Embassy
Embassy of the United States, Cairo
Cairo
5 Tawfik Diab Street
Egypt visa requirements for American citizens
Entry to Egypt is restricted for american citizens: a visa plus special approval.
Passport
USA
United States
Going to
EGY
Egypt
Entry is restricted
A visa for people visiting Egypt on holiday.
- Visa
- Restricted
- Max stay
- 30 days
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
Special rules for American citizens in Egypt
Americans can visit four Sinai resorts without a visa
- Stay up to 15 days.
- Stay within Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resorts.
- Arrive at Sharm el-Sheikh, Saint Catherine or Taba airport.
- Get a free entry permission stamp on arrival.
What to do
Read the extra conditions for your passport below: Egypt limits where and how you can enter.
Apply for the visa at the embassy well ahead, and expect extra checks.
Enter only through the allowed border points and register with the police if required.
Get your Egypt visa sorted
A visa expert checks the rules and helps you apply. No payment now.
Ways into Egypt
Apply for a tourist visa or check the free resort stamp.
Visa not required For your passportFree resort entry stampA free stamp for short trips to certain South Sinai resorts.
- Stay
- 15 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that you qualify before travel.
- Get the free stamp when you arrive.
- Get a visa to travel beyond the allowed area or stay longer.
- The tourism page names direct arrivals at Sharm El Sheikh, Nuweiba and Taba.
eVisa For your passportSingle-entry tourist eVisaAn online tourist visa for 1 entry into Egypt.
- Fee
- US$30
- Entries
- Single
How to apply
- Create and confirm an account at least 7 days before departure.
- Choose your visa and fill in the form.
- Pay online with an accepted card.
- Download and print your approved visa.
- Show the printout at passport checks.
Documents required
- Passport valid about 180 days
- Printed eVisa
- Travel plan
- Hotel booking or places to visit
- The passport validity rule starts on arrival; the source states 6 months.
- Applying 7 days ahead does not promise approval within 7 days.
eVisa For your passportMultiple-entry tourist eVisaAn online tourist visa for repeat trips to Egypt.
- Valid for
- 180 days
- Fee
- US$65
- Entries
- Multiple
How to apply
- Create and confirm an account at least 7 days before departure.
- Choose multiple entries and fill in the form.
- Pay online with an accepted card.
- Download and print your approved visa.
- Show the printout at passport checks.
Documents required
- Passport valid about 180 days
- Printed eVisa
- Travel plan
- Hotel booking or places to visit
- Visa and passport periods use 6 months; 180 days is approximate.
- Visa validity does not mean you can stay for that whole time.
Visa on arrival For your passportArrival visa by nationalityA visa at the border for tourists from eligible countries.
- Fee
- US$30
- Entries
- Single
How to apply
- Check that your nationality qualifies before travel.
- Get your arrival visa before passport checks.
- Show your visa and passport.
Documents required
- Passport
- The embassy reports airport visas use QR codes from September 2026.
Visa on arrivalArrival visa using another visaSome tourists qualify with a current foreign visa they have already used.
- Fee
- US$30
How to apply
- Confirm your nationality is covered before travel.
- Bring your current qualifying visa and proof of past use.
- Get your arrival visa before passport checks.
Documents required
- Passport
- Current qualifying foreign visa
- Proof you used that visa
- The embassy excludes Bangladesh and nationalities needing approval before travel.
- This conflicts with the tourism page; confirm these cases directly.
- Qualifying visas: US, UK, Schengen, Japan, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.
- The full nationality list is missing; residence permits are not listed as substitutes.
Visa requiredEmbassy tourist visaA visa for people visiting Egypt on holiday.
- Processing
- 5 days
Official pageHow to apply
- Check the embassy's rules.
- Send your form and required papers.
- Attend an appointment if required.
Sources (12)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Ministry of Interior — General Administration of Passports, Immigration and Nationality: entry visa rules
- Egypt e-Visa Portal — Home and advance application instruction
- Egypt e-Visa Portal — Nationalities, fees and documents
- Egypt e-Visa Portal — How to apply
- Egypt e-Visa Portal — Conditions and passport restrictions
- Egyptian Foreign Ministry — Istanbul consular entry-visa FAQ
- Egyptian Embassy in Washington — Visa requirements
- Egyptian Consulate in London — Visas
- Egyptian Consulate in London — Visa and transit FAQ
- Egyptian Embassy in Sweden — Visa applications
- Egyptian Tourism Authority — Entry Visa
- EgyptAir — Free 96-hour transit visa
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Consulate general
Consulate General of the United States, Alexandria
Alexandria
66 الدكتور حسين حساب، المسلة شرق، العطارين، الإسكندرية
Trips to Egypt
Day-by-day itineraries by snuck, shaped around you.
Coming from United States
- Plugs C FAdapter needed
- MoneyEGP ج.م
- Time+14h
- DrivingOn the rightSame as home
- LanguageArabic
- Emergency112 or 122 police123 ambulance
Planning your Egypt trip
Best time to go: November to March are the most comfortable months. Winter nights can be cold, and sandstorms may occur from March to May.
- Pyramids of Giza and the SphinxThese are among Egypt's most famous ancient sights.
- Dahshur and SaqqaraSee more pyramids and temples near Cairo. Dahshur offers an alternative to Giza.
- Historic CairoVisit the Citadel of Salah El Din, Mosque of Mohamed Ali and Khan al Khalili market.
- AlexandriaExplore Greek and Roman history, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Qa'edbay's Castle and El Montaza Palace.
Scams to watch for in Egypt
- Inflated taxi fares and unused metersDrivers may leave the meter off, claim it is broken or demand a high fare after departure. In Alexandria, drivers routinely refuse meters. Luxor taxis have no meters. In Hurghada, a vague quote can lead to arguments about the currency or whether the price covers the whole car or each passenger. Cairo drivers may also ask for more for extra passengers or a large-hotel destination.
- Friendly conversation that leads to a shopSomeone starts a friendly conversation, offers tea or promises to show you a nearby shop. The shop may keep moving to the next corner. Other openers include asking for help translating or writing a letter, claiming to know you from a cruise ship, asking your nationality or offering flattering comments. The aim is to lead you into a shop and earn a commission or pressure you to buy. This is especially persistent in Luxor.
- Large tourist markups in marketsSellers quote foreigners much higher prices and use persistent bargaining to make a poor deal feel like a discount. In Luxor, an opening quote can be ten or even a hundred times a reasonable price. A printed price does not always protect you from a tourist markup.
About Egypt
Egypt is a republic joining northeast Africa to the Sinai Peninsula, astride the Suez Canal.
- Capital
- Cairo
- Money
- Egyptian pound (ج.م)
- Languages
- Arabic
- Time zone
- UTC+02:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +20
Other Americas passports
Going to Egypt
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Egypt with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Is entry to Egypt restricted for American citizens?
American citizens can visit certain Sinai resorts without a visa for up to 15 days. Travel is limited to the listed resorts. American citizens may stay without a visa for a maximum of 15 days under the Sinai program. Travellers using the resort-only permission must stay within Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resorts.
Can American citizens visit any city in Egypt?
No. Visas are limited to: Sharm El Sheikh resorts, Dahab resorts, Nuweiba resorts, Taba resorts.
Where can American citizens enter Egypt?
Only through: Sharm el-Sheikh Airport, Saint Catherine Airport, Taba Airport.
Do american citizens need a visa for Egypt?
American citizens get a visa on arrival in Egypt, for up to 30 days.
How long can american citizens stay in Egypt?
Up to 30 days each visit with the visa on arrival rule. Staying longer can mean a fine or a ban from coming back.
Can I get the Egypt visa at the airport?
Yes. American citizens get the visa when they land in Egypt. Carry cash for the fee, a passport photo, your return ticket and hotel details.
Do egyptian citizens need a visa for the United States?
Egyptian citizens need a visa for the United States, from its embassy or consulate.
Do other Americas passports get easier entry to Egypt?
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados Belize, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Egypt are easier for american citizens?
Morocco, Tunisia, Angola, Botswana Cape Verde, and 3 more let american citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Egypt?
Bring the arrival fee in cash, in a widely accepted currency, plus a passport photo. Have your return or onward ticket and accommodation details ready.
What money is used in Egypt?
Egyptian pound (ج.م). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Egypt?
Arabic.
Reviewed by @snuck