The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism has made the electronic tourist visa (e-visa) available to the citizens of 28 countries, which were previously unable to use it. The total number of nationalities that can now use the e-visa is 74.
What is the e-visa Egypt?
Until a few years back, travellers had only two options for applying for an Egypt visa for their trip to the country: a stamp in the passport at the embassy, or after arriving at the airport in Egypt (visa on arrival). On 3 December 2017, the Egyptian government introduced a third option through a modern electronic visa system, the so-called e-visa Egypt.
The advantages of the e-visa are that it can be applied for before departure and the entire application process is done online. This means that there is no need to visit the embassy or stand in line to apply for a visa after arrival at the airport. The simplicity of Egyptʼs e-visa system is one of the reasons why the country has become so popular with tourists in recent years.
Tourism sector in Egypt recovering from coronavirus
Like many other countries in the world, COVID-19 has hit Egypt hard, especially in the tourism sector. Tourism in Egypt fell by more than 70 percent in 2020. The country is therefore working hard to get the number of tourists back to its old level through various campaigns and initiatives. This seems to be having an effect. In the first five months of 2021, Egypt welcomed two million tourists, which amounts to 400,000 tourists per month. In comparison, in 2019, 13 million tourists visited Egypt.
One of the Egyptian governmentʼs initiatives to boost tourism is to expand the number of countries that can use the online visa. For example, travellers from Saudi Arabia and China can now easily apply for an Egypt visa online. The announcement that 28 new countries are now eligible for the e-visa comes exactly one year after Egypt reopened its borders to tourists.
The 28 countries that can now use the Egypt e-visa - in addition to the 46 countries that are already able to do so - are: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Oman, Paraguay, Peru, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Another measure the government is considering is to extend the validity of the e-visa from 90 days to 5 years. Travellers with an e-visa would then be able to stay in Egypt for 90 days instead of the current 30 days.
Apply for your Egypt visa online
The application procedure for the online Egypt visa is quite simple. First, you must check whether the visa requirements are met. The most important requirement is that the traveller does not wish to stay in Egypt for longer than 30 days. After checking the visa requirements, fill in the digital application form. Then the payment must be made, which is also possible through PayPal. If everything is in order, the visa is usually approved within a week.
Single-entry, multiple-entry and urgent application
Although an e-visa allows you to stay in Egypt for a maximum of 30 days, the Egypt visa is valid for 90 days. However, the visa only allows you to enter the country once. If you plan to make several trips to Egypt within the validity period of the visa, it is advisable to apply for a so-called multiple-entry visa. In contrast to the single-entry Egypt visa, the multiple-entry visa allows you to travel to Egypt several times with the same visa. This means that you do not have to apply for a new visa each time.
If you travel to Egypt on short notice, you can apply for an urgent visa. Urgent applications are processed within 5 days on average.
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.