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Cairo Entry Requirements

Cairo Entry Requirements

Visa, immigration, and customs information

Important Notice Entry requirements can change at any time. Always verify current requirements with official government sources before traveling.
Government Travel Advisories
Verified 2026-10-01
Before you travel: official formalities

  • Egypt e-Visa

    Who
    Foreign visitors, who generally must first obtain an e-Visa
    When
    At least 7 days before departure

    Applied for on the official Egypt e-Visa portal.

    Official site
    Checked against the official source 2026-09-26
Entering Cairo means clearing immigration at Cairo International Airport or your port of entry. Officials inspect your documents here. Most visitors need visas arranged beforehand, with a pre-travel online option open to many nationalities. The process runs smoothly when paperwork is complete. Lines drag during peak hours. Keep your passport, visa, and supporting documents within easy reach. Entry rules shift. Check the official Egyptian government immigration website before departure.

Visa Requirements

Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.

Egypt's visa policy hinges on your passport nationality. Many travelers secure electronic visas online before reaching Cairo. Others enter visa-free for short visits. Everyone else needs traditional visas from Egyptian embassies or consulates. Verify your status through official government channels.

Visa-Free Entry
These stays typically run 14 to 90 days, depending on bilateral agreements.

Passport holders from select countries enter for tourism without advance visas.

Includes
Jordan Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates Bahrain Kuwait Oman Lebanon Hong Kong (SAR China) Macao (SAR China)

Conditions apply. Activities usually stay limited to tourism. Confirm your eligibility and exact permitted duration based on your specific passport.

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA/eVisa)
Egypt e-Visas typically authorize single or multiple entry stays up to 30 days.

This is the standard entry route for numerous nationalities, including many Western travelers. Obtain the Egypt e-Visa online before departure.

Includes
United States Canada United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Japan South Korea European Union member states (excluding Ireland), Norway, Russia, Serbia, Ukraine
How to Apply: Apply through the official Egypt e-Visa portal at least 7 days before departure. The site is https://visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/Home. Processing usually takes several business days. Apply early.
Cost: Fees are fixed and paid online through the portal. Costs align with comparable electronic visa programs globally.

The e-Visa covers tourism only. Print your approval for arrival. Your passport needs six months validity from entry into Egypt.

Visa Required
Embassies determine validity and permitted stay at issuance.

Travelers from nationalities outside visa-free and e-Visa lists must secure visas in person at Egyptian embassies or consulates before travel.

How to Apply: Submit your application form, passport, photos, and often proof of itinerary and accommodation to the nearest Egyptian diplomatic mission. Processing times vary widely.

These nationalities cannot complete this process upon Cairo arrival. Begin applications several weeks before travel.

Arrival Process

After landing in Cairo, follow signs toward immigration. The hall gets crowded. Stay patient. Officers review documents before stamping passports. Clear immigration, collect bags, then pass through customs.

1
Primary Inspection
Queue in the foreign passports line. Keep your passport, printed visa or e-Visa, and any landing card from your flight ready. Officers may ask about your stay's purpose and length.
2
Document Verification
Officers check passport validity, locate visas or entry stamps, and pose straightforward questions about your visit.
3
Passport Stamping
Upon approval, your passport receives an entry date stamp starting your permitted stay. Verify stamp accuracy before leaving.
4
Baggage Claim and Customs
After immigration, collect luggage. Choose the green 'Nothing to Declare' or red 'Goods to Declare' customs channel based on your belongings.

Documents to Have Ready

Passport
Required for all travelers. Validity must extend six months past your Cairo entry date, with one blank page minimum for stamps.
Visa or E-Visa
Required for most nationalities. Secure the correct type (visa-free, e-Visa, or embassy visa) before arrival. Carry printed copies for e-Visas.
Onward/Return Ticket
Immigration may request proof of departure before your visa or stay expires. Confirmed outbound flight bookings satisfy this.
Proof of Accommodation
Officers might request hotel confirmations or invitation letters for private stays. Keep printed copies or phone access ready.
Sufficient Funds
Officials can request proof of sufficient funds, though checks are inconsistent. Recent bank statements usually suffice.

Tips for Smooth Entry

Consolidate documents, passport, visa, hotel booking, and flight details in one accessible location, such as a clear holder. Digging through bags slows everyone down.
Complete landing cards legibly before reaching immigration.
Stay polite. Answer questions simply and directly. Over-explaining creates confusion.
Keep printed e-Visa approvals with your passport. The system runs electronically. But officers reference physical copies primarily.

Customs & Duty-Free

Egypt maintains standard customs regulations. Personal effects and limited duty-free items enter freely. Declare excess or high-value items to avoid penalties.

Alcohol
Up to 1 liter of alcoholic beverages per adult passenger.
Egypt's legal drinking age is 21. Alcohol imports beyond limits are prohibited.
Tobacco
Up to 200 cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 200 grams of tobacco per adult passenger.
There are no specific notes beyond the quantity limit.
Currency
You may bring in any amount of foreign currency.
Declare any cash over USD 10,000 on arrival. Keep that form. You will need it to reconvert Egyptian pounds when you leave.
Gifts/Goods
Personal items and gifts are duty-free up to EGP 5,000 total value.
Commercial goods or bulk quantities may attract import duties.

Prohibited Items

  • Narcotics and illegal drugs - strictly prohibited
  • Firearms, ammunition, and weapons without prior authorization
  • Pornographic materials
  • Publications that contradict Islamic principles or threaten national security

Restricted Items

  • Carry prescription meds in original packaging. Bring the prescription or doctor's note. This matters for controlled substances.
  • Professional cameras and large electronics may need declaration. Officials want proof these are personal items, not stock for resale.
  • Plants, seeds, and agricultural goods usually need phytosanitary certificates.

Health Requirements

Cairo dropped blanket COVID-19 rules. No vaccination or testing required. Yellow fever is the only health entry concern now.

Required Vaccinations

  • Travelers aged one year and older need yellow fever certificates if arriving from transmission-risk countries.

Recommended Vaccinations

  • Recommended vaccines include MMR, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella, polio, flu, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, and Rabies for animal handlers.

Health Insurance

Travel insurance is strongly recommended. Check the current entry rules on the official government website before you travel. Get it anyway. Medical evacuation coverage is essential. Visitor healthcare costs sting. Insurance removes that worry.

Current Health Requirements: Beyond yellow fever documentation, no health papers are currently required. Policies shift. Check your government's Egypt travel advisory before departure.

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Important Contacts

Essential resources for your trip.

Embassy/Consulate
Save your embassy or consulate contact details for Cairo before you fly.
Your foreign ministry's travel advisory site lists current diplomatic contact information.
Immigration Authority
For all official information on visas and entry requirements.
Apply for e-Visas at the Egypt Visa Portal (https://visa2egypt.gov.eg). This is the official channel.
Emergency
For police, ambulance, or fire services throughout Egypt.
Police: 122. Ambulance: 123. Fire: 180. Tourist police: 126.

Special Situations

Additional requirements for specific circumstances.

Traveling with Children

Every child needs a passport. Solo or single-parent travel often requires notarized consent from the absent parent(s). Rules are strict. Confirm current requirements with the Egyptian embassy.

Traveling with Pets

Bringing cats or dogs demands advance permits from Egypt's Ministry of Agriculture, plus health certificates and rabies proof from your home vet. Quarantine applies. Start early. The paperwork takes time.

Extended Stays

Extend tourist visas at Cairo's Passport and Immigration Administration before expiry. Overstay fines accumulate daily at departure. For stays exceeding several months, arrange work or study visas through an embassy beforehand.

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