Entry and residence
Visa, passport, vaccination required at the border, customs and consular assistance. Rules depend on your nationality: each point says who it applies to.
Visa
A visa is required. Get it online before departure (e-visa), from a consulate, or on arrival at international airports, paid in cash in dollars or euros (30 USD single entry according to France and the UK); it is valid for 30 days. Do not buy it from an agent: the official kiosk is enough.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Egypt, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Egypt travel advice: entry requirementsGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: EgyptArriving directly at Sharm el-Sheikh for a stay limited to the South Sinai resorts (Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, Taba): a free entry stamp replaces the visa, up to 15 days according to the UK. To leave that zone or stay longer, you need an Egypt visa.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Egypt, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Egypt travel advice: entry requirementsExtensions are requested from the immigration office (Mogamma'a in Cairo), only with a passport. Overstaying may lead to a fine on departure.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Egypt, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Egypt travel advice: entry requirementsGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: Egypt- Passport: United States
A visa is required: an e-visa from the Egyptian government's official website before departure, or a 30-day tourist visa on arrival at airports (about USD 25 in cash). Beware of unofficial sites charging double.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceU.S. Department of State, Egypt International Travel Information - Passport: Germany
A visa is required: from an Egyptian mission (EUR 35 plus EUR 3 fee for a simple tourist visa), as an e-Visa on the official portal, or on arrival. At Cairo airport, since 1 September 2026, a QR code can be requested before travel on Visaonarrival.gov.eg (USD 30 plus USD 6 fee).
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceAuswärtiges Amt, Ägypten: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise - Passport: Spain
A visa is required with an ordinary passport: on arrival (30 days, single entry, USD 30), online on the official e-visa portal, or from an Egyptian embassy or consulate, which is advisable when arriving by land or sea.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceMinisterio de Asuntos Exteriores (España), Recomendaciones de viaje: Egipto - Passport: China
According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a visa is issued on arrival with an ordinary Chinese passport (November 2023 list: check before departure).
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26Medium confidenceMinistry of Foreign Affairs of China, Service consulaire: entry facilities for holders of an ordinary Chinese passport (list of November 2023)
Passport and documents
Passport valid for at least 6 months: after your return date according to France and Canada, after arrival according to the UK. French nationals may also enter with an ID card valid for 6 months, with two passport photos; check the spelling of your name and the number on the entry document, and note that the visa cannot then be extended.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Egypt, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Egypt travel advice: entry requirementsGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: EgyptLook after your papers: after a loss or theft, the procedures with the police and then the foreigners' office can be very long and lead to an overstay.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Egypt, entry and residence- Egyptian dual nationals
Men aged 18 to 30 who also hold Egyptian nationality must settle their military service status before coming, even for a short stay, or they will not be allowed to leave. Online regularisation for 5,000 dollars has been available since August 2023.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Egypt, entry and residenceGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: Egypt
Customs and currency
You may bring in up to 5,000 Egyptian pounds (any excess may be seized); foreign currency must be declared from the equivalent of 10,000 dollars.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Egypt, entry and residenceGovernment of Canada, Travel advice: EgyptBanned without authorisation: drones (confiscated and never returned), binoculars even small ones, professional photo or video equipment. CBD is banned and tramadol strictly prohibited, with very heavy penalties. Keep a prescription, ideally in English, for your medication.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Egypt, useful informationGOV.UK (FCDO), Egypt travel advice: safety and securityTrading and exporting archaeological objects is banned and severely punished; do not buy any.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Egypt, useful information
Residence permit
To live in Egypt, you must apply for a residence permit from the Passports, Emigration and Nationality Administration (PENA), which publishes the different permit types.
Verified factVerified on 10/2/26High confidenceLiving in Egypt
Useful contacts
Contact details taken from the official sources cited. Check them before going.
Embassy of France in Egypt
Passport: FranceFrench embassy in Cairo.
29 avenue Charles de Gaulle, Guizeh, Le Caire+20 2 35 67 32 00France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Egypt, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026
Consulate General of France in Caire
Passport: FranceFrench consulate general.
7 rue Abi Shammar, Guizeh, Le CaireFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Egypt, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026
Consulate General of France in Alexandrie
Passport: FranceFrench consulate general.
2 place Ahmed Orabi, Mancheya, AlexandrieFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Egypt, useful contacts· Oct 2, 2026
Embassy of Canada to Egypt
Passport: CanadaEmbassy of Canada in Cairo.
Nile City Towers, 2005 (A) Corniche El Nile, South Tower, 18th floor, Cairo+20 2 2461 2200Government of Canada, Travel advice: Egypt· Oct 2, 2026
Sources for this guide
- France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Egypt, entry and residence · Source updated: September 21, 2026 · Checked on October 2, 2026
- GOV.UK (FCDO), Egypt travel advice: entry requirements · Source updated: August 4, 2026 · Checked on October 2, 2026
- Government of Canada, Travel advice: Egypt · Source updated: May 26, 2026 · Checked on October 2, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Egypt International Travel Information · Source updated: August 11, 2025 · Checked on October 2, 2026
- Auswärtiges Amt, Ägypten: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise · Source updated: September 29, 2026 · Checked on October 2, 2026
- Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores (España), Recomendaciones de viaje: Egipto · Source updated: July 15, 2026 · Checked on October 2, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Service consulaire: entry facilities for holders of an ordinary Chinese passport (list of November 2023) · Source updated: December 7, 2023 · Checked on October 2, 2026
- France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Egypt, useful information · Source updated: September 21, 2026 · Checked on October 2, 2026
- GOV.UK (FCDO), Egypt travel advice: safety and security · Source updated: August 4, 2026 · Checked on October 2, 2026
- Living in Egypt · Source updated: February 3, 2026 · Checked on October 2, 2026
AfriPilot is not an official body. Information comes from the sources cited and may change: each source's date is shown.