Egypt Visa for US Citizens 2026: e-Visa, Visa on Arrival, Fees and Entry Rules

Do US Citizens Need a Visa for Egypt? (2026 Quick Answer)

Yes. The US State Department says US citizens need a visa to enter Egypt, and Egypt's official e-Visa portal, run by the Ministry of Interior, lists the United States among eligible nationalities.

For Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, Nile cruises or Hurghada there are three routes, as of November 2026:

• e-Visa: USD 30 single or USD 65 multiple entry, applied for at least 7 days before departure.
• Visa on arrival: a USD 30 paper sticker at the airport bank counter, or a USD 36 QR code at Cairo International Airport.
• Consular visa: USD 32 single or USD 67 multiple entry at Egypt's consulate in Washington.

The exception is South Sinai, where direct arrivals at Sharm el-Sheikh, Nuweiba or Taba for up to 15 days get a free entry stamp.

No visa guarantees entry. The State Department notes that officials occasionally refuse travellers without explanation, and suggests applying at an Egyptian consulate in advance if you have doubts about an arrival visa.

Egypt e-Visa - Single and Multiple Entry

Egypt's Embassy in Washington says the portal issues tourist visas only and that questions go to its help page, not to Egyptian consulates in the US.

• Single-entry tourist e-Visa: USD 30
• Multiple-entry tourist e-Visa: USD 65

As of November 2026, you apply at least 7 days before departure and pay online by Visa, Mastercard or another debit card. After processing, an email and a download link follow, and passport officers at arrival check the e-Visa in their system.

The portal's disclaimer adds that the fee is non-refundable, incomplete applications are rejected and an e-Visa is not the final authority to enter. Working without a permit is an offence. Each visitor applies from a personal account, and parents can apply for their children.

How long is the e-Visa valid?

Egypt's public e-Visa pages do not say. UK government advice, written for British passports, gives up to 3 months for tourist e-visas. An undated tourism ministry announcement calls the multiple-entry visa a 6-month visa, and applicants on Reddit report the portal showing up to 30 days per visit. We recommend planning on 30 days per stay and checking the dates printed on your e-Visa.

Visa on Arrival for Americans - Paper and QR Options

Egypt's consulate in London lists US nationals among those eligible for a visa on arrival at any Egyptian port of entry. The State Department describes it as a single-entry, 30-day tourist visa that can be renewed.

Paper sticker

Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities puts it at USD 30 at the bank counter in passport control. UK government advice, written for British travellers, says it is sold for cash only. A traveller on Reddit reported buying a USD 30 sticker at Alexandria airport in September 2026 and found cash much quicker than the card machine.

QR code at Cairo

Cairo International Airport has piloted a digital visa on arrival since 1 August 2026. As of 4 November 2026, it is the only airport on the official visa-on-arrival portal. The portal's terms:

• USD 30 plus a USD 6 service charge, USD 36 in total.
• Card only, an international Visa or Mastercard not issued in Egypt.
• One traveller, one use, valid 7 days from issue, no printout needed.
• Non-refundable, even if entry is refused.

Official sources disagree on timing. The ministry's 30 July 2026 announcement mentions buying before travel through an app, while the portal's terms limit sales to the airport, at the bank kiosk or over the airport Wi-Fi network "VOA". We suggest planning to buy it at Cairo. Pre-purchase is not confirmed, and a code bought more than 7 days before landing lapses.

Which option fits your airport

Egypt's Embassy in Washington says all airports switched to QR codes on 1 September 2026, but the portal lists only Cairo. For Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan, or Sharm el-Sheikh if you will leave South Sinai, we recommend an e-Visa or USD 30 in cash, not a QR code.

Fees and How to Pay

Amounts are as of November 2026. The e-Visa and QR fees are non-refundable.

• e-Visa: USD 30 single or USD 65 multiple entry, by card online.
• Paper visa on arrival: USD 30, best in US dollar cash in small notes.
• QR visa on arrival, Cairo only: USD 36 by a card issued outside Egypt, with banking and conversion charges on the cardholder.
• Washington consulate tourist visa: USD 32 single or USD 67 multiple entry, in exact cash in person or by cashier's check from a US bank by mail. Multiple entry needs a ticket showing more than one entry.

The Washington consulate serves Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and DC. Consulates in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York serve other states, and their fees may differ.

The State Department warns that many websites claim to sell e-visas, some at double the price, and calls the Egyptian government's e-Visa website the only official source.

Documents, Passport Validity and Arrival Checks

Egypt's e-Visa portal lists what e-Visa holders show on arrival:

• A passport valid at least 6 months from arrival.
• The e-Visa printout and a travel itinerary.
• Hotel bookings or details of places to visit.
• A company letter or invitation for business or family visits.

For a visa on arrival, Egypt's Embassy in Washington asks for more than 6 months of passport validity and suggests confirming with the airline that you can board without a visa. A consular tourist visa there typically needs the form with a 2x2 photo, the passport with two copies of its photo page and an empty visa page, a round-trip ticket and a hotel booking. Processing takes at least 10 business days.

The State Department says US citizens have been arrested and convicted for bringing medical marijuana or CBD into Egypt, even with a prescription. It advises carrying medicine in its original packaging with a doctor's letter. Yellow fever vaccination proof is needed when arriving from an infected area.

Sinai-Only Entry, Nile Cruises and Red Sea Resorts

The free South Sinai stamp

Egypt's tourism ministry says direct arrivals at Sharm el-Sheikh, Nuweiba or Taba for up to 15 days get a free entry permit stamp for South Sinai destinations, including Dahab. Egypt's consulate in London names US nationals and lists Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba. A longer stay or travel beyond this area requires a visa.

UK government advice, written for British passports, says that visa can be bought at Sharm el-Sheikh airport or online. The sources we checked do not confirm that the stamp covers St. Catherine.

Nile cruises and the mainland Red Sea

Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, Nile cruises and resorts such as Hurghada, El Gouna and Marsa Alam are outside the stamp, so a regular visa is needed.

Taba land crossing

UK government advice, written for British nationals, lists a USD 20 border tax to stay in Taba and USD 120 to travel further in Sinai. Going beyond Sinai adds a USD 30 visa, which at Taba needs a travel agent's letter of guarantee costing around USD 20. The State Department also mentions this letter. The UK advice adds that charges have risen at short notice since early March 2026, so we recommend US dollars in cash.

Safety

The State Department advisory of 14 July 2025 rates Egypt at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, and advises against travel to the Northern and Middle Sinai, the Western Desert without a licensed tour company, and border areas. The department's country page urges caution in South Sinai and limits US government staff there to Sharm el-Sheikh and nearby areas.

Overstays and Extensions

The visa on arrival is renewable, but we found no official Egyptian page on the procedure, fee or maximum length.

• Where: UK government advice points to Egypt's Passport and Immigration Offices. Travellers report applying at the Passports, Immigration and Nationality Administration in Abbassia, Cairo, though the office may depend on where you stay.
• When and how: under a September 2023 Cabinet decision reported in the Egyptian business press, you apply while the arrival visa is still valid, with a receipt showing the fee was converted from US dollars into pounds at a bank or licensed exchange.
• What to bring: travellers report the passport, visa or e-Visa printout, proof of accommodation, copies, photos and the conversion receipt. No extension length is certain until approved.

Overstay fines

We found no official fine amounts. The ministry says a fine may be charged for an overstay of a few days, and an overstay of over a month has to be paid for before boarding. The State Department advises arriving early with enough Egyptian pounds, since customs check the entry stamp on departure. UK government advice mentions a fine after 14 days past expiry. We do not recommend counting on a grace period. Extending before the visa expires is the safer route.

Recent Changes (2025-2026)

• 1 March 2026: the visa on arrival fee rose from USD 25 to USD 30, according to Egyptian press reports of a Chamber of Travel and Tourism Companies statement. The ministry and the QR portal confirm USD 30.
• e-Visa: USD 30 and USD 65 on the official portal as of November 2026. Older pages may show lower fees, so check when a price was last updated.
• 1 August 2026: QR visa on arrival pilot in all arrival halls of Cairo International Airport, running alongside the paper sticker for a limited transition before wider rollout.
• 1 September 2026: the date from which Egypt's Embassy in Washington says all airports use QR codes, although the portal still listed only Cairo on 4 November.
• 1 January 2027: Prime Ministerial Decree 2553 of 2026, as reported by Egyptian media in August 2026, sets a USD 15 fee per entry or transit visa at ports of entry and per consular service. Travel-industry circulars expect about USD 33 for a single-entry visa and USD 39 for the Cairo QR. No official traveller prices yet, so check before paying.

FAQ

Can US citizens get a visa on arrival in Egypt?

Yes. As of November 2026 it costs USD 30 in cash for the sticker or USD 36 by card for the QR code at Cairo, for a single entry of 30 days.

Is the e-Visa better than a visa on arrival?

Outside Cairo it is usually more predictable, since QR codes are sold only at Cairo for now. It costs the same USD 30 but has to be applied for at least 7 days ahead.

Can I buy the Egypt QR visa before my flight?

The ministry has announced pre-travel purchase, but the portal's terms say the code is sold only at the airport. Plan to buy it at Cairo.

Do I need a visa if I only visit Sharm el-Sheikh?

Not for a direct flight and up to 15 days in the South Sinai resorts. A free stamp is given on arrival.

Do I need a visa for a Nile cruise?

Yes. Luxor, Aswan and Nile cruises are outside the Sinai stamp.

Can I use the Egypt e-Visa for a business trip?

No, it covers tourism only. Egypt's consulate in Washington issues business visas for USD 67 single or USD 92 multiple entry, with a company letter and an invitation from Egypt, plus a 5-year multiple-entry visa for USD 707 with stays of up to three months.

Are Egypt visa fees refunded if entry is refused?

No. The e-Visa and QR fees are non-refundable, and a visa does not guarantee entry.

Can Visarun help with my Egypt visa?

Visarun is a visa agency, not an Egyptian authority. We help choose the route and check the e-Visa or consular application and documents. Decisions on the visa and entry belong to Egyptian officials, so no outcome is guaranteed.