What documents do I need to enter Egypt?
Egypt needs a passport valid six months from arrival plus a tourist visa, bought online as an e-visa or on arrival. A free Sinai-only permit covers resort stays.
Updated
Entering Egypt - what you need
Egypt is one of the easier visa countries to prepare for, as long as you decide in advance which route you are taking. Your trip1 booking confirmation covers the accommodation details that both the e-visa form and arriving officers ask about.
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date, with at least one blank page.
- A tourist visa, either an e-visa arranged in advance or one bought on arrival, unless you qualify for the free Sinai permit.
- US dollars in cash if you plan to buy the visa on arrival.
- A return or onward ticket.
- The name and address of your accommodation, which the e-visa application also asks for.
E-visa or visa on arrival?
Both work for most tourists. The e-visa is applied for on Egypt's official government portal before you fly, and tourist e-visas are issued with validity of up to three months.
The visa on arrival is bought at bank kiosks in the arrivals hall, before you reach passport control. A single-entry 30-day visa is 30 US dollars in cash and a multiple-entry visa is around 60. Cairo airport has added a self-service digital option at roughly 36 US dollars.
Bring clean US dollar notes if you plan to buy on arrival, since the kiosks are cash desks and do not always have change.
Important: Use only Egypt's official government e-visa site. Copycat sites look convincing and commonly charge around double the real fee for the same document.
The Sinai-only entry stamp
If you fly into Sharm el-Sheikh and stay inside the Red Sea resort strip, you can be given a free entry permit instead of buying a visa. It covers stays of up to 15 days across the Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba area.
The permit is limited to that area. A day trip to Cairo, a Luxor tour or a Nile cruise is not covered, and neither is a stay longer than 15 days, so buy a full tourist visa if your plans include either.
You can also be given a Sinai permit when crossing overland at Taba, where a paid tourist visa is the option if you want to travel further into Egypt.
Hotel check-in in Egypt
Egyptian hotels ask for your passport at check-in and record the details for guest registration. Some hold it briefly while they copy it, then hand it straight back.
Keep your entry visa stamp intact and legible. Officials check it when you leave the country, and a missing or unclear stamp turns your departure into a slow conversation.
Your trip1 booking confirmation is your proof of accommodation. Both the e-visa form and arriving officers can ask where you are staying, so download it before you fly.
Entering Egypt - FAQ
Yes, most visitors need a tourist visa. You can apply for an e-visa on Egypt's official government portal before you travel, or buy a visa on arrival at the airport.
A single-entry 30-day visa on arrival is 30 US dollars, paid in cash at the bank kiosks before passport control. Cairo airport has added a self-service digital version at about 36 US dollars.
It is a free entry permit for stays of up to 15 days inside the Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resort area. It does not cover the rest of Egypt, so you need a full visa for Cairo, Luxor or a Nile cruise.
Six months beyond the date you arrive, plus at least one blank page for the stamps.
Use only Egypt's official government e-visa portal. Copycat sites look official and often charge roughly double the real fee.
