Egypt visa: e-visa, visa on arrival and Sinai entry stamp for US and UK citizens

Do US and UK citizens need a visa for Egypt? Yes, in most cases. Both governments say a visa is required. You can buy a visa on arrival at the airport (30 US dollars in cash according to the UK FCDO), apply for an e-visa on the official Egyptian portal (30 US dollars for a single entry, 65 US dollars for multiple entries, applied for at least 7 days before departure), or apply through an Egyptian embassy or consulate. For a short stay in the Sharm El-Sheikh resort area, the UK FCDO says a free entry stamp is available instead of a visa.

This guide uses the entry requirements published by the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025), by the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 27 October 2026) and by the official Egyptian e-Visa portal (FAQ page), all read on 12 November 2026. Fees change: the US page is older than the others and still quotes approximately $25 for the visa on arrival, so rely on the UK page and the portal for current prices, and check them again just before you leave.

Do US and UK citizens need a visa for Egypt?

US citizens

According to the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025), US citizens must have a visa to enter Egypt. They can apply for an e-visa before travelling on the government’s official website (the State Department warns that many sites claim to offer e-visas, some at double the price), get a renewable single-entry 30-day tourist visa on arrival at Egyptian airports (approximately $25 in cash, in US dollars, according to this page), or apply at an Egyptian embassy or consulate. Having a visa does not guarantee entry: immigration officials have occasionally denied entry to travellers without explanation. Work or study visas must be obtained before travelling.

UK citizens

According to the UK FCDO (GOV.UK, updated 27 October 2026), British passport holders normally need a visa. You can apply online (an e-visa in advance can help prevent delays; tourist e-visas are valid for up to 3 months), in person or by post through the Egyptian Consulate General in the UK, or on arrival: approved airports have kiosks before the immigration counters where you can buy a physical visa for 30 US dollars (cash only), valid for up to 30 days. The FCDO adds that British passport holders from British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies cannot apply online.

Where the sources differ

The US page (August 2025) and the UK page (October 2026) agree on the principle but not on the price of the visa on arrival (about $25 versus 30 US dollars). The official Egyptian portal lists 30 US dollars for a single-entry tourist e-visa and 65 US dollars for multiple entries. If a figure matters to your budget, confirm it with the Egyptian embassy or consulate before you travel.

Criterion	Visa on arrival	E-visa	Embassy or consulate
Where?	Kiosks at approved airports, before the immigration counters	Official portal visa2egypt.gov.eg	Egyptian embassy or consulate (the UK FCDO names the Consulate General in the UK)
When?	On landing	At least 7 days before departure (official portal)	In advance, in person or by post (UK FCDO)
Price (single entry)	30 US dollars, cash (UK FCDO); about $25 on the older US page	30 US dollars (official portal)	Ask the embassy or consulate
Multiple entries	The US page says approximately $60 (older source)	65 US dollars (official portal)	Ask the embassy or consulate
Payment	Cash only at the kiosks (UK FCDO); card only for the Cairo digital visa	Credit or debit card online	Depends on the embassy or consulate
Length	Up to 30 days (UK FCDO)	The UK FCDO says tourist e-visas are valid for up to 3 months	Ask the embassy or consulate
Advantage	No step before departure	No queue at the kiosk, no cash needed	For special situations

Decision tree: which visa should you choose?

1. Flying to Sharm El-Sheikh for under 15 days, staying in the resorts of Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba? The UK FCDO says you need no visa and receive a free entry permission stamp on arrival. To go beyond the resorts or stay longer, you need a visa, available at Sharm El-Sheikh Airport or online.
2. Leaving in under 7 days? Take the visa on arrival: the portal asks you to apply for the e-visa at least 7 days before departure.
3. Prefer to settle everything before departure and pay by card? Apply for the e-visa on the official portal.
4. Several round trips (a cruise, Jordan, Israel)? Look at the multiple-entry option, 65 US dollars for the e-visa according to the portal.
5. Diplomatic or official passport? The US State Department says you must have a visa before arrival for official business, or you may be denied entry.

The Sharm El-Sheikh entry stamp and the Sinai

According to the UK FCDO, if you arrive by air at Sharm El-Sheikh and stay for less than 15 days at resorts in Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba, you do not need a visa and get a free entry permission stamp on arrival. If you plan to travel outside the resorts or stay more than 15 days, you must get a visa. If you arrive in South Sinai by land through the Taba border crossing, the FCDO gives separate figures: for example, a 20 US dollar border tax if you only stay in Taba, and 120 US dollars if you continue within the Sinai Peninsula, with a stay of up to 15 days; going beyond the Sinai Peninsula also needs a standard entry visa. The FCDO recommends bringing at least 170 US dollars in cash per person if you cross from Israel at Taba, because all payments there are in cash.

Safety reminder: the UK FCDO advises against all travel to North Sinai and to within 20 km (12 mi) of the Egypt-Libya border, and against all but essential travel to the northern part of South Sinai beyond the St Catherine-Nuweibaa road (coastal areas excepted) and to the Ismailiyah Governorate east of the Suez Canal. The FCDO also advises against all but essential travel to much of the Western Desert, with named exceptions. Read the full list before you plan an excursion. See our Egypt travel guide.

How to apply for an e-visa, step by step

1. Create an account with your email address on the official portal, visa2egypt.gov.eg (this is the official government portal; the US State Department warns that other sites claim to offer e-visas, some at double the price).
2. Fill in the application form at least 7 days before departure: the portal says you must create the application at least 7 days before your departure.
3. Pay online with a Visa card, MasterCard or another debit card; the fee is collected on the site (30 US dollars for a single-entry tourist visa, 65 US dollars for multiple entries).
4. A link to download your e-visa is sent to you. The portal says passport authorities at ports of arrival can check its validity on their system.
5. On arrival, the portal lists as entry requirements: a passport valid for at least 6 months from the arrival date, the e-visa printout, your travel itinerary and hotel bookings or details about places to visit if you are a tourist.

Beware of intermediary sites that copy the look of the official portal: they charge service fees on top of the visa. Both the US State Department and the UK FCDO make the same point (the FCDO says you do not need to buy a visa from an agent in the airport; agents often charge more than the required 30 US dollars).

Visa on arrival: how it works

• After landing, follow the signs to the kiosks that sell the visa, before you reach the immigration counters (UK FCDO).
• Pay in cash in US dollars (30 US dollars, UK FCDO); bring small notes in good condition. The FCDO says kiosks are cash only, except for the Cairo digital visa (card only, 36 US dollars including a 6 US dollar service fee, from 1 August 2026).
• If an agent harasses you, the UK FCDO says to report the incident to the tourist police in the airport terminal.
• Keep your passport with the visa safe during the stay: the US State Department says customs officials review your entry visa stamp when you leave, and overstaying can lead to a fine at the airport (the UK FCDO mentions a fine if the visa has expired by more than 14 days).

Checklist before you go

• ☐ Passport valid for 6 months after your arrival, with at least one blank page
• ☐ Printed e-visa, or 30 US dollars in cash for the visa on arrival (the Cairo digital visa costs 36 US dollars by card)
• ☐ Less than 5,000 Egyptian pounds on you, and any foreign currency above 10,000 US dollars declared
• ☐ Digital copies of your documents, kept apart from the originals
• ☐ Travel insurance covering medical costs and repatriation (the UK FCDO advises appropriate insurance)
• ☐ If you carry prescription medication, keep it in its original packaging with a doctor’s letter (US State Department); do not bring medical marijuana or CBD products, which the State Department says have led to arrests

Common mistakes and scams

• Buying a Sinai entry stamp, then booking a trip to Cairo or Luxor from Sharm El-Sheikh: the free stamp covers the resort areas only; leaving them requires a visa (UK FCDO).
• Arriving without cash: the visa on arrival kiosks are cash only, except for the Cairo digital visa.
• Paying an intermediary thinking it is the official site: the only government portal is visa2egypt.gov.eg.
• Relying on an old price: the UK FCDO quotes 30 US dollars, while the older US page quotes approximately $25.
• Overstaying: you may pay a fine at the airport if you leave after your visa expires.

Planning the rest of your trip

To choose the season, see when to go to Egypt; for a cruise, our page on Nile cruises. Our guides to Cairo and Hurghada cover the main stops, and our page on the time difference in Egypt gives local time. For currencies, see the currency of each country, and for other destinations, all our entry requirement guides.

Frequently asked questions

Our sources

• Egypt e-Visa Portal (Ministry of Interior), FAQ and home pages: visa types and fees, requirements, 7-day application delay (visa2egypt.gov.eg), read on 12 November 2026.
• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, “Egypt travel advice: entry requirements” and “Warnings and insurance” (GOV.UK, updated 27 October 2026), read on 12 November 2026.
• U.S. Department of State, “Egypt: Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements” (travel.state.gov, last updated August 11, 2025), read on 12 November 2026.
• Our methodology

Updated November 2026.