Egypt, dotted with millennia-old ruins including pyramids and the Sphinx, requires travelers to obtain a tourist visa in advance. While on-arrival visa applications at immigration were once common, online electronic visa (eVisa) applications are now available, making the process significantly easier. I recently obtained visas for three family members, and thanks to the online application, we were able to proceed smoothly without wasting time at the destination.
This article provides a detailed explanation of how to apply for an Egypt tourist visa online. We’ll cover everything from required documents to application tips and common mistakes, ensuring a smooth application process.
Egypt eVisa Basic Information
Let’s first review the basic information about Egypt’s electronic visa (eVisa). The Egypt eVisa is valid for 3 months and allows stays of up to 30 days. Fees range from $25-60 USD depending on the application type, with two options: single entry (one-time entry) and multiple entry (multiple entries allowed).
While it’s possible to obtain an arrival visa at the airport, securing an eVisa before traveling to Egypt saves time and hassle at the destination. When traveling as a family, each person, including children, must apply individually.
Requirements for eVisa Application
The requirements for Egypt eVisa application are minimal. You need a valid passport (with at least 6 months validity from the planned entry date), a credit card (for online payment), an email address (to receive approval documents), and a passport image (clear image for upload).
Even when applying for multiple family members, these requirements remain the same. However, make sure to carefully verify everyone’s passport information to ensure accurate input for each person.
Note that there are many fake visa application websites circulating. We recommend using the correct official link below for registration.
Detailed Steps for Egypt eVisa Application
Basic Information on Application Form
After registering an account on the Egypt eVisa application form, first select your application type: individual, group, or family. For visa type, only tourism is selectable.
Next, choose your entry type. Select between single entry or multiple entry based on your travel plans. Single entry is more affordable.
Continue by entering your departure country, planned Egypt entry date, and planned departure date.
Accurate Personal Information Entry
Next, enter your personal information—this is a crucial step. The information must match exactly with what’s written in your passport. For names (First Name), include middle names if recorded in your passport, and ensure the last name matches the passport exactly.
Enter the country of birth as listed on your birth certificate. This may differ from your current country of residence or nationality. Enter your date of birth in month/day/year format with a 4-digit year, and select gender as recorded in your passport.
If you have previous travel history to Egypt, enter those dates and accommodation addresses. Approximate dates are acceptable if you don’t remember exactly, and you can enter “NA” for unknown addresses. If you’ve been deported from any country, enter that country and the reason.
You’ll also need to enter other information such as original nationality, marital status, occupation, current address, phone number (including international code), and other nationalities (if you hold multiple passports). When applying for family members, carefully enter information for each person. Children’s passport information must be entered as accurately as adults’.
Note that addresses cannot include symbols like hyphens or spaces, so you’ll need to write them continuously, like 303151MarunouchiChiyodaTokyo.
Accurate Passport Information Entry
Passport information is also very important. Most travelers should select ordinary passport. Note that eVisa applications cannot be made with diplomatic passports.
Enter your passport number accurately without any mistakes, and carefully input the place of issue (where the passport was issued), issue date (including 4-digit year), and expiration date (must be at least 6 months beyond your planned Egypt departure date).
Passport Image Upload
You need to upload a photo of your passport’s personal information page (the page with your photo, name, date of birth, etc.). Smartphone photos are acceptable, but high quality is important—all details must be clearly readable. Blurry images can cause visa rejection.
When preparing passport images for the entire family, use clear file names to avoid confusion. I used naming like “Name_Passport.jpg”. Also note that files must be compressed to under 1MB.
For family-type applications, all completed passport uploads are displayed in a list view.
Travel Information Entry
For Egypt visit details, enter your planned arrival date, planned departure date, and departure country (the country you’ll be in before visiting Egypt). You’ll also need host type (staying with family, using tour company, individual travel, etc.), host name (hotel name, etc.), host phone number, host email (enter “NA” if none), and host address.
Travel Expenses Information
Finally, select how your travel expenses will be covered: self-funded, host-funded, or company/organization-funded. For family trips, you’ll typically select self-funded.
Family eVisa Application Experience
All information completed. Now we just proceed to payment.
For three family members, the total cost was $75.
When I applied for three family members’ visas, I had to register each person individually during the personal information and passport registration steps.
After application, approval notifications are sent to each person’s email address. If you want to receive all family members’ notifications at the same email address, use the same email for all applications. In our case, it took about 7 days from application to approval. I recommend applying well in advance.
Common Mistakes and Prevention
Common eVisa application mistakes include passport information discrepancies, uploading blurry passport images, insufficient travel information, and applying with expired passports. Additionally, applying too late can result in approval not arriving in time.
Another system-specific challenge is that information is only stored on servers for 7 days. If you save your progress and try to resume after 7 days, you’ll need to start over completely.
For family applications, special care is needed to avoid confusing each person’s information. I created a summary table of family information beforehand and referenced it while applying, which helped avoid confusion.
Conclusion
Egypt eVisa online application is significantly more efficient and convenient than traditional paper-based applications. By preparing all necessary information and entering it accurately, smooth applications are possible. Family applications are also manageable when processed carefully for each individual.
Follow the guide provided in this article to prepare for your journey to experience Egypt’s wonderful history and culture. Use online eVisa applications to enjoy your trip to Egypt, full of ancient civilization’s charm!
(Note: Visa requirements and application processes may change. Always check the latest information on official websites or consulates.)