishes the current list.
Do I need an Egypt tourist visa for Sharm El-Sheikh?
Not for a short stay. Visitors who arrive at Sharm El-Sheikh Airport and stay under 15 days in Sharm El-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, or Taba receive a free Sinai entry stamp. Travel elsewhere in Egypt requires a full visa.
Can I pay for an Egypt visa on arrival by card?
At Cairo International Airport, yes: the digital visa on arrival costs US$36 by card. At other approved airports, the visa on arrival costs US$30 and is paid in cash.
Can I extend an Egypt tourist visa?
Yes. Apply at a Passport, Immigration and Nationality Administration office before the visa expires. Overstays of more than 14 days attract a fine.