Egypt e-Visa
Everything you need to apply for your Egypt e-Visa: the requirements, the documents, and the steps from start to approval.
Official Egypt government portalOverview
The Egypt e-Visa is the Egyptian government's online travel authorisation for tourism, issued before you fly through the official electronic portal. It is open to nationals of more than seventy countries and lets you apply online and request entry for short visits without going to an embassy or queuing at a consulate. You choose one of two types: a single-entry e-Visa, valid for ninety days from issue and good for a stay of up to thirty days; or a multiple-entry e-Visa, valid for one hundred and eighty days and allowing several visits, each up to thirty days.
The authorisation covers tourism; it does not authorise paid work, study toward a qualification or long-term residence, which require the relevant visa category. Visa on arrival exists at major Egyptian airports for some nationalities, but availability varies and queues can be long, so securing the e-Visa before travel is the dependable route and is what airlines increasingly expect to see at check-in. The e-Visa is linked to the passport you apply with, so you must travel on that same document, and it is issued per traveller, including children.
The e-Visa is intended for tourism and short visits; paid work, study or long-term stays require a different visa arranged through an Egyptian diplomatic mission before you travel.
Requirements in detail
Gather these before you begin, so the Egypt e-Visa form goes through on the first attempt. You need a passport valid for at least six months from your date of arrival, and you upload a scan of its biographical page, the one with your photo and personal details; keep the passport number and its issue and expiry dates beside you, because the e-Visa is linked to that exact document. You also provide a recent passport-style photograph on a plain light background, taken straight-on, with no glasses and no head covering except for religious reasons; a blurred, cropped or selfie-style image is a frequent cause of a held application, so this is the item to prepare with care.
Have your travel dates and the name and contact details of your hotel or host in Egypt ready, keep a return or onward flight booking to hand for the border, and use a working email address to receive the approval. The government fee varies, with the single-entry fee lower than the multiple-entry one, so you pay a single all-inclusive price with the government portion itemised on your receipt rather than a fixed figure. Each traveller, including each child, needs their own e-Visa, so prepare one set of documents for every applicant.
What you'll need
Have these ready before you begin your application. Requirements can vary by nationality and trip purpose.
- Passport with at least six months validity
- Recent digital passport photograph
- Name and contact details of your hotel or host in Egypt
- Return or onward flight booking, kept to hand for the border
- Email address for e-Visa delivery
- Payment method (one all-inclusive price)
How to apply
Applying for the Egypt e-Visa is done entirely online, step by step. First, confirm the e-Visa applies to you: it is open to nationals of more than seventy countries, who need it before they travel for tourism, and each traveller needs their own. Second, gather your passport, photograph and trip details as listed above.
Third, complete the online form, entering your name and passport number exactly as they appear in the passport, since Egyptian border officers compare the two on arrival and a single mismatched character is the usual reason an application is delayed. Fourth, review the single all-inclusive price and pay; the application is checked for completeness before it reaches the Egyptian authority. Finally, the approved e-Visa arrives by email.
Egyptian airlines and border officers commonly ask to see the printed authorisation alongside your passport, so carry a printed copy as well as a version on your phone, and travel on the same passport you applied with.
On arrival
Carry a printed copy of your approved Egypt e-Visa as well as a version on your phone. Egyptian airlines and border officers commonly ask to see the printed authorisation alongside your passport, and a paper copy avoids any problem with a flat battery or no signal. Travel on the exact passport you applied with, since the e-Visa is tied to that document.
The e-Visa lets you board and request entry, but the final admission decision rests with the immigration officer at the airport, who may ask about your trip. Have your accommodation address and your return or onward ticket ready to show, and keep a little cash in local currency for the arrivals area.
Government processing time
What the issuing authority typically takes once the application is submitted.
Government processing: Egyptian Ministry of Interior decides in 1 to 7 business days. VisitPass review: Standard under 24h; Priority under 6h; Urgent under 30 min. The application is checked for completeness, submitted to the authority, and the confirmation issued.
When to apply: the Egyptian authority advises submitting at least one week before you travel, so applying two to three weeks ahead is recommended. Peak holiday periods and high tourist season can add a few days to the official decision, so if your departure is close, choose a faster review tier and start now rather than waiting until the last moment.
At a glance
- Validity
- Up to 180 days
- Maximum stay
- 30 days per entry
- Entry type
- Single or multiple
Who can apply
Available to nationals of more than 70 countries. Single-entry visas are valid for one visit up to 30 days; multiple-entry visas allow several visits within 180 days, each up to 30 days. Children need their own e-Visa.
Is this the official application?
VisitPass is an independent travel-document service, not a government website and not affiliated with the Government of Egypt. Your application is submitted to the official Egypt e-Visa portal, the government fee is paid in full to the issuing authority and itemised on your receipt; the service fee covers preparing the application, reviewing it for completeness before submission, and email support. You can always apply directly on the government portal yourself; many travellers choose a guided form to complete it in their own language and have it checked before it is sent.
The decision rests solely with the Egyptian government.
Egypt help desk
Have questions about your e-Visa? Email the Egypt desk and we reply within 24 hours.
egypt@visitpass-online.comVisitPass is an independent visa-application service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any government. Government fees go directly to the issuing authority and are listed separately in your receipt.