Passports must be valid for two months beyond the period of visit. Visa and passport validity requirements change at short notice.
Americans: US citizens must have a valid passport, and a visa is required. A 30-day visa can be obtained on arrival for US$15, provided the purpose of travel is for tourism. For travelers entering
Egypt via South Sinai and remaining in the South Sinai resort area, a free 15-day visa can be obtained on arrival.
UK nationals: UK citizens must have a valid passport, and a visa is required. A 30-day visa can be obtained on arrival for
US$15 or the equivalent, provided the purpose of travel is for tourism. British nationals traveling to Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resorts only, for up to 14 days, do not require a visa, they shall receive a free entry permission stamp upon arrival. For travelers entering Egypt via South Sinai and remaining in the South Sinai resort area, a free 15-day visa can be obtained on arrival.
Canadians: Canadians must have a valid passport, and a visa is required. A 30-day visa can be obtained on arrival for US$15 or the equivalent, provided the purpose of travel is for tourism. For travelers entering Egypt via South Sinai and remaining in the South Sinai resort area, a free 15-day visa can be obtained on arrival.
Australians: Australians must have a valid passport, and a visa is required. A 30-day visa can be obtained on arrival for US$15 or the equivalent, provided the purpose of travel is for tourism. For travelers entering Egypt via South Sinai and remaining in the South Sinai resort area, a free 15-day visa can be obtained on arrival.
South Africans: South African nationals require a valid passport, and a visa for travel to Egypt. For travelers entering Egypt via South Sinai and remaining in the South Sinai resort area, a free 15-day visa can be obtained on arrival.
Irish nationals: Irish nationals must have a valid passport, and a visa is required. A 30-day visa can be obtained on arrival for US$15 or the equivalent, provided the purpose of travel is for tourism. For travelers entering Egypt via South Sinai and remaining in the South Sinai resort area, a free 15-day visa can be obtained on arrival.
New Zealanders: New Zealand citizens must have a valid passport, and a visa is required. A 30-day visa can be obtained on arrival for US$15 or the equivalent, provided the purpose of travel is for tourism. For travelers entering Egypt via South Sinai and remaining in the South Sinai resort area, a free 15-day visa can be obtained on arrival.
Health
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over one year of age coming from infected areas. Travelers to Egypt should come prepared to beat the heat with a high factor sunblock and drink plenty of water to combat dehydration. Drinking water in the main cities and towns is normally chlorinated but it is advisable to only drink bottled water. Cases of bird flu have been reported, and human fatalities have occurred. Although the risk is low for travelers, all close contact with caged, domestic and wild birds should be avoided, and all poultry and egg dishes well cooked as a precaution. Visitors should only eat thoroughly cooked food and fruits they have peeled themselves to prevent travelers diarrhoea. The waters of the Nile are contaminated and should not be consumed or bathed in. Medical treatment can be expensive and standards vary so insurance is strongly advised, including evacuation. Medical facilities outside of
Cairo can be very basic.
Safety
There is a significant threat from terrorism in Egypt.
Red Sea resorts on the
Sinai Peninsula in particular have been targeted, such as in April 2006, when a series of bomb explosions tore through the popular resort of Dahab. Other resorts and dive centers have suffered similar bomb attacks in the last two years, and over 100 people have been killed and hundreds more seriously injured, many of them foreigners. Security forces persist with their counter-terrorist operations on the Sinai Peninsula, and police continue to provide armed escorts for travelers in certain areas. In April 2005 an explosion in central Cairo caused four deaths and 19 injuries, and on 30 April 2006 an attack on a tourist bus and one near the
Egyptian Museum injured seven people; the three incidents specifically targeted tourists and Egyptian authorities warn that further incidents in Cairo are possible. In general, there are increased security measures at all tourist sites, and especially in resort areas on the Sinai Peninsula, but visitors should be alert and are advised to avoid political demonstrations and public gatherings. Developments in the region, including the conflict in
Iraq and the tension between
Israel and the Palestinians, continue to trigger demonstrations of public anger, and visitors are warned to be especially vigilant in public places; the mood at present is extremely anti-US, anti-Israel and anti-
UN. Visitors to the cities and tourist sites will experience a fair amount of hassle and are advised not to carry more money on them than needed at a time. Women should take extra caution when traveling alone as there have been isolated incidents of harassment, and sexual assault is not uncommon; women should be particularly alert when visiting massage spas and other tourist related activities. The sinking of the passenger ferry traveling across the Red Sea from
Saudi Arabia to Egypt in February 2006 left over 1,000 dead and was one of the worst maritime disasters in recent years. Egypt also has a poor train safety record with several fatal accidents each year.
