Entry requirements for Egypt

Available visa types for German citizens

Anyone traveling to Egypt should familiarize themselves with the various types of visas in advance. Depending on the purpose of the trip – whether for vacation, business, or a longer family visit – different requirements, procedures, and validity periods apply. Several visa options are available for German citizens, each linked to specific conditions. Good preparation helps avoid unnecessary complications and choose the right visa type for your personal travel situation.

Tourist visas

The tourist visa is the most common type of visa for traveling to Egypt and is ideal for vacations, tours, or visits to friends. It generally allows a stay of up to 30 days and can be extended for up to three months if necessary. The application process is straightforward and can be done in several ways: online as an e-Visa, at the Egyptian embassy, or as a visa on arrival upon arrival at international airports such as Cairo, Hurghada, or Luxor.

Travelers need a passport that is valid for at least six months – when entering with an ID card, a special entry card is also required, keeping in mind that the ID card is not accepted as an official identification document everywhere in the country. The tourist visa offers a flexible and quick way to travel to Egypt – provided all information and documents are correct.

Documents required for applying for an Egyptian visa

Those wishing to travel to Egypt usually need a visa – and thus a number of specific documents that may vary slightly depending on the visa type. To avoid delays in processing the application or even a rejection, it is important to submit all required documents completely and correctly. This is particularly important for the tourist visa, which is the most common variant for private travelers, as specific standards must be adhered to.

Required documents for the tourist visa

To apply for an Egyptian tourist visa, you generally need to have the following documents ready:

• Passport: The passport must be valid for at least six months at the time of entry and contain at least one empty page for the visa. Incorrect information regarding the passport number or expiration date is among the most common reasons for rejection.
  
  
• Visa application form: This must be completed completely, correctly, and legibly and must be signed. Pay special attention to the correct spelling of your name and your passport details.
  
  
• Biometric passport photos: Two identical photos in the format of 2 x 2 inches, taken against a white background and with a neutral facial expression. Glasses and head coverings are only allowed for religious reasons.
  
  
• Proof of travel purpose: For a tourist visa, a hotel reservation and a return flight ticket are usually required. These proofs serve to confirm your travel intentions.
  
  
• Visa fee: Fees vary depending on the visa type. For the 'Visa on Arrival', payment is required in cash at the airport, while for the eVisa, payment is made online.
  
  
• Email address and payment method (for eVisa): For the electronic visa, you need a valid email address for the delivery of the visa as well as a credit or debit card for payment.
  
  

Special attention should be given to the correct submission of all documents. Even small discrepancies – such as a misspelled name or a missing passport photo – can lead to inquiries or rejections. Financial proofs may also be required on a case-by-case basis. Those who prepare all documents early and carefully save themselves unnecessary stress during the visa application process – and look forward to a relaxed start to their vacation in Egypt.

Visa application at embassies or consulates

The personal application for a visa at an Egyptian embassy or consulate in Germany is a reliable option for those who want to plan their trip particularly carefully – or cannot apply for a visa on arrival or online for certain reasons. This route is recommended, among other things, when entry is by land or sea, or a longer or special stay is planned. It is also suitable for travelers who wish to clarify individual questions or place special value on personal support.

In Germany, there are three Egyptian foreign representations available for this purpose: the embassy in Berlin and the consulates general in Frankfurt am Main and Hamburg. Which representation is responsible depends on the respective federal state. The processing time usually ranges from two to five working days – provided all documents are submitted completely and correctly.

Steps and procedures

The application for a visa through an embassy or consulate is divided into several well-structured steps:

1. Preparation of documents:
   A passport that is valid for at least six months with a free page, two current biometric passport photos, the completed application form, and copies of the passport page with personal information are required. In addition, proofs such as hotel bookings or return flight tickets may be requested. The visa fee currently amounts to 25 euros plus a 3 euro processing fee – payable in cash only.
   
   
2. Appointment scheduling:
   Appointments must be scheduled in advance directly with the respective representation. Before the appointment, make sure that all documents are complete and correct.
   
   
3. Personal submission:
   The application is submitted in person on-site. After submitting and reviewing the documents, as well as paying the fee, the visa will either be entered into the passport or issued separately.
   
   
4. Pickup:
   The completed visa can be picked up in person or – depending on the consulate – sent by post. Express processing is generally not possible.
   
   

Special provisions apply to holders of service or diplomatic passports as well as dual nationals. The latter are treated exclusively as Egyptian citizens upon entry and are subject to the national laws of the country.

Visa application on arrival (Visa on Arrival)

For many travelers, it is the simplest option: the visa on arrival, also known as 'Visa on Arrival'. Those who decide to travel to Egypt at short notice can obtain this tourist visa directly at several international airports in the country – without prior application. Nevertheless, there are some important requirements and restrictions that you should be aware of.

Requirements and conditions

The Visa on Arrival is only available to German citizens who enter through one of the international airports in Egypt – including Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, Marsa Alam, Luxor, and Aswan. Entry by land or sea is not possible with this visa option; a visa must be obtained in advance.

A valid passport that is still valid for at least six months upon entry is a prerequisite for issuance. Important: The passport must contain a recorded gender ('M' or 'F'). The Visa on Arrival is valid only for tourist stays with a maximum duration of 30 days.

The standard fee is 25 US dollars (payable in cash or in euros at the bank counter before passport control). An exception applies from May 1 to October 31, 2025: At Luxor and Aswan airports, the visa will be issued free of charge.

Although no further documents are strictly required upon entry, it is strongly recommended to carry a return flight ticket and, if necessary, booking confirmations for accommodation. For holders of service or diplomatic passports, this visa form is not valid – an application through the Egyptian embassy is necessary.

Application for an e-Visa for Egypt

For travelers from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, the e-Visa is one of the simplest and fastest ways to obtain a visa for Egypt. The entire application process takes place online – without an appointment at the embassy, without waiting times at the airport. This makes the e-Visa particularly suitable for anyone who wants to prepare their trip conveniently from home.

The e-Visa is available in two versions: as a visa for a single entry (valid for three months, with a stay of up to 30 days) or as a visa for multiple entries (valid for six months). It allows entry by airplane, car, or cruise ship – but not for all travel purposes or groups of people. Business travelers or holders of diplomatic passports still need to apply for a visa through the embassy. Even though the e-Visa offers many advantages, careful preparation is crucial to avoid rejections.

Process description

The application for the e-Visa is made through the official Egyptian e-Visa portal (visa2egypt.gov.eg). First, you create a user account and confirm it via a link in your email. After logging in, you select the desired visa type (single or multiple entry) and fill out the digital form with the required information – including your name, passport number, travel dates, and contact details.

Next, you upload a scan of your passport as well as a current digital passport photo. The visa fee is securely paid by credit or debit card. The processing time usually takes about three working days; the approved visa will be sent to you by email as a PDF. It is best to print this document and present it upon entry along with your passport.

For the application, you need a stable internet connection, a valid email address, and a PDF reader. A scanner or smartphone for digitizing the documents is also helpful. Important: The e-Visa should be applied for at least seven to ten days before departure, as last-minute applications are not guaranteed to be processed in time.

Costs and fees of the visa types

The choice of the right visa type for your trip to Egypt depends not only on the purpose of travel but also on the budget and desired flexibility. Costs vary depending on the type of visa – whether applied for in advance, issued on arrival, or booked online. For tourists, it is particularly important to know: The cheapest and simplest options are usually the e-Visa and the Visa on Arrival, both costing 25 USD for a single entry. Those wishing to enter Egypt multiple times during the validity period will pay around 60 USD for a multi-entry visa.

If the visa is applied for in advance at an embassy, the simple tourist visa costs about 25 EUR plus a 3 EUR processing fee. Prices for a multiple entry visa vary and can be higher – depending on the place of issuance and the application route. Seasonal special regulations, such as a free entry through Luxor and Aswan between May and October 2025, offer additional savings opportunities in certain cases.

Payment options

Payment of the visa fees depends on the chosen application route. Those applying for an e-Visa usually pay directly online by credit card through the official government platform. Payment for the Visa on Arrival is typically made in cash and in US dollars directly upon arrival – small change should ideally be kept ready. When applying through embassies or consulates, payment can be made via bank transfer, EC card, or in cash – depending on the respective requirements of the foreign representation.

Additional service fees may be incurred with private visa agencies, especially if express processing is desired. Here, total prices of over 100 euros may be charged – including processing and insurance. Important to know: In the event of a rejection of an application, the official fee portion is usually not refunded. However, some providers offer a refund of service fees or optional fee protection insurance in case the trip needs to be canceled due to illness, for example. Therefore, it is worth taking a look at the fine print.

Current changes or developments in entry requirements

Egypt's entry requirements are regularly adjusted to respond to security political developments, health conditions, or tourism policy goals. Therefore, it is essential for travelers to inform themselves about the currently applicable regulations before each trip. Especially for independent travelers who plan independently, short-term changes can lead to unexpected hurdles – for example, regarding the visa, travel documents, or special regulations for certain regions and travel periods.

New regulations

One of the most important changes concerns the visa issuance for summer 2025: Anyone entering through the international airports of Luxor or Aswan between May 1 and October 31, 2025, will receive a free tourist visa. With this, Egypt aims to specifically promote tourism in the culturally and historically significant regions of Upper Egypt. This regulation does not apply to other airports like Cairo or Hurghada – where the regular visa fees still apply.

In addition, a return flight ticket requirement has been introduced for the period from June 12 to June 16, 2025. During this time, entry is only allowed with a confirmed return flight ticket – a point that is particularly important for flexible independent travelers. To avoid unnecessary problems at entry, it is recommended to purchase a combined round-trip ticket.

Strict requirements still apply to travel documents: The passport must be valid for at least six months at the time of entry. Although entry with an ID card is possible, it requires a special entry card and two biometric passport photos – and the ID card is not accepted everywhere in the country. Temporary ID cards are not valid. Children require a child passport that has not been manually extended.

Those traveling with an e-Visa should carry a hotel reservation or invitation and be prepared for a possible request for a return flight proof. Additional requirements apply to minor travelers without both parents' accompaniment, such as consent declarations and copies of parents' documents.

The situation in Egypt can change at short notice. Particularly for travel in the northern Sinai Peninsula, the border area to Israel (except Taba), and remote desert regions, travel warnings from the Foreign Office still exist. Therefore, travelers should always check the official information from the Foreign Office, the Egyptian embassy, or the e-Visa portal shortly before departure.