Egypt has a wonderfully warm climate, even in winter, and it is only a few hours' flight from the United Kingdom or Ireland. This makes it the perfect holiday destination for a trip with the whole family. Egypt is a diverse country with countless luxury resorts, for example along the Red Sea, but it also has a rich culture and history. For a trip to Egypt you need to apply for an Egypt visa, not just for yourself but for your children as well.
Sun, sea and sand
Egypt is the perfect destination for a relaxing holiday at the beach or by the pool. You don't have to fly all the way to the Caribbean for warm weather. Because flights to Egypt only take around 4 to 5 hours, the journey is also manageable for children. Along the Red Sea you will find resorts with luxurious, child-friendly features and hotels. These resorts often have large swimming pools or water parks where children can have fun all day long. While they take part in the many activities of the animation team, parents can relax by the water.
Popular and child-friendly resorts at the Red Sea are Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada, El Gouna and Marsa Alam. The Red Sea also offers various possibilities to discover the underwater world. Here, children can swim with dolphins and see hundreds of other species of fish. Older children can take diving lessons and admire the beautiful coral reefs.
Follow in the footsteps of the ancient Egyptians
Families who not only want to lie on the beach, but also discover some of the culture and history of the country, have plenty of options in Egypt that are also interesting for children. Children will not be bored by the enormous pyramids and impressive temples they recognise from films. Most children will also be impressed by Tutankhamun's famous death mask, mummies, the giant Sphinx and Egyptian hieroglyphics.
The visa for Egypt allows you to stay in the country for 30 days. This gives you enough time to combine a visit to the pyramids, museums and archaeological sites in Egypt with a beach holiday. For example, you could first soak up culture in Luxor, at the pyramids of Giza or in one of the museums in Cairo, and then finish your holiday at the beach.
Adventure in the desert
Egypt also has plenty to offer nature lovers, for example a camel ride or jeep safari through the dunes of the Sahara. More than 90 per cent of the country consists of desert. In the Western Desert (west of the Nile), you can find vast landscapes with golden sand mountains. The Eastern Desert has a much rougher landscape, due to the mountains. Real adventurers can even spend a night in a tent or hut in a Bedouin camp in the Sinai Desert.
Apply for your Egypt visa online
Whether you go to Egypt for a relaxing beach holiday or for a cultural tour, you will be required to apply for a visa. Take note that children also need their own visas and passports. Passports must be valid for at least eight more months on arrival in Egypt. In addition, on arrival in Egypt you must be able to present an itinerary, which includes your booked flights and overnight stays. If you are travelling with minors and both parents or guardians are not travelling with you, you must also carry proof of consent in English, stating that all persons with parental authority agree to you travelling with the children.
The e-visa for Egypt can be applied for quickly and easily online. You can apply for the visa for the whole family at the same time with a single application form. This is done by clicking on "Add a traveller" at the bottom of the application form. This way, you only have to fill in contact and travel details once and not for all travellers separately. After paying the visa costs, you provide a scan or clear photo of the passport of each traveller. Once these documents are approved, the application will be processed. From that moment on, it takes about a week before you receive your visa by email.
Take 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.