Visa to Egypt from A to Z: for Russians and not only. How to enter Sharm El Sheikh without a visa Do I need a visa to Sharm
Egypt has always been in the top three countries of the far abroad, where citizens of the Russian Federation go on vacation. In the spring of 2018, the authorities promise to resume charter flights with this country, which means that the flow of tourists will flow there with renewed vigor. Do Russians need a visa to Egypt? Yes, even though it is done upon arrival, but still, in 2020 Egypt needs a visa. If you are traveling with a tourist purpose, then it is easily done and paid at the airport, without the preparation of additional documents. However, if you go for another purpose, then the documents are drawn up in accordance with all the rules in advance.
The most popular visa to Egypt is a tourist visa. Russians can get it at the airport, for example in Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh. The cost of a visa to Egypt is $25 upon receipt upon arrival. They can also help you fill out the card for an additional fee (about $5).
To get it, you need to have a passport valid for more than 6 months and enter for the purpose of tourism. In practice, at the entrance, they may ask for a maximum tourist voucher or at least the name of the hotel where you will be staying. The rule of a 6-month international passport is also not checked in practice, the main thing is that you are put on a plane, but it’s better, of course, not to risk it, but to get a new passport.
At the box office, the fee is paid and the visa to Egypt is filled for 1 month. A sample of filling out the migration card form is shown in the photo. It is issued on the plane for free.
How to fill a visa in Hurghada
If you want to extend it for another 1 month, you need to contact the migration police (in Hurghada, the consular department is called Gauzet, in Cairo - Mugamma).
Sinai visa
If you are planning to visit only the Sinai Peninsula, then you can enter there absolutely free of charge. The Sinai visa is valid in Sharm el-Sheikh and nearby cities of the peninsula.
What are the features of this entry method?
- It is valid for 15 days only.
- Strictly limits the territory of your presence.
The Sinai Peninsula on the map is highlighted in purple
With it you can visit Dahab, Mount Moses, Nuweiba, the monastery of St. Catherine, up to and including Taba. But, for example, you will no longer be allowed into the Ras Mohammed Marine Reserve. It will also deprive you of the opportunity to go diving in Tiselgorm, the pyramids and, of course, the Sinai visa in Hurghada, Luxor and Cairo will not work either. When traveling to Israel, at the border, your Sinai visa is closed. On the same day, you can drive back through the Taba checkpoint and get a new one for 15 days.
Sinai visa stamps with visiting Israel
To get it, when filling out the migration card, you need to write on its back the note only Sinai visa in English - “ SINAI ONLY". Next, you need to contact not the cashier, but immediately to the border guards, and show this mark on the card. Now a free stamp is put on almost everyone. In some cases, the border guards may demand payment, but if this is the case, calmly explain to them in English that this is not legal and contact Bikbashi (chief). You will receive a stamp after that in a couple of minutes.
Other types of visas
Also in Egypt, there are visas for other purposes of travel, which must be obtained in advance:
- Professional (for employees of diplomatic missions, journalists, sailors, flight personnel). They can be obtained in advance at the Moscow embassy.
- Work visa - allows you to work in a certain Egyptian company without the right to change employers. Issued for 6 or 12 months, its cost is from $150.
To obtain it, you need to provide a certified diploma of higher education, insurance, a questionnaire, a letter of guarantee from the employer (that his company employs 11 Egyptians for every foreigner, or your profession is rare). - Student - issued for children studying at an international school, students and for learning the language in some linguistic centers.
- Fiance visa - issued to women who have entered into a temporary marriage contract (ORFI). It is done only once and for 6 months, for marriage.
- Resident visa without the right to work - it can be obtained by owners of real estate in Egypt for 3-12 months and the wife of Egyptian citizens for 1, 3 or 5 years. The cost of a visa to Egypt of this type will depend on its term, from 30 to 50 dollars. The purpose of the trip is confirmed by the presence of documents on the ownership of real estate, utility bills or a marriage contract.
- Business visa - for businessmen who travel to conferences, business meetings. It is made on average for 7-10 days, and it costs $50.
To avoid problems when processing documents, you must have round-trip tickets and attach an itinerary receipt and hotel reservation.
If you have any problems obtaining a visa directly at the consulate, you can contact the agency that will provide you with visa support. In Moscow, on average, such services, together with the consular fee, will cost $70-80.
Traveling with children
If you are traveling with children, it is highly desirable that they have their own passport. It can be obtained even from the birth of a child. If the child is included in your passport, then when obtaining a visa, make sure that it has a mark of 2 entering, otherwise you will not avoid problems when leaving. For children over 6 years old, you must have a pasted photo, and over 14 years old, you must have your own passport.
If the child travels with third parties (including grandparents, brothers and sisters) without parents, you need to obtain a notarized permission from them to leave the minor abroad. If at least one parent accompanies the child, this is not necessary.
Extension of a visa
In fact, upon arrival, you are given a 30-day entry permit + 2 weeks are given to leave. To extend it and turn it into a real visa, you need to contact the Passport Office. It works until 12:00, the day off is Friday.
What does an Egyptian visa look like?
A tourist visa instead of an arrival stamp is given free of charge for 2 months (counting days from the moment of entry). You need to come to the Egyptian passport office and ask the boss to put a new stamp on it. You can live on it until the specified date on the stamp + 2 weeks to leave, after that you need to renew it. This cannot be done in advance, only after the expiration of the stamp. To do this, you need to go to the passport office again, but not to the boss, but to a special window for tourists.
List of documents for visa extension:
- 4 copies of passport pages with your data;
- 2 copies of the previous visa;
- 2 copies of the property ownership or lease agreement (original is not needed) to confirm the place of residence;
- 1 color photo 4*6.
- Ask for a questionnaire and fill it out in English.
- Give the passport and payment (about 10 pounds) to the same window.
You will be told to come back the next day after lunch and will be stamped with the number that you submitted your renewal documents. They will be sent to Cairo, so you can live in Egypt with this stamp during the time the documents are considered. Then a visa or a departure stamp will be made instead.
If you need to return before the decision on the extension is made, you need to come to Gauzet with a plane ticket 3-7 days before departure.
Overdue Documents
If your visa is overdue, you may be fined 1,000 Egyptian pounds (57 USD) upon departure. If you are caught in Egypt, then you may be arrested for 3 days and deported at your own expense to your homeland.
According to Egyptian law, anyone over 60 years of age has the right to live there long-term if they have a steady source of income. Therefore, for pensioners, it is not necessary to extend the visa for a stay of up to 1 year.
Hello, my friend! In touch Chris and I am glad to welcome you to my blog. Today's post is dedicated to the visa regime in Egypt. To be more precise, I will tell you in which case you do not need to pay $ 25 for a visa, what is the Sinai only stamp and why, after a two-week vacation, some money may be asked from you at the border.
Save 25$
If you are going to rest in South Sinai: Sharm El Sheikh, Taba, Nuweiba, then upon arrival at the airport you do not need to buy a visa. You need to take a migration card from the customs officer, fill it out, write “Sinai only” on the back, and go through the border.
You will be given a stamp that gives you the right to stay in the eastern part of the peninsula for 14 days.
If you plan to stay only on the territory of the hotel, and attend only local excursions, then this is the most suitable option. But if you are going to the pyramids in Cairo or Luxor, then this option will not suit you - you need a visa.
By the way, if you plan to rest for more than 14 days, then you also have the option not to buy it, but for this you will have to go on excursions to Jerusalem or Petra to break up the total stay in Sinai.
Departure penalties for ignorant tourists
The cost of fines and visa extensions 2018
More than once I have seen a picture when people with bulging eyes stand at customs, not at all understanding why they demand round sums in local currency upon departure. The fact is that recently the visa rules in Egypt have changed. The cost of visas, as well as fines for their delay, have also increased. For example, earlier the penalty for delay up to six months was 153 Le, and now, for a minute, from 1 day to 3 months it is 1655 Le (almost $ 100). In the old days, they could turn a blind eye to your extra 1-2 days of stay in the country, but now even one “caught” tourist is a rather big addition to the treasury.
Therefore, when going on vacation, carefully consider the days of your stay in the country, because one extra 15th day for a family of 3 will cost you almost 300 bucks, which you will need to pay in local currency.
Another possible option is: you bought a visa, rested, say, 21 days, and upon departure you are required to pay a fine. Such an unpleasant situation can arise when, upon entering Egypt, the customs officer stamped you not on the purchased visa, but next to or even on another page of the passport. Unfortunately, this is practiced. I strongly recommend that you check the presence of a stamp on the stamp, and, in case of its absence, ask to duplicate it on the sticker.
Another "disadvantage" of the stamp
If you planned to rest for 14 days, but there was a desire to stay longer, and for Dahab this is a common practice, then this is an extra difficulty with the extension. You need to go to the airport, buy a stamp, then to the visa office. But if you initially had a $25 stamp, in addition to 30 days, you have another 14 days, during which you can leave Egypt without any fines.
It seems to be complete enough. Who needs more detailed information, I redirect to the article. I am waiting for your questions in the comments to the article.
With respect and love from sunny Dahab
In 2017, the Arab Republic of Egypt (ARE) plans to attract 8 million tourists. By October 2017 alone, 5.5 million guests from all over the world had already visited the Land of the Pyramids. How soon will Russia resume flights to an exotic state? Will Russians need a visa to Egypt? How are Egyptian entry documents issued for Ukrainians and Belarusians? You will learn the answers to these questions from our article.
Prospects for the resumption of air traffic between the Russian Federation and the ARE
A few years ago, the Russian Federation was in first place in terms of the number of travelers coming to Egypt. The republic, located in North Africa and the Sinai Peninsula of Asia, is a country of two continents. The most ancient state attracted our compatriots with resorts of the Mediterranean and Red Seas, unique monuments of various eras and civilizations, picturesque nature, as well as shopping. From 2010 to 2015 Holidays in the ARE were spent annually by 1.2 million to 2.8 million Russian citizens.
Egypt Map
Everything changed in October 2015, when a Russian plane with tourists crashed over Sinai. After this tragedy, by decree of Vladimir Putin, Russian airlines were temporarily banned from carrying out transportation (including commercial, charter) of Russians to Egypt. Tour operators are advised to refrain from selling tours for the duration of the ban. A number of other countries have also suspended flights to the Arab state for security reasons.
By October 2017, the situation with flights to Egyptian resorts had changed significantly. After the strengthening of anti-terrorist measures by the authorities of the republic, most of the states restored communication with the resort cities of Egypt. The restriction on visiting Egypt was lifted by the United States, all countries of Europe and Asia. Only Britain has not yet given permission for flights to Sharm el-Sheikh. But Russia has not yet resumed air communication with the Arab state. However, the restoration of the tourist flow from the Russian Federation is a matter of the very near future.
In 2015, Egypt was the favorite holiday destination for Russians News about the visa policy of Egypt
At the moment, Russian citizens can enter the ARE only in transit through other states. But when flights between the two countries resume, will a visa be required for Egypt? According to the latest data, entry into the republic for Russians will be significantly simplified.
A complete abolition of the visa regime is not expected yet. But it is planned to introduce electronic tourist visas into circulation. Official Cairo planned to launch the E-Visa system back in June 2017. However, for technical reasons, this step was postponed indefinitely. The introduction of electronic visas will be announced later.
How will this system work? It is assumed that a tourist will be able to apply for an e-visa anywhere in the world. It will be possible to pay and receive entry paper via the Internet. Based on the issued document, the citizen will cross the borders of the Arab state. Thanks to this, the process of entering the ARE and passing passport control at airports will be significantly simplified.
How Russians get Egyptian visas now
So, E-Visa, and in the long term, the possible abolition of Egyptian entry papers is a matter of the future. At the moment, a visa to Egypt for Russians is required, with the exception of a number of cases, which we will discuss separately. It is formatted in the following ways:
- Upon arrival. It is only possible to obtain a document at the airport terminals:
- Cairo;
- Sharm el-Sheikh (in Russia this city is usually called Sharm el-Sheikh);
- Hurghada.
- In advance, before travelling. You can request a document at the consular section of the Egyptian Embassy in Russia. The diplomatic department operates in Moscow.
Let us remind you once again that until the restrictions on visiting are lifted, Russians enter the ARE through third countries. Even if a visa was issued to a citizen by the diplomatic mission of an Arab state in the Russian Federation, he will not be able to enter Egypt from Russian territory.
Visa on arrival
How to apply for an airport visa to Egypt? To begin with, you need to consider that the visit should be associated purely with tourist or private purposes. And you should arrive in the republic by air transport through Cairo, Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada.
At the airport, you need to proceed to the window where visas are opened on arrival. You must have a passport with you, valid for at least six months on the date of departure. Once the fee has been paid, a visa stamp will be affixed to your passport. It will give the right to a 1-month stay in Egypt (30 days).
Note! A visa sticker received upon arrival at one or another Egyptian airport terminal will be valid throughout the country. That is, if a visa is issued in Hurghada, on its basis it is allowed to visit any other parts of the state. A stamp bought in Cairo or Sharm will also open the entire territory of the ARE to the public.
This is what an Egyptian visa on arrival looks like Visa cost
How much does an Egypt visa cost at the airport? The price of a single document is $25. The fee is paid at the bank window in cash (in dollars or euros). Cards are not accepted for payment.
In Egyptian airports, numerous travel agents sell visa stamps with a markup of $2-5. To avoid overpayment, airport visas should always be purchased at bank windows. Bank windows are glass booths with the inscription "Exchange". These cabins are located in the back of the arrivals hall.
Can a visa on arrival be multiple entry?
Information about the Egyptian multi-visa on arrival is inconsistent. The Timatic database contains information about this document. But, for example, at the Cairo airport, they did not even hear about the multiple visa stamp. As the local border guards assure, multi-visas are issued only by the embassy or the office of the immigration service in Cairo. So, when planning a tour to the country of two continents, it is better to rely only on a single-entry airport visa.
The official information about the multi-visa on arrival is as follows:
- multiple entry paper is the same sticker in the passport as its single entry;
- you can apply for a visa if you need repeated trips to the ARE;
- the maximum time of stay in the republic on a multi-visa is 1 month;
- the cost of the document is $35.
Visa extension on arrival
In some cases, an airport visa can be extended for another 3 months. No fees are charged for this. It is only necessary to present a contract for renting apartments to the Egyptian Ministry of Internal Affairs. However, a visa received on arrival is not always extended and not for everyone.
At the same time, a fine is imposed for late departure on a visa upon arrival. According to information from Russian tourists, a 2-week delay will cost $125. Thus, the abuse of Egyptian hospitality is costly.
Sinai stamp
In some cases, foreigners, including Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians, can visit Egypt without a visa. Entry is carried out on the basis of the Sinai stamp. A visa-free regime operates in some areas of the Sinai Peninsula - in its southeastern part. "Visa-free" applies only to the territory of the resort strip (from north to south) and includes the following cities:
- taba;
- Nuweiba;
- Dahab;
- Sharm El Sheikh.
Sinai peninsula highlighted in purple Without a visa, you can additionally visit only the monastery of San Catherine. And since June 2014, the Ras Mohammed National Park. It was included in the scope of the Sinai stamp in connection with the transfer of the Egyptian checkpoint west of the turn to Ras Mohammed.
The Sinai stamp is not a visa stamp, but a special seal. Visa-free stay on its basis is limited to a 15-day period. The stamp is placed in the passport for free. To obtain it, one should not apply to a bank window, but go straight to the border guards.
Sinai stamps received in Taba and Sharm el-Sheikh When traveling to Israel, the Sinai seal will be closed. But upon returning from Israel through the Taba checkpoint, the tourist will again be given a free stamp for 15 days. You can get a new seal even on the same day.
Tourists take note! The answer to the question of whether a visa is needed to Sharm el-Sheikh depends on the area of stay. If the traveler limits his voyage to the Sinai Stamp area, a "visa-free" is available for him. If a foreign guest wants to visit other parts of the Land of the Pyramids, he will have to apply for a visa - in Sharm on arrival or at the embassy before the tour.
Documents for Visa on Arrival and Sinai Stamp
To obtain a visa stamp or a Sinai stamp, one international passport is usually sufficient. The validity of the passport is from six months at the time of departure. However, in some cases, when crossing the Egyptian border, additional papers may be required. In practice, this is extremely rare. But still, you need to be ready to submit:
- a ticket back home or to a third country;
- hotel reservation or travel voucher.
Also, the traveler must fill out and submit a migration card. The form will be given to the visitor free of charge on the plane or at the airport. You don't need to search for it online. But for convenience, you can download a sample of filling out a document.
Sample of filling out a migration card In the "migration" are indicated:
- flight number;
- Date of Birth;
- details of the foreigner;
- purpose of the visit;
- address of residence in the ARE;
- Those wishing to receive the Sinai stamp write “SINAY ONLY” in large letters on the back of the card and show this inscription to the border guards.
A sample of filling out a migration card for obtaining a Sinai stamp Information in the form is entered in the usual blue or black pen in Latin. All words are written legibly. The completed card is presented together with the "foreigner".
Note! Before traveling to the Arab Republic, it is strongly recommended to take out medical insurance. However, it is not mandatory.
Egyptian trip with a child
An airport visa to Egypt for children is issued in the same way as for adult foreign tourists. The child must have their own passport, where they will paste a visa stamp. Or an entry about a young citizen must be present in the passport of the parent traveling with him.
"Children's" passport The second option is financially more profitable. The fact is that the visa sticker is pasted according to the principle “a separate passport - a separate visa”. If the child has a personal "foreign visa", the visa is paid in full. If the young tourist is listed in the parent's foreign traveler, he will cross the border for free - on the visa stamp of his father / mother.
It is not necessary to present a copy of the birth certificate and permission to travel from the second parent (when the child travels only with the father / mother). But for your own peace of mind, it is better to take these documents on the road.
Separate migration cards for children included in parental passports are not required. Parents add the data of their son/daughter to their cards. If the child has his own passport, a separate “migration card” is submitted for him.
It is important to know! When following the conditions for obtaining a Sinai stamp, children are entitled to visit Egypt without a visa. A young traveler must either have his own passport, or the child must be entered in the parent's passport.
Visa at the embassy
The following categories of citizens apply to the diplomatic mission for obtaining entry documents:
- those arriving in the Land of the Pyramids not via Cairo, Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada;
- wishing to obtain a multi-visa;
- employed in the Arab state;
- enrolled to study at an Egyptian educational institution;
- arriving for long-term residence.
A work and student visa to Egypt is issued for Russians only if the host party has the appropriate permission. For a work visa, you will need a work permit from the Egyptian Ministry of Internal Affairs, and for a student visa, a written application from one of the educational institutions of the republic.
It is important to know! You can get a job in the ARE only if you have a work visa or a residence permit and an employment contract. Foreigners will be allowed to work for the period specified in the contract with the employer.
Instructions for obtaining a visa
Here is how to apply for a visa to Egypt before you start your trip:
Applications are considered within 4 to 25 days. Keep in mind that you are invited to pick up a passport with a visa ready during the day during working hours.
It looks like an Egyptian visa issued by the diplomatic mission of Egypt Visa documents
A visa to Egypt for Russians is issued upon submission of the following papers to the embassy:
If necessary, the candidate will be asked for additional documentation and/or invited for an interview at the diplomatic mission.
Length of stay
A visa to Egypt received in a diplomatic mission allows various periods of residence in the republic. Often a document is issued for only 1 month. But it can also be obtained for 2-3 months or more. The corridor of entry in this case ranges from 3 months to six months.
It is important to remember that the Egyptian visa can be extended on the spot. To do this, contact the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Cairo.
The entry of Russians into the ARE for a period of six months is carried out on the basis of a valid residence permit. A temporary residence permit can be tourist and non-tourist. It is issued at the Egyptian embassy in the Russian Federation or directly in Egypt, at the Migration and Passport Service.
The state duty for obtaining a residence permit is from 500 to 5 thousand Egyptian pounds. The amount depends on the purpose and length of stay. A residence permit, like a visa, can be extended.
Here's how long Russian citizens can stay in the Land of the Pyramids:
| Maximum periods of stay on a visa or residence permit | Main purpose of stay |
| 3 months |
|
| 1 year |
|
| 3 years |
|
| 5 years |
|
Visiting Egypt by Ukrainians
Do residents of Ukraine need a visa to Egypt? The answer to this question is positive. At the moment, Ukrainian citizens visit the Arab state on a visa basis. Moreover, the entry document is issued according to the same scheme as for the Russians.
Guests from Ukraine arriving for tourism or private purposes receive Egyptian visas upon arrival. For $25, visa stamps are glued into the passports of Ukrainians. Based on the sticker, visitors have the right to stay in the ARE for 1 month with the possibility of extending the stay.
The main conditions for obtaining a visa at the border are the same as for Russian travelers:
A visa to Egypt for Ukrainians is also opened at the embassy of Egypt in Kyiv. The documentation is the same as for applicants from the Russian Federation. The cost of processing and terms of consideration of applications are the same as in the diplomatic mission in Moscow. As for the Sinai stamp, the conditions for its affixing are the same for all foreigners. And citizens of Ukraine receive a seal for visa-free entry on a par with Russians.
Visiting Egypt by Belarusians
Citizens of Belarus are granted an Egyptian entry document on the same terms as Russians or Ukrainians. Belarusian guests can issue it upon arrival in Cairo, Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada or at the embassy. True, there are no diplomatic missions of the Land of the Pyramids in Belarus. And a visa to Egypt for Belarusians is opened at the ARE office in Moscow.
In addition, visitors from Belarus can receive a Sinai stamp. The rules for affixing a visa-free seal are the same as for Russian citizens.
In conclusion, we note that upon expiration of any Egyptian visa and residence permit, it is mandatory to renew it for 14 days. During this time, a foreign guest must either leave the Arab state, or prolong the entry document or residence permit. Otherwise, a monetary penalty will be imposed on him. Penalty for staying with an expired visa or residence permit for up to 3 months - 1 thousand Egyptian pounds. Every subsequent 3 months of illegal stay, the amount of the fine increases by 50%.
A tourist trip to Egypt is one of the most popular vacation options among Russian residents. There are many obvious reasons for this: the famous resort of Hurghada has a year-round holiday season, the colorful underwater world of the Red Sea in the resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, and many ancient historical sights.
Here is one of the most impressive (the only one that has survived to this day) wonders of the world - the pyramids, the sculpture of the Great Sphinx, the oldest monuments of Luxor, the natural attractions of the Sinai Peninsula.
1. Do Russians need a visa to Egypt in 2020
To visit the largest Arab country, Russian citizens must obtain a visa. The method of acquiring it directly depends on the purpose of the trip: tourism - issuing a visa at the airport upon arrival, other intentions - issuing an entry permit at the Egyptian Embassy in Moscow in advance.
Russians receive a visa at the airport, which allows them to rest in Egypt for 30 days.
2. When will Egypt be opened for Russian tourists
Since the autumn of 2015, due to a terrorist attack - the crash of a Russian plane in Egyptian territory, the sale of tourist tours to Egypt has been banned and charter flights to the resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada have been closed.
Meanwhile, this does not mean that Russians have not traveled to an African country for more than two years. It was just necessary to organize the trip on your own, fly with transfers, and such a trip was much more expensive and took longer.
The beaches of Egypt
Since the beginning of 2018, after the completion of another security check of Egyptian airports, direct regular flights from Moscow to Cairo have been resumed. Experts also said that it is too early to talk about the restoration of long-awaited charter flights to Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada by the Russians. Therefore, the appeared tours to Egypt did not cause much excitement, due to their high cost.
Regardless of how the traveler arrives in Egypt, the procedure for acquiring an entry permit must be completed.
3. Obtaining a visa at the airport upon arrival
Russians freely apply for an Egyptian visa - it is issued right at the airport. A special stamp is glued into the tourist's passport, which indicates permission to stay in the country for a month. Its cost is 25 USD.
It is also possible to obtain a multivisa upon arrival, when it is allowed to enter and leave many times, but still within 30 days. You need to pay 35 c.u.
You do not need to apply for a tourist visa for 30 days in advance. Meanwhile, for those who do not want to deal with the visa issue, an innovation has appeared at the airport - the issuance of an electronic visa to Egypt. To do this, you need to go to a special portal at the link, fill in all the data, pay and receive a visa to your email address.
The authorities plan to introduce electronic entry permits on a permanent mandatory basis, but so far this issue has not been resolved and an electronic type of visa is issued more at the request of the tourist than at the request of the law.
3.1 What documents do I need to bring with me to apply for a visa on arrival?
Citizens of Russia to visit Egypt need to prepare in advance only one document - (valid for more than 6 months from the date of entry into the country).
The migration card is filled out already on the spot and issued free of charge. It should be noted that tourists almost never need help in this matter, because the task is very simple: enter passport data, purpose of trip, flight number, place of residence, passport data in legible Latin letters.
Representatives of the control service are extremely rarely interested in the presence of a tourist voucher, place of residence. Moreover, they do not ask about medical insurance.
However, rare tourists risk going on vacation without an insurance policy. It is advisable to take care of its acquisition in advance. The convenient instant insurance service Cherehapa will help with this.
3.2 Features of the Sinai visa
If your goal is exclusively to relax in Sharm el-Sheikh, visit the monastery of St. Catherine and Mount Moses, then provide this information at the border checkpoint and you should get a Sinai stamp for free.
This entry permit is valid for 15 days. To obtain it, you need to write “Sinai Only” on the migration card.
Traveling outside the Sinai Peninsula in this case is prohibited.
Those wishing to visit the famous Ras Mohammed National Park and diving enthusiasts to the sunken Tistelgorm are also not missed.
Luxor, Egypt
4. When you need to make a full-fledged visa to Egypt
A visa at the Embassy is required in connection with any other intentions to visit the Arab Republic of Egypt, except for tourism.
5. Categories of visas
The specific purpose of the trip determines what type of entry permit the visitor needs to apply for.
5.1 Professional visa
This type of visa is issued to employees of diplomatic missions, professional journalists, crew members of air and sea transport.
5.2 Working
It is received for conducting labor activities under an agreement with one employer company.
5.3 Student
Required to receive education in Egyptian educational institutions or study the language in special courses.
5.4 Residential
Only owners of real estate in Egypt and the wives of Egyptians are eligible for this type of visa.
5.5 Fiance visa
Designed for Russian citizens who have entered into a temporary marriage contract to formalize relations with an Egyptian. Issued only once, re-obtaining is impossible.
Visas at the Embassy are issued for a period of 3 months with the possibility of extension.
6. Documents for a visa to Egypt
To consider a visa application by the Embassy staff, the applicant must provide a package of documents in accordance with the list below:
- Questionnaire, legibly filled out in Latin letters and signed by the applicant;
- Original and copy with a validity period of more than 180 days from the date of the planned trip and the presence of blank sheets;
- Copies of the pages of the internal Russian passport, where personal data and place of registration are indicated;
- Photos in the amount of 2 pieces.
The requirements for a photo for an Egyptian visa are completely the same as the standard ones: size 35x45 mm, light background, full-face image, no facial expressions, open face.
Alexandria, Egypt
6.1 Documents for children
At the checkpoint at the Egyptian airport, children are allowed to pass, regardless of whether they have their own passport.
If the child has a personal travel document, then the cost of a visa on arrival for him is paid in the amount of 25 USD.
Children whose information is entered in their parents' passports cross the border free of charge.
When applying for a visa at the diplomatic mission, you must provide a copy of the child's birth certificate.
Also, in both cases, a paper from the parents, certified by a notary, is required on permission to leave the child if he is sent to Egypt as part of a group or accompanied by another adult.
6.2 Documents for different types of visas
To the basic list of papers, you need to add additional documents for obtaining a non-tourist visa at the Embassy of Egypt in Russia:
- To apply for a study visa, you must provide an official letter from the Egyptian educational institution with information about the availability of a reserved place addressed to the applicant;
- For a resident visa - papers confirming the fact of ownership of real estate in Egypt by a Russian citizen who requests an entry permit of this type;
- A request for a fiance visa is accompanied by the provision of an existing temporary marriage contract;
- To obtain a work visa, you need to include the following documents in the list:
- diploma of received education;
- special medical insurance;
- letter of invitation from the employer.
Important condition! Egyptian companies have the right to employ foreign citizens in a limited number of persons, namely: for 11 employees who are Egyptian citizens, there must be 1 working foreigner. Violation of this condition is allowed in the event that the profession of the invited employee is rare and the employer can prove that there was no suitable candidate among his compatriots.
The cost varies depending on the type of visa requested: work - from 150 USD, resident - up to 50 USD, fiancé visa - 1000 Egyptian pounds, student - the amount largely depends on the period of study.
8. How much is the visa
It takes a minimum of time to apply for a visa upon arrival at the airport: fill out a migration card, give documents to a border guard officer, and receive a stamp pasted into your passport.
After submitting documents to the Embassy, waiting for a decision can last from 5 days to a month.
Cairo, Egypt
9. Extension of visa to Egypt
To extend the visa received at the Embassy, you need to apply with documents to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt (Cairo).
The allowed period of stay in Egyptian territory is directly related to the type of visa received: for employees - from six months to a year, for students - the length of stay depends on the period of study, resident - from 3 months to 5 years, fiance visa - stay six months.
Extension of a tourist visa upon arrival is possible for up to 3 months. To do this, you need to collect and submit the following documents to the passport office:
- A copy of a foreign passport with personal data (4 copies);
- A copy of the visa stamp, which was put at the entrance (2 copies);
- A copy of paper indicating the presence of a place of residence in Egypt (2 copies);
- Color photograph (1 pc.);
- A completed application form (it is issued on the spot at the time of application).
The need to renew a tourist visa does not apply to Russian citizens over the age of 60.
They can stay in the country for up to 1 year without worrying about renewing the permit mark in the passport, but you need to officially confirm the source of income.
10. Embassy of Egypt in Moscow
Address: Per. Kropotkinsky, 12
Moscow, 119034
Reception of visitors from 09:00 to 15:00
Finally, be sure to watch the video from the Eagle and Tails channel about one of the most popular cities in Egypt - Hurghada:
At any time of the year, the hot heat of the African state is ready to welcome guests from all over the world. The Russians especially fell in love with Egypt due to its clean beaches, high level of service, the presence of a majestic historical base and relative affordability in comparison with other resorts.
Entry into Egypt requires a special tourist permit to stay. However, visas to Sharm el-Sheikh, allowing you to move around the territory of several regions for a certain amount of time, much easier to get, besides, the Sinai visa in Sharm el-Sheikh in 2020 is free.
Only Sinai: visa specifics
A small wedge-shaped peninsula, stretching between Asia and Africa, is under the control of the Egyptian state. Sinai is one of the best resort areas in the country, famous for its comfortable rest and the presence of numerous hotels with different levels of service.
Tourists who have received an Egyptian visa can enjoy the beauties of the peninsula without restrictions. Although it is possible to issue a separate visa to Sharm el-Sheikh, which has several features:
- The Sinai stamp gives the right to stay on the territory of the peninsula for only 15 days;
- Traveling around the state is limited to several cities, leaving which threatens with a large fine;
- It is not possible to extend a Sinai visa;
- The applicant's passport must be valid for at least six months from the moment of crossing the borders;
- A child over 14 years of age must have a foreign passport.
Obtaining a permit stamp is possible only if a foreign citizen enters the territory of the peninsula at one of three points:
- Sharm El Sheikh Airport;
- Border crossing at Taba;
- Border control in Nuweiba, at the junction with Jordan.
The validity of the document is 2 weeks from the date of issuance of the visa, and its cost is zero.
Sinai Stamp: Historical Commentary
The war between Israel and Egypt, which ended in 1978, led to the signing of the Camp David Peace Accord. According to the document, Israel returned the occupied Sinai Peninsula to the control of Cairo. However, Israeli rule significantly changed the local economic structure - new roads, airports, settlements appeared here, which became the home of many Israelis.
Diplomatic troubles needed to be resolved, so in addition to material compensation, Israel demanded from Egypt the right to free entry to the peninsula for its citizens.
After so many years, not only Israelis have the right to apply for a Sinai visa - every tourist who has expressed a desire to admire the local beauties can get a free permit.
Despite the apparent complexity of formalizing a document, traveling around the outskirts of Egyptian territory is a fairly easy procedure. In addition, it will not hit the pocket of a tourist: entry into the territory of Sinai does not cost a single cent.
Obtaining a Sinai visa in Sharm el-Sheikh: features of the procedure
Upon arrival at the airport, immediately after the arrival of the flight, you must fill out a migration card, where you must enter the answers to the following questions:
- Passport data (last name, first name, date of birth);
- The country of which the tourist is a citizen;
- The name of the hotel where you plan to stay.
The issuance of Sinai visas was the responsibility of the border guards - they should be given the completed application form, writing on its reverse side in legible print in English “SINAI ONLY”. Passport card should be handed to the passport control officer, making sure that the inscription "SINAI ONLY" is noticed by him.
Sinai visa in 2020 or where can I go?
The document applies to a number of established regions. Obtaining a border stamp entitles you to visit:
- The city of Sharm el-Sheikh and its environs;
- Small tourist town of Tab;
- Nuweiba Family Resort;
- Golden beaches of Dahab;
- The ancient monastery of St. Catherine;
- Ras Mohammed Reserve;
- Mountains of Moses.
The southern side of the peninsula is completely open for tourist trips and excursions, but Sinai visas do not allow visiting ancient Alexandria, the pyramids of Cairo, the wrecks of the Tiselgorm and other sights that many travelers hunt for.In this situation, the applicant needs to obtain a regular visa by contacting the Egyptian embassy or tour operator.
If the cultural and historical heritage of Egypt is not the main goal of wandering, then 15 days during which the visa to Sharm el-Sheikh is valid in 2020 will give you the opportunity to bring home an unforgettable experience.
What to do in case of refusal?
Refusal to issue a stamp is an extremely rare phenomenon, but you can also enter the position of officials. Every year, the Egyptian state wants to visit more than 10 million tourists. Calculating the income from the issuance of official visas, it is not difficult to guess what billions of dollars go to the budget.
An inexperienced traveler may be told that filling out the Sinai questionnaire and then receiving a stamp is a privilege that applies exclusively to Israeli citizens. Having heard such reasoning, you should not worry or argue with customs officers. Specify (preferably in English) that, according to the Camp David Agreement, a stamp is placed on all guests of the island.
The last resort would be to politely ask your superiors to come in, tactfully reminding your superior that Egyptian law does not currently operate with laws that would prohibit the issuance of this type of entry permit.
Responsibility for violation of the visa regime
Different reasons for violations of migration legislation determine different ways of punishing the perpetrators:
- An overdue visa involves a fine of 157 Egyptian pounds (about 30 US dollars);
- Violation of the boundaries of the territories, which gives the right to visit the Sinai stamp, threatens three days' imprisonment and the procedure for deportation to their homeland.
Tourists who violate the migration regime of the state can fly home only from Cairo on special scheduled flights. The traveler pays for the costs associated with deportation on his own, while entering the country for the next few years is prohibited for him.
Law-abiding citizens need not worry - a Sinai visa will open before them the whole range of pleasures available to the Egyptian peninsula!
Video: how to travel to Egypt without a visa
