Egypt Visa Types
Egypt, also known as the Land of Pharaohs, attracts an increasing number of travellers every year. Exploring new places, meeting people and tasting traditional cuisine has inspired people to travel and find excitement in it. Besides the tourist aspect of travelling, individuals tend to travel for various other reasons such as academic and employment purposes, business events and activities, medical treatment, etc. An important aspect of international travel is the visa.
Despite the travel notion to Egypt, travellers must have a valid Egypt visa. The visa requirements do not apply to the citizens who are exempted from the Egypt visa. The Egypt visa types are categorized based on the traveller’s purpose of visit. A deep understanding of the Egypt visa types and their requirements is essential to picking the appropriate Egypt visa.
Types of Egypt Visa
The types of Egypt visas differ in terms of eligibility, application processing time, documents required, validity, application process and other guidelines. Each visa type caters to the needs of an individual’s travel purpose to Egypt. Travellers must look into the visa types before the application process. Getting an appropriate visa is essential to secure an entry permit to Egypt. Travellers can choose a desired visa from the Egypt visa options listed below.
- E-visa
- Tourist Visa
- Visa on Arrival
- Business Visa
- Work Permit/Visa
- Student Visa
- Transit Visa
- Egypt Family, Relative or Friend Visit Visa
- Diplomatic Visa
- Medical Visa
- Egypt Cultural, Sports or Conference Visit Visa
Limitations such as validity, stay duration, and multiple-entry or single-entry should also be considered when opting for an Egypt visa. Travellers must spend time understanding every aspect of the Egypt visa, it will favour them while making an informed decision.
Egypt E-visa
Egypt e-visa (or electronic visa) is a travel authorization system that facilitates travellers to apply and receive an Egypt visa online. It ruled out the necessity of physically visiting the Egyptian consulate or embassy to get a visa. Citizens of over 70 countries can avail Egypt e-visa option. The e-visa is valid only for two travel purposes, tourism and business activities. The quick approval and effortless application process make Egypt e-visa a convenient option for travellers. The e-visa can be availed in two categories. The single-entry visa entitles one-time entry with 30 days continuous stay and 90 days validity. The multiple-entry Egypt e-visa grants multiple entries with 30 day continuous stay for each entry and 180 days validity.
The Egypt e-visa processing time is 3-7 business days. Sometimes, the visa process might take a little longer than expected. The Egypt e-visa comes with an extension option. Travellers can make use of the extension option, but they must meet the requirements set for the Egypt e-visa extension.
Egypt Tourist Visa
The Egypt visa on arrival and Egypt e-visa are valid for tourist visits to Egypt. Ineligible travellers can apply and obtain a tourist visa from the Egyptian consulate or embassy situated in their residence or home country. The tourist visa must be obtained by submitting the visa application at the Egyptian consulate or embassy. Additionally, it mandates a lengthy documentation process or paperwork. The validity of the tourist e-visa is 180 days for a multiple-entry visa and 90 days for a single-entry visa. The Egypt consulate or embassy visa processing time is three to four weeks (14-20 business days). So, travellers must submit the application form early to avoid the visa delay and approval process affecting the travel date.
Travellers must download the respective application form and fill it out completely. Then, attach a photo (traveller’s photo) and submit it with all the required documents. Once the visa is approved, travellers can collect their passport and Egypt visa from the embassy.
Egypt Business Visa
As mentioned earlier, the Egypt e-visa facilitates travellers to participate in business events and activities in Egypt. Travellers who cannot apply for an Egypt e-visa can get a business visa from the Egypt consulate or embassy. The embassy or consulate application process, downloading the application form, completing it, sticking a photo and attaching all the necessary documents remains the same for getting an Egypt visa from the consulate or embassy. However, travellers must provide business invitation letters, agreements, cover letters or other related documents when applying for an Egypt business visa. The Egypt business visa processing time is approximately 8-10 business days. It might also exceed four weeks owing to various factors.
The requirement for additional documents will step in unexpectedly. Travellers must look into specific documents (if any) before starting the business visa application process. The Egypt business visa extension is applicable only for valid reasons and the processing time might take approximately from hours to two or three days.
Egypt Visa on Arrival
The visa-on-arrival facility allows travellers to travel to Egypt without a pre-approval visa and get it after their arrival at Egypt airport or border crossing. Travellers can avail the Egypt visa on arrival facility only for tourist trips. Over 80 countries are eligible to opt for the Egypt visa on arrival facility. A critical aspect of an Egypt visa on arrival is its eligibility and it depends on the traveller’s nationality. Travellers can get their visa from the visa bank or counter, which is situated in the airport arrival hall. Most international airports in Egypt provide the Egypt visa-on-arrival facilities. However, it does not guarantee visa approval, which implies that visa rejection or denial is possible. If a traveller’s Egypt visa is rejected upon their arrival in Egypt, they must leave the country.
The Egypt visa on arrival is a short-term visa with a validity of 30 days. After submitting the application form and documents at the visa counter, travellers must wait at the airport until their visa is approved. Usually, the visa is issued immediately, but there can be delays. Travellers can extend their visa for valid reasons.
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The Egypt e-visa initiative introduced by the Egyptian government simplified the process of getting a valid visa to enter Egypt. In this regard, eligible foreign travellers can get an Egypt e-visa without any hassle. Learn more at Eligible Countries for Egypt e-Visa.
Egypt Work Permit and Visa
Getting an Egypt visa or permit involves various steps. Foreign nationals relocating to Egypt for employment purposes must have an Egypt work visa and permit. The Egypt work permit is valid for one year, it entitles the travellers to work and reside in Egypt. The work permit can be renewed for three years. Mostly, the employer will arrange for an Egypt work permit in place of their employee. The process involves various steps, which include security checks, background verification, National Security Agency clearance, etc. The processing time of a work permit takes about one month or more. The Egypt work permit is specified to a particular employee and their job, in case of any job change in Egypt, travellers should obtain a new Egypt work permit.
All the employees must get an Egypt residence permit to work and reside in Egypt for more than 90 days. Egypt work visa or permit mandates the travellers to submit the specific medical test, which includes HIV test. Egypt does not offer digital nomad visas, so all foreign nationals choosing to work in Egypt must have an Egypt work permit or visa.
Egypt Transit Visa
Egypt transit visa is for travellers using Egypt International Airport as a transit route to travel to another country. This visa allows travellers to stay in Egypt airport for 48-50 hours and it is a single-entry visa. Travellers who are staying at Egypt International Airport for more than 48 hours are mandated to have an Egypt transit visa. A transit visa will not be issued at the Egypt airport, travellers must obtain it prior to their arrival at the airport. Egypt transit visa permits travellers to stay within the airport premises and transit activity. Travellers cannot enter Egypt using the Egypt transit visa So, travellers who are keen to explore Egypt during their layover time are advised to get a valid visa to step outside the Egypt airport and explore the country.
Usually, it takes 3-7 business days to process the Egypt transit visa. Only the citizens of Egypt transit visa eligible countries can get a transit visa. The Egypt transit visa requirement does not apply to travellers with a layover of less than 48 hours and who desire to stay inside the Egypt airport.
Egypt Student Visa
Egypt student visa is for students willing to pursue their education in Egypt. The student visa requirement might vary depending on the student’s nationality and length of study. The mandated documents list includes a passport, acceptance letter from the educational institute in Egypt, registration documents, medical letter, financial statement, health insurance, character certificate, etc. The validity of the Egypt student visa depends on the length of the applicant’s academic course.
Other Egypt Visas
Travellers or individuals travelling to Egypt to reconnect with their family members, friends or relatives residing in Egypt must get an Egypt family, relative or friend visit visa. Travellers must provide an invitation letter from the host, a proof of relationship certificate, accommodation proof, travel itinerary, financial proof, etc., to get an Egypt family, relative or friend visit visa. The validity of the visa is 90 days and travellers can extend the visa by meeting all the visa requirements.
The Egypt cultural, sports or conference visit visa is for individuals or groups travelling to Egypt to attend cultural events or specified activities. This visa necessitates an invitation letter or form and a confirmation letter from the respective associations. It might also require a request letter from the travellers stating their reason for travelling to Egypt.
The Egypt diplomatic visa is issued only to official passport or diplomatic passport holders. The visa is used for the purpose of carrying forward official duties in the country. Travellers planning to receive medical treatment or procedures in Egypt must obtain an Egypt medical visa. Documents such as a health certificate and a letter from a licensed doctor confirming the traveller’s medical history and stating the need for treatment are mandatory for getting a medical visa.
Travellers with invalid Egypt visas will not be permitted to enter Egypt. Before choosing an appropriate visa, travellers must check if they are eligible to apply for it and that it meets their travel purpose and other travel requirements. The specific requirements, visa fee, documents required, eligibility, etc., can be modified or changed. Travellers must always check out the latest information by contacting the Egyptian consulate or embassy or visiting the official website.
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The Egypt visa process has various requirements, one of which is the photo requirement. The visa regulations have set specific guidelines for the photographs that should be attached to the Egypt visa application form. Read more at Egypt Visa Photo Requirements.
Check your eligibility for Online Egypt Visa and apply for Egypt e-Visa 5 (five) days in advance of your flight. Citizens of many countries including Bulgarian citizens, Czech citizens, Moldovan citizens, Hungarian citizens and Venezuelan citizens can apply online for Egypt e-Visa.