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Egypt visa requirements 2026: Most tourists need a visa to enter Egypt, with three main options. The Egypt e-visa (USD 30 single-entry, USD 65 multiple-entry on the official portal as of September 2026) is applied for online, at least 7 days before departure. The visa on arrival (USD 30 since 1 March 2026, or USD 36 for the new digital QR version at Cairo airport) is available at Cairo International Airport and other entry points for citizens of 45+ countries including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and most European nations. Both tourist visas allow a 30-day stay. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date and have 1-2 blank pages. A few countries (Bahrain, Djibouti, Hong Kong, Macau) enter visa-free; Schengen visa holders get free 15-day entry.
Most visitors clear Egyptian immigration in under half an hour, provided the paperwork is right. This Egypt visa requirements guide covers e-visa and visa on arrival as they work in 2026: who qualifies, what each costs, and how to apply without paying an agent. Pair it with our money and budgeting pillar for Cairo, our first-visit primer for the city, and our what-to-prepare list before you fly.
Egypt Visa Options Comparison
| Visa Type | Cost | Duration | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-Visa Single Entry | USD 30 | 30 days stay | 3 months from issue |
| E-Visa Multiple Entry | USD 65 | 30 days/entry | Shown on the portal when you apply |
| Visa on Arrival | USD 30 paper sticker; USD 36 digital QR at Cairo airport | 30 days stay | Single entry only |
| Sinai-Only Visa | Free | 15 days stay | Sinai Peninsula only |
| Schengen Holder Free | Free | 15 days | One entry |
Countries Eligible for Egypt E-Visa
The Egypt e-visa is available to citizens of 75+ countries including:
- United States, Canada, Mexico
- United Kingdom, Ireland
- All EU/EEA countries
- Australia, New Zealand
- Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong
- Most Latin American countries
- Russia, Belarus, Ukraine
- Many Asian nations (India, Philippines, Thailand)
Countries Eligible for Visa on Arrival
Similar list of 45+ countries with passport eligibility, including:
- United States, Canada
- UK, EU member states
- Australia, New Zealand
- Japan, South Korea
- Most GCC countries
- Several Asian and African nations
How to Apply for Egypt E-Visa
Step 1: Visit Official Portal
Go to https://visa2egypt.gov.eg (the only official Egypt e-visa site). Beware of unofficial sites charging more. Following these Egypt visa requirements guidelines helps ensure a smooth and respectful Cairo experience.
Step 2: Fill Application
- Personal details
- Passport information
- Travel itinerary
- Egypt accommodation address
Step 3: Upload Documents
- Passport scan (color, all 4 corners visible)
- Passport-style photo
- Hotel reservation confirmation
- Flight itinerary
Step 4: Pay the Fee
USD 30 for a single-entry tourist e-Visa or USD 65 for multiple entry, as listed on the official portal in September 2026, paid by Visa, Mastercard or another debit card.
Step 5: Wait for Approval
Often a few business days, but the official portal asks you to apply at least 7 days before departure, so treat a week as the minimum.
Step 6: Print Visa
Print PDF visa to present at immigration.
How to Get Visa on Arrival
At Cairo International Airport
- Disembark and follow the signs for arrivals
- Before passport control, choose your route: the self-service kiosks selling the digital QR visa (USD 36, card only) or the bank counters selling the paper sticker (USD 30, traditionally cash). If you bought the QR code online before flying, skip this step
- Pay, and collect your sticker (it goes in your passport) or your QR code
- Proceed to passport control and show your passport with the sticker or QR code
- Get entry stamp
- Total time: 10-30 minutes depending on queue, or no visa queue at all if you arrive with a QR code
The digital option is new. Since 1 August 2026, Cairo airport has been piloting a QR-code visa on arrival costing USD 36 — the USD 30 fee plus a USD 6 service charge — paid by Visa or Mastercard at apps.visaonarrival.gov.eg, in the official Visa on Arrival Egypt app or at kiosks in the arrivals halls. Each code covers one traveller, is single-use and is valid for 7 days from issue. Paper stickers remain on sale during the pilot, which so far applies only at Cairo; at other airports, expect the sticker.
Tips
- For the paper sticker, have USD 30 in clean notes ready
- US dollars are safest at the counters; other major currencies have been accepted, but do not count on it
- EGP NOT accepted for visa
- Want to pay by card? Use the digital QR visa (card only), online or at the kiosks
Once the sticker is in your passport and the entry stamp is done, only the ride into town remains, and our rundown of ways into the city centre prices each option.
Required Documents
For E-Visa
- Valid passport (6+ months beyond entry)
- Passport scan
- Recent passport photo
- Travel itinerary
- Hotel confirmation
- Credit card for payment
For Visa on Arrival
- Valid passport (6+ months beyond entry)
- USD 30 in cash for the paper sticker, or a card for the USD 36 digital QR version
- Return ticket (sometimes asked)
- Hotel address (asked at immigration)
Common Visa Mistakes to Avoid
- Booking through unofficial websites (cost 3-5x)
- Passport expiring within 6 months of entry
- Missing passport blank pages (need 1-2)
- Arriving without a visa plan: no QR code, no e-Visa and no cash for the sticker
- Expecting to pay by card at the paper-sticker counters (the digital QR visa is the card option)
- Applying for e-visa less than 1 week before
- Forgetting to print e-visa
- Photo not meeting requirements
- Not having hotel confirmation
Visa Extensions
If you need to stay longer than 30 days:
- Where: Mogamma government building in Tahrir Square, Cairo
- Cost: ~£E 250-500 ($8-15)
- Process: Long queues, full day expected
- Extension: Usually 30 additional days
- Better: Apply for e-visa multi-entry from start
Sinai-Only Visa
If only visiting Sinai (Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab):
- Free Sinai-only stamp at Sharm el-Sheikh airport
- 15-day validity
- Cannot visit Cairo or rest of Egypt
- Cannot visit St. Catherine’s Monastery beyond designated area
- Different from full tourist visa
Special Visa Situations
Schengen Visa Holders
If you have valid Schengen, US, UK, or Japan visa: Free 15-day Egypt visa at airport. No application needed. Following these Egypt visa requirements guidelines helps ensure a smooth and respectful Cairo experience.
Cruise Ship Passengers
Shore excursions usually pre-arranged; specific cruise visa rules apply.
Land Border Crossings
Different procedures at Taba (Israel), Sallum (Libya), Aswan (Sudan).
Diplomatic/Service Passports
Often free or special procedures.
Egypt Visa Requirements FAQ
Do I need a visa for Egypt?
Most nationalities yes. Few visa-free countries (Bahrain, Djibouti, Hong Kong).
How much does Egypt visa cost?
As of September 2026: USD 30 for a single-entry tourist e-Visa or USD 65 for multiple entry on the official portal, USD 30 for the paper visa on arrival, or USD 36 for the digital QR version at Cairo airport.
Can US citizens get visa on arrival?
Yes — USD 30 for the paper sticker, or USD 36 for the digital QR visa at Cairo airport, which you can buy online in the week before you land.
How long does e-visa take?
Often a few business days, but the official portal asks you to apply at least 7 days before departure.
What’s the official e-visa website?
https://visa2egypt.gov.eg — the only official portal.
Can I extend my visa?
Yes at Mogamma in Cairo. ~$8-15 for 30 more days.
How long is the visa valid?
Single-entry e-Visa: 3 months from issue, for a stay of up to 30 days; check the portal for the multiple-entry validity. Visa on arrival: single entry, for a stay of up to 30 days. A digital QR visa on arrival must be used within 7 days of issue.
How long can I stay?
30 days for tourist visa.
Does my passport need 6 months validity?
Yes — strictly enforced.
Can I get e-visa for multiple entries?
Yes — USD 65 on the official portal as of September 2026. Check the validity shown when you apply.
Can I pay visa on arrival with credit card?
At Cairo airport, yes, if you use the digital QR visa on arrival (USD 36), which is card only and can be bought online or at the kiosks. The paper sticker at the bank counters is traditionally paid in cash, so carry clean US dollars if that is your plan.
What if my e-visa is delayed?
Still travel — apply for visa on arrival as backup.
Are children covered separately?
Yes — each child needs own visa.
Can I work on tourist visa?
No — strictly for tourism.
What if I lose my e-visa?
Re-print from email or download from portal.
Visa questions rarely arrive alone, and the ones about money, taxis and safety are gathered in our wider set of Cairo travel answers.
Pulling It Together
Egypt visa requirements 2026 are straightforward for most tourists: apply for the USD 30 single-entry e-Visa online via https://visa2egypt.gov.eg at least a week before travel, OR get a visa on arrival at Cairo Airport — USD 30 in cash for the paper sticker, or USD 36 by card for the digital QR version. Both allow 30-day stays. The multiple-entry e-Visa (USD 65) suits travellers planning to leave and return to Egypt. Passport must be valid 6+ months beyond entry. Schengen visa holders get free 15-day visa. Always use the official Egypt e-visa portal — countless unofficial sites charge 3-5x for the same visa.
With entry settled, timing and money are what remain. Our costed sample budgets for a Cairo trip cover the spending side, while the monthly climate picture and which seasons suit which travellers handle the calendar.
Authoritative Sources
If you are buying your visa on arrival, it helps to know the layout: the bank booths that sell the visa stickers sit before passport control, and on a busy night the queues there are the slowest part of arriving. Our guide to arriving at Cairo airport covers the whole sequence from the aircraft to the kerb.
Transit passengers have one more option. If both your flights are on EgyptAir, Air Cairo or Nile Air and your layover is between 8 and 96 hours, eligible nationalities can get a free transit visa at the airport and leave to explore. The conditions, and how the scheme fits with the visa on arrival, are set out in our Cairo layover guide.
The airport side of the visa on arrival changed twice in 2026: the fee rose to USD 30 on 1 March, and since August Cairo airport has been piloting a digital QR-code visa, bought online or at kiosks by card, alongside the paper sticker. We walk through the whole process at the airport in our step-by-step guide to the visa on arrival at Cairo airport.