Planning your first trip to Egypt? Before you dream about sunrise at the pyramids or a felucca ride on the Nile, there is one small but important step to sort out: your Egypt visa.
The good news is that it has never been easier. In 2026, most tourists can choose between two simple options. You can apply for an e-Visa online before you fly, or you can buy a visa on arrival at the airport. Both cost $30 for a single entry and let you stay for up to 30 days. The e-Visa saves you time when you land, while the visa on arrival needs no planning at all.
And if your holiday is a beach break in Sharm El Sheikh or Dahab, you may not need a visa at all. In this guide, we walk you through each option in plain language, so you can choose the right one and get back to the fun part: planning your Egypt tour packages.
Yes, almost all foreign visitors need a visa or entry permission to enter Egypt. Citizens of a small number of nearby countries can enter visa-free, but travellers from Europe, North America, Australia and most of Asia need one.
Whatever your nationality, your passport must be valid for at least six months from your arrival date and have at least one blank page. Children need their own passport and pay the same fee as adults.
The main exception is the free Sinai stamp, explained below, for short stays in the South Sinai resorts. Everyone heading to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan or the Red Sea mainland needs a full tourist visa.
The Egypt e-Visa is an official online visa issued by Egypt's Ministry of Interior through visa2egypt.gov.eg. You apply and pay before you travel, then show the printed approval at passport control. It is open to nationals of 78 countries, including the US, UK, India and the Gulf states.
A single-entry e-Visa costs $30 and a multiple-entry e-Visa costs $65. Each lets you stay up to 30 days per visit, so the multiple-entry option suits travellers who plan a side trip to Jordan or Israel and then return to Egypt.
How to apply:
- Create an account on visa2egypt.gov.eg and confirm your email.
- Log in, select Apply Now and choose single or multiple entry.
- Fill in your passport and travel details.
- Pay by Visa, Mastercard or debit card.
- Wait for the approval email, then download and print your e-Visa.
- Show the printout with your passport at passport control.
Apply at least 7 working days before your flight. Only use the official government portal, as many look-alike websites charge extra service fees.
A visa on arrival is a single-entry tourist visa you buy at an official bank counter in the arrivals hall, before passport control. It costs $30 and allows a stay of up to 30 days. Citizens of many countries qualify, including the US, UK, EU member states, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
The fee rose from $25 to $30 on 1 March 2026. At most airports you still receive a paper sticker, and pay in cash, ideally in US dollars with exact change.
Since 1 August 2026, Cairo International Airport has been piloting a digital visa on arrival. It costs $36 ($30 plus a $6 issuing fee) and gives you a QR code instead of a sticker. Hurghada, Luxor, Sharm El Sheikh and other airports still issue the paper version.
Tip: go straight to the official bank counter. Agents in the arrivals hall may offer to "help" and charge more for the same sticker.
Choose the e-Visa if you like to arrive with everything settled, need multiple entries, or travel with family. Choose the visa on arrival if you are booking last minute, your nationality qualifies, and you are comfortable carrying cash.
The e-Visa is the safer choice when you have a tight connection on arrival. If you land in Cairo and head straight to the Giza Pyramids or catch a domestic flight to Luxor or Aswan, skipping the visa queue saves real time. It also helps in peak periods such as Egyptian Christmas and the New Year, when airport queues are longest.
The visa on arrival works well for flexible, independent travellers. For example, a traveller who decides a week before departure to add Alexandria, Abu Simbel or the Siwa Oasis can still fly in and buy the visa at the airport.
Still not sure? Here is a simple rule of thumb. If it is your first trip and you want a smooth arrival, go with the e-Visa. If you plan to visit Egypt, cross into Jordan and come back, pick the multiple-entry e-Visa. If you are booking within a week of travel, the visa on arrival is your friend. And if your nationality is not eligible for either, contact the nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate before you book your flights.
Yes, if you stay 15 days or less and never leave the South Sinai resort area. On arrival you can ask for a free "Sinai only" entry stamp instead of buying a visa. It covers Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba, which makes it ideal for a diving or beach break built around Dahab and Sharm El Sheikh activities.
The stamp has strict limits. It does not let you travel to Cairo, Luxor or across the Gulf of Suez, and it does not cover stays longer than 15 days. If you might take a day trip to the pyramids, buy the $30 visa at the Sharm El Sheikh airport bank counter instead.
The Sinai stamp does not apply on the mainland Red Sea coast. If you fly into Hurghada, Marsa Alam or El Gouna, you need a full tourist visa.
At passport control, carry your passport, your printed e-Visa if you have one, your return or onward ticket and your hotel or tour booking. Business travellers and visitors staying with family should also carry a supporting letter or invitation.
A few simple mistakes catch travellers out every year. The most common is applying through an unofficial website. Many look-alike sites charge double for the same e-Visa, so always apply at visa2egypt.gov.eg.
Another is arriving without cash. The visa on arrival is paid in cash, so keep some US dollars in small notes in your hand luggage. Check your passport too, as airlines can refuse boarding if it has less than six months of validity left.
Finally, keep an eye on your dates. Overstaying your visa leads to a fine when you leave. If you fall in love with Egypt and want to stay longer than 30 days, apply for an extension at a passport and immigration office before your visa runs out. And if you entered on a Sinai stamp, buy a full visa before travelling beyond the resort area.
Probably, yes. A government decree published on 30 August 2026 raises a fee built into every visa from $12 to $15, starting 1 January 2027. According to the Egyptian Travel Agents Association, this should lift the single-entry visa from $30 to $33.
The official price list had not changed as of late September 2026, so it is worth checking the e-Visa portal before you apply. Either way, the increase is small, and Egypt remains one of the most affordable visas in the region.
A 30-day tourist visa gives you enough time to see Egypt's highlights from Cairo to Aswan. Here is how most travellers use it.
Most adventures begin in Cairo. Start on the Giza Plateau with the Great Sphinx of Giza, then visit the Djoser Pyramid at Saqqara. See the treasures of King Tutankhamun at the Grand Egyptian Museum, and save time for the historic Egyptian Museum in Tahrir. End your day in the lanes of Khan El Khalili, and explore more Cairo attractions as time allows.
Next, fly or take the train south to Luxor. On the East Bank, walk through Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. On the West Bank, explore the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, Hatshepsut Temple and the Colossi of Memnon.
From Luxor, a Nile cruise sails south to Aswan, stopping at Esna Temple, Edfu and the Kom Ombo temples. In Aswan, sail to Philae Temple, see the Unfinished Obelisk and spend an afternoon in a colourful Nubian village.
Along the way, make time to try local dishes such as koshari and molokhia; our guide to Egyptian food tells you what to order.
Once your Egypt visa is sorted, let us handle the rest. Browse our Egypt tour packages and book a trip with expert guides, hotels and transfers included.
1.How much does an Egypt visa cost in 2026? A single-entry tourist visa costs $30, whether you buy the e-Visa online or the paper visa on arrival. A multiple-entry e-Visa costs $65, and the digital visa on arrival at Cairo airport costs $36.
2.How long can I stay in Egypt on a tourist visa? Up to 30 days per entry. You can apply for an extension at a passport and immigration office before your visa expires.
3.Is the e-Visa better than the visa on arrival? Neither is better in price, as both cost $30. The e-Visa is better for saving time at the airport and for multiple entries; the visa on arrival is better for last-minute trips.
4.How long does the e-Visa take to process? Allow up to 7 working days. Many applications are approved sooner, but applying early avoids last-minute stress.
5.Can I pay for the visa on arrival by card? Usually not. Bring cash, ideally US dollars in small notes, to pay at the airport bank counter.
6.Do children need a visa for Egypt? Yes. Every child needs their own passport and pays the same visa fee as an adult.
7.Do I need a visa for Sharm El Sheikh? Not if you stay 15 days or less and remain in Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba. You will receive a free Sinai-only entry stamp instead.
8.Do I need a visa for Hurghada? Yes. Hurghada is on the mainland Red Sea coast, so the free Sinai stamp does not apply.
9.Will the visa fee go up in 2027? It is expected to rise to $33 for a single entry from 1 January 2027, though the official price list had not been updated as of late September 2026.
