EgyptVisits and short stays
Egypt tourist visa from an embassy or consulate
Tourist visa issued by an Egyptian embassy or consulate
In short
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. Applications usually take at least 10 business days, and nationalities that need prior security approval should expect 6 to 8 weeks.
checked 25 October 2026
Key facts
- 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.
- Work
- No.
- Family
- Each family member applies with their own form and passport.
- Where to apply
- In person (or by post where the mission allows) at the Egyptian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence.
Who needs a consular tourist visa
Nationals of countries that are not on the e-Visa list and that the Ministry of Interior requires to obtain an advance visa, holders of diplomatic, service, refugee and similar documents, nationalities subject to prior security approval, and anyone who prefers a visa issued before travel.
Documents the missions ask for
The Egyptian consulate in Washington publishes a typical list: a completed and signed application form with a photo attached, recent passport photos on a white background taken within the last 6 months, the passport valid for at least 6 months with an empty visa page plus copies of the data page, and copies of a round-trip ticket or confirmed itinerary. Applicants who are not citizens of the country where they apply add proof of legal residence there.
Each mission sets its own exact list, photo size and fee, so check with the Egyptian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence before you go.
Required documents
Identity
- Completed and signed visa application form of the mission, with a photo attached
- Recent passport photos on a white background (taken within 6 months)
Travel
- Passport valid for at least 6 months with at least one empty visa page, plus copies of the data page
- Round-trip ticket or confirmed itinerary
Supporting documents (where they apply)
Travel
- Hotel booking or invitation from a host in Egypt
Other
- Proof of legal residence if you apply outside your country of citizenship
Fees
Consular fees vary by mission and nationality and are not published centrally. As an example, the Washington consulate charges USD 27 for a single-entry and USD 62 for a multiple-entry tourist visa for most applicants. Confirm the amount and payment method with the mission where you apply.
Processing time and security approval
Ordinary applications at the Washington consulate take at least 10 business days. Where prior security approval is needed the minimum wait is 6 to 8 weeks, and applicants are told not to book travel until contacted, so plan at least two months ahead if your nationality is on that list.
After arrival
Keep within the stay granted at entry. To remain longer as a visitor, apply at a passport office for a temporary residence permit for tourism (up to one year, renewable; EGP 503.10 for less than one year according to the Ministry of Interior).
How to apply, step by step
- Contact the Egyptian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence to confirm the current form, photo size, fee and opening hours.
- Fill in and sign the application form and attach a recent photo.
- Collect your passport, copies, photos and travel bookings.
- Submit the file at the mission and pay the fee in the form it requests.
- If your nationality needs prior security approval, expect a wait of 6 to 8 weeks and do not buy tickets until the mission contacts you.
- Collect the passport with the visa and check names, dates and the number of entries.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I apply for an Egyptian tourist visa?
At the Egyptian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence. Applicants who are not citizens of the country where they apply add proof of legal residence there.
How long does an Egyptian visa take?
The Washington consulate allows at least 10 business days; cases that need prior security approval take 6 to 8 weeks or more. Each mission sets its own time.
What photo size is required?
The Washington consulate asks for 2 x 2 inch photos on a white background taken within 6 months. Other missions may ask for a different size, so check before printing.
Can I extend a tourist visa inside Egypt?
You can apply at a passport office for a temporary residence permit for tourism, granted for up to one year and renewable.
Official sources
- Embassy of Egypt in Washington DC — Visa requirements (consular tourist and business visas, pre-approval list)
- Ministry of Interior, Passports, Emigration & Nationality Administration — Visas for subjects of Asian countries (fees, port-of-entry visas, Türkiye age rule)
- Egypt e-Visa Portal (Ministry of Interior) — FAQ: eligible nationalities, fees, passport validity, arrival documents
- Ministry of Interior, Passports, Emigration & Nationality Administration — Temporary residence for tourism purposes
- Botschaft der Arabischen Republik Ägypten in Berlin, Konsularabteilung: Visa-Auswahlformular (Visumarten, Unterlagen, Gebühren, Zuständigkeit)
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Egypt
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Processing time: Set by each mission; the Washington consulate allows at least 10 business days, longer where security approval is required.
- Investor visa Validity: Five years, renewable. During company set-up: one year, renewable for six months or a year through GAFI.
Study and training
- Student visa Validity: One year, renewed each year of study.
Work
- Work visa Validity: Residence permit for work: one year, renewable together with the work permit.
Family
- Family reunification visa Validity: Follows the sponsor’s permit: one, three or five years.
- Spouse and partner visa 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 Maximum stay: Tourist residence: up to one year per permit, renewable.
- Golden visa and residence by investment Validity: One, three or five years depending on property value; renewable while the property is held.
Online travel permits
- Visa on arrival 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 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.
Protection
- Asylum and international protection 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.