Egypt Visa for UK Citizens: Complete 2025 Guide

Planning an Egypt holiday from the UK? Good news: the visa is the easiest part of the trip. £20 or so, ten minutes online, or just pick it up at the airport counter on arrival. Here's the full breakdown.

Which visa do UK travellers need?

For British passport holders, two main options:

1. E-visa (electronic visa): apply online via the official Egyptian portal. Processed in 5-7 working days. Price: 25 USD single-entry (30 days) or 60 USD multiple-entry (6 months). Recommended if you want certainty before travel.
2. Visa on arrival: available at Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor and Sharm El-Sheikh airports. Same price as the e-visa. You buy a visa sticker at a bank counter before immigration.

Both options cover a tourist stay of up to 30 days per entry.

How to apply for the e-visa

1. Go to the official portal: visa2egypt.gov.eg. Avoid third-party sites that charge £40+.
2. Create an account (email + password).
3. Fill out the form: name, address, passport number, travel dates, hotel.
4. Upload a scan of your passport (identity page).
5. Pay 25 USD by international card.
6. Receive the visa as a PDF by email within 5-7 working days. Print and present on arrival.

Visa on arrival: how it works

At the airport, before the immigration desks, you'll find counters for Egyptian banks (Bank of Cairo, Banque Misr, NBE). Show your passport, pay 25 USD cash (USD, GBP, or EUR accepted), get the visa sticker affixed to a blank page. Usually 5-10 minutes off-peak, up to 30 minutes during busy arrivals.

Tip: if you're only staying in Sinai (Sharm El-Sheikh, Dahab, Taba, Nuweiba) for under 15 days, you can use the free "Sinai-only" entry stamp — no need to pay for the full visa. But this stamp doesn't allow travel to Cairo, Hurghada or Luxor.

What to bring on arrival

• Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date
• Return or onward flight ticket
• Hotel booking confirmation (rarely asked but useful)
• Visa confirmation (PDF if e-visa, otherwise just cash for the sticker)

How long can I stay?

The standard tourist visa allows 30 days from the date of entry. For longer stays:

• Multiple-entry visa 60 USD: valid 6 months, 30 days per entry.
• Local extension at the Mogamma in Cairo: up to 6 months for ~30 USD. Allow half a day.

Special cases

• Children: if they have their own biometric UK passport, they need their own visa (25 USD, same as adults). Children listed on a parent's old-format passport are usually covered by the parent's visa.
• Group booking with an agency: Belivavoyage can handle the e-visa application as part of your package — just ask on WhatsApp.
• Sinai-only free stamp: 15 days, restricted to Sinai/Red Sea coastal areas. Does NOT allow travel to Cairo, Hurghada or Luxor.

After the visa: plan the rest

Once your visa is sorted, the next thing is the actual trip. We run English-language packages for travellers from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh — private transfers, English-speaking guides, excursions to Hurghada, Luxor and Cairo. See our packages.

TL;DR

| Question | Answer | |---|---| | Visa required? | Yes for UK citizens | | Cost | 25 USD (single-entry, 30 days) | | E-visa or on arrival? | Both work; e-visa skips the queue | | Stay length | 30 days per entry | | Passport validity | 6 months minimum beyond entry |

Any other questions about your trip — our team is on WhatsApp 24/7 in English.