In case you will be travelling to Egypt shortly, you will need a valid visa. For the visa application and to be allowed to travel to Egypt, a number of documents are required. To apply for an e-visa, you need a valid passport and a few additional documents. Read all about it in this article.
ID card or passport for a trip to Egypt?
Travellers from the UK, Ireland and most countries in continental Europe need a valid passport for a visit to Egypt. Travellers from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Portugal may also visit Egypt using a valid ID card. Please note that the latter is only applicable in combination with the Egypt visa on arrival. Regardless of an applicant's nationality, the e-visa can only be applied for prior to departure, and a passport is necessary. All travellers applying for a visa on arrival in Egypt, whether by passport or ID card, also need a minimum of twenty-five pounds in cash. Travellers using their ID card should additionally bring two identical, recent and printed passport photos in colour which were taken in front of a light, plain background.
Even travellers who could opt to use a valid identity card for their visa applications are still recommended to use a passport for their trip. This is because an identity card is not accepted throughout Egypt as a valid means of identification. Travelling with just a national identity card, it may prove difficult to access certain services when in the country. This could, for instance, complicate car rental. A valid passport, on the other hand, will always be accepted as a proof of identification. It is therefore highly recommended to always carry a valid passport and visa when visiting Egypt.
Visa application before departure
Despite the option to apply for a visa on arrival at an airport in Egypt, this is not recommended. Opting for this visa, you are likely to experience long waiting lines at airport customs upon arrival. Moreover, you would risk a rejection of your visa application. In that case, you would be denied entry to Egypt and would be forced to adapt your travel itinerary or to retun home.
Therefore, it is recommended to submit a visa application before departing to Egypt. Travellers from the UK and Ireland, who hold a valid passport, can apply for the Egypt visa before departure. For all eligible travellers, it is required that the passport is valid for at least another 6 months from the arrival day in Egypt. Did you submit your visa application using a passport which has expired, or did you obtain a new passport for another reason reason? If so, then you have to apply for a new visa using the newly issued passport.
Travel documents for an Egypt holiday
If you are travelling to Egypt for holidays, or to visit family and friends, you will need to carry the following documents upon arrival:
- a passport which is valid for at least 6 months;
- an overview of your booked flights and accommodations (at least one reservation);
- a valid visa for each traveller (including children);
- an invitation letter in the event of an overnight stay with family or friends;
- only when applying for the visa on arrival with a national identity card: two identical (and printed) passport photos that were recently taken.
If you opt for an online application, you should also consider the Egypt e-visa requirements.
Travel documents for work or an internship in Egypt
If you need to travel for work in Egypt, or for an internship, additional documents such as a mediation letter issued by the employer, a secondment or internship agreement, or a proof of a placement in Egypt, are required. In addition, you will also need to hold the documents that are mentioned above. A work or internship visa for Egypt cannot be applied for through this website. In case you need this type of visa, please contact the Egyptian embassy.
Please note: this news article about the visa for Egypt is more than one year old. It might contain outdated information and advice, and no rights can therefore be derived from this article. Are you going on a trip soon and do you wish to do know what rules currently apply? Read all about the up-to-date information about the visa for Egypt.