Egypt entry requirements for U.S. citizens

Do you need a visa for Egypt?

Yes. For a tourist trip, the rule is: Electronic visa (e-Visa) required¹. You have two ways to get a tourist visa: apply online for the e-Visa before you travel, or get a tourist visa on arrival at an Egyptian airport. Applying online means your visa is settled before you board.

Egypt's official e-Visa website is visa2egypt.gov.eg². The State Department calls it the only official source. Type the address yourself instead of clicking ads or links on other sites.

How long you can stay

The single-entry tourist visa issued on arrival at Egyptian airports allows a stay of 30 days⁴, and it can be renewed. If you use the e-Visa, check the allowed stay on the official site before you book.

Rules change, and Egypt's government decides how long you can stay. Check the official site before you travel.

Passport rules

The passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival in Egypt.⁶

For a tourist visa requested at an Egyptian consulate in the U.S., the passport must have an empty visa page.⁷ For the e-Visa and the visa on arrival, check the official site.

Rules change and Egypt's government decides, so confirm these rules on the official site before you travel. If your passport will not meet them, get a new one before your trip. Renewing by mail takes 4–6 weeks⁸ plus mailing time: see Renew your passport by mail. Short on time? If you travel internationally soon, you can book an appointment at a passport agency or center once you are within 14 calendar days of your trip, or 28 days if you also need a foreign visa.⁹ Read Urgent travel: getting a passport fast.

Travel advisory

The U.S. Department of State's travel advisory for Egypt is Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution⁵. The level can change at any time, and the full advisory can say more about specific areas. Read it before you book and again before you go; the link is under "Sources and verification" at the end of this guide.

Other rules to know

• Yellow fever: Travelers arriving from an area with yellow fever must show proof of yellow fever vaccination.¹⁰
• If you lose your passport in Egypt: Egyptian officials check the entry stamp when travelers leave, so anyone who loses the passport must get a new stamp from an Egyptian government office after obtaining a replacement passport.¹¹ See Lost or stolen passport.
• Medical marijuana and CBD: U.S. citizens have been arrested and convicted for bringing medical marijuana or CBD products into Egypt, even with a prescription.¹² Leave these products at home.

Step by step

Checklist

Before you fly to Egypt

Print checklist

• U.S. passport that meets the validity rule
• e-Visa approved, or a plan to get the tourist visa on arrival
• Copy of the approved e-Visa, digital or printed
• Yellow fever vaccination proof, if you arrive from an area with yellow fever
• No medical marijuana or CBD products in your luggage
• Latest U.S. travel advisory read
• Official site checked again in the week before you fly

Do and don't

Do

• Apply only on the official site and keep the confirmation.
• Count the days of your stay so you leave within what your visa allows.
• Keep your passport safe: the entry stamp is checked when you leave.

Don't

• Don't bring medical marijuana or CBD products, even with a prescription.
• Don't pay a website that only looks official for the same e-Visa.
• Don't use this guide for work, study or long stays: check the official source for those.

Fees

This is a government fee. It is paid to the government of Egypt, not to Passmere.

Other visa types can cost a different amount. Fees can change. The official site shows the current government fee before you pay.

Frequently asked questions