Egypt
Egypt visa guide: every visa and residence permit
- 12 visa types
- checked 25 October 2026
How visas for Egypt work
Egypt runs two separate systems. Short visits are covered by an entry visa: either the tourist e-Visa from the Ministry of Interior portal (USD 30 single entry, USD 65 multiple entry, only for the nationalities the portal lists), a visa issued at the port of entry (USD 25 single, USD 60 multiple for nationalities allowed to obtain one there), or a visa issued in advance by an Egyptian embassy or consulate. Anyone who wants to stay longer, work, study or live in the country moves on to a residence permit issued inside Egypt by the Passports, Emigration & Nationality Administration of the Ministry of Interior.
Residence permits are graded by length: one-year temporary permits (tourism, or non-tourism purposes such as work, study, marriage or property ownership), three-year and five-year permits for specific groups such as investors, spouses of Egyptians and owners of property worth USD 200,000 or USD 400,000, and the historic ordinary and special permits reserved for long-established residents. Work requires a work permit from the Ministry of Labour before the residence permit can be issued.
Which entry route applies depends on nationality. The e-Visa portal visa2egypt.gov.eg lists the countries whose nationals can apply online, among them EU states, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and the Gulf states. The Ministry of Interior pages list the nationalities that may receive a visa at the port of entry and those that must obtain one in advance from an Egyptian mission; some nationalities also need prior security approval, which Egyptian consulates say takes at least 6 to 8 weeks.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday or short private visit: e-Visa if your nationality is listed on the portal, otherwise a port-of-entry visa where your nationality is allowed one, or a tourist visa from an Egyptian embassy or consulate before travel.
A stay limited to the Gulf of Aqaba coast, St Catherine and Taba: eligible visitors entering through a South Sinai port such as Sharm El Sheikh airport can receive a free 15-day entry permit valid only for those areas.
Meetings, fairs or negotiations: consular business visa. Paid work: employer-sponsored work permit, then a one-year residence permit.
Studies: admission to an Egyptian institution, then a one-year student residence permit. Long stays without work: tourist residence (up to one year) or residence through property ownership; investors use the five-year investor residence.
Visa types for Egypt
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Tourist visa issued by an Egyptian embassy or consulate
Travellers who cannot use the e-Visa or a port-of-entry visa obtain a tourist visa in advance from an Egyptian embassy or consulate.
Processing time: Set by each mission. The Egyptian consulate in Washington allows at least 10 business days, and 6 to 8 weeks for nationalities needing prior security approval.
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Business visa (consular entry visa for business purposes)
Meetings, trade fairs, negotiations and other short business trips to Egypt need a business visa issued by an Egyptian embassy or consulate; the tourist e-Visa expressly excludes business activity.
Processing time: Set by each mission; the Washington consulate allows at least 10 business days, longer where security approval is required. - Investor visa Investor residence (five-year residence for foreign investors, on GAFI recommendation)
Foreign investors in Egypt qualify for a renewable five-year residence permit that also covers their wives and children, and their parents can receive residence on a recommendation letter from the investment authority.
Validity: Five years, renewable. During company set-up: one year, renewable for six months or a year through GAFI.
Study and training
- Student visa Student residence permit (temporary residence for study)
International students admitted to an Egyptian university, institute or school receive a one-year temporary residence permit for non-tourism purposes, issued on the basis of their registration certificate.
Validity: One year, renewed each year of study.
Work
- Work visa Work permit (Ministry of Labour) and one-year residence permit for non-tourism purposes
Foreigners employed in Egypt’s private or investment sector need a work permit from the Ministry of Labour, obtained through the employer, and then a temporary residence permit for non-tourism purposes from the Ministry of Interior.
Validity: Residence permit for work: one year, renewable together with the work permit.
Family
- Family reunification visa Residence for family members of foreign residents
Egypt has no separate family reunification visa; instead, the residence permits of foreign workers, investors, property owners and long-term residents extend to their spouses and children, who apply at the Passports, Emigration & Nationality Administration.
Validity: Follows the sponsor’s permit: one, three or five years. - Spouse and partner visa Residence for spouses and relatives of Egyptian citizens
Foreign spouses of Egyptian citizens receive residence in Egypt, with the length depending on the case: wives and widows of Egyptian men qualify for the five-year permit, while foreign husbands of Egyptian women receive a three-year permit or a one-year permit under the wife’s sponsorship.
Validity: Wives and widows of Egyptians: five years. Foreign husbands of Egyptian women: three years, or one year under the wife’s sponsorship. All renewable.
Residence
- Residence permit Temporary residence permit for tourism purposes, and Egypt’s residence permit classes
Foreigners who want to stay in Egypt longer than their visa allows apply inside the country to the Passports, Emigration & Nationality Administration.
Maximum stay: Tourist residence: up to one year per permit, renewable. - Golden visa and residence by investment Residence for owners of real estate (one, three or five years by property value)
Egypt grants renewable residence to foreigners who own real estate registered with the Egyptian notary public, with the length set by the value of the property: at least USD 100,000 for a one-year permit, USD 200,000 for three years and USD 400,000 for five years.
Validity: One, three or five years depending on property value; renewable while the property is held.
Online travel permits
- Visa on arrival Entry visa issued at Egyptian ports of entry, and the free South Sinai entry permit
Egypt’s Ministry of Interior issues entry visas at ports of entry for many nationalities, at USD 25 for one entry or USD 60 for multiple entries, while a published list of countries must obtain the visa in advance from an Egyptian mission.
Maximum stay: South Sinai permit: 15 days, limited to the designated areas. For the port-of-entry visa the stay is set at entry; the Ministry page does not publish a fixed number of days. - e-Visa Tourist e-Visa (single or multiple entry), visa2egypt.gov.eg
The Egypt e-Visa is a tourist visa issued online by the Ministry of Interior through visa2egypt.gov.eg, for nationals of the countries listed on the portal only.
Processing time: No fixed time is published; the portal asks you to apply at least 7 days before departure and emails you when a decision is made.
Asylum and international protection
- Asylum and international protection Asylum and refugee registration with UNHCR in Egypt (Asylum Law No. 164 of 2024)
In Egypt, people seeking international protection register with UNHCR, which has carried out registration and refugee status determination on Egypt’s behalf.
Validity: UNHCR white certificate: 6 months; yellow asylum-seeker card: 18 months; blue refugee card: 3 years. UNHCR-registered refugees are listed for the three-year residence permit.
Frequently asked questions
Who can get the Egypt e-Visa?
Nationals of the countries listed in the FAQ of visa2egypt.gov.eg, the Ministry of Interior portal, including EU states, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea and the Gulf states. Holders of other passports, and of diplomatic, service or refugee documents, apply at an Egyptian embassy or consulate, or use the port-of-entry visa where their nationality is allowed one.
How much does an Egyptian visa cost?
The tourist e-Visa costs USD 30 for a single entry and USD 65 for multiple entries. The Ministry of Interior sets the port-of-entry visa at USD 25 for a single entry and USD 60 for multiple entries. Consular fees are set by each mission, so ask the embassy or consulate where you apply.
Which website is the official Egypt e-Visa site?
Only visa2egypt.gov.eg, run by the Ministry of Interior. Many private sites with similar names charge service fees on top of the official USD 30 or USD 65 and are not part of the government system.
How long can I stay in Egypt as a tourist, and can I extend?
Stay on a visa is fixed by the visa or the officer at entry. To stay longer without working, apply inside Egypt for a temporary residence permit for tourism, which the Ministry of Interior grants for up to one year and allows to be renewed.
Does buying property in Egypt give residence?
Property can support a residence permit but does not grant one automatically. Owners of property registered with the notary public and worth at least USD 100,000 (bought after 11 May 2017, paid through an Egyptian bank) qualify for a one-year permit, USD 200,000 for three years and USD 400,000 for five years.
Can I work in Egypt on a tourist visa or e-Visa?
No. The e-Visa portal states that the tourist e-Visa does not allow work or business activity. Employment needs a work permit from the Ministry of Labour and a non-tourism residence permit.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 25 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.