If you are planning to visit Egypt solely to travel and explore, you will need an Egypt tourist visa. Do note that working is prohibited on a tourist visa. There are three ways to get an Egypt visa for US citizens: online, on arrival, and from an embassy or consulate.
Visa from Egyptian Embassy
Obtaining a tourist visa from an Egyptian embassy or consulate is the traditional way of getting your valid visa.
The Egyptian Embassy of the USA is located in Washington D.C.
Within the USA, there are Egyptian consulates in:
- Chicago
- Los Angeles
- Houston
- New York
If you are already traveling, you can visit an overseas Egypt embassy or consulate to apply for a tourist visa too.
You will need a completed application form, two recent passport photographs, and your passport with at least six months’ validity and a blank page. The tourist visa fee is 15 USD for both single and multiple entry options. You may need to have an interview with an immigration official.
Applications usually take around ten business days to process, but you could wait several weeks. You can opt to collect your passport, with the visa, from the embassy or consulate or have it sent to you by post.
Tourist visas allow you to stay in Egypt for up to 30 days.
Online Egypt e-Visa
Many travelers find that the online Egypt e-Visa is a much better way to secure a tourist visa in advance; you do not need to visit an embassy or consulate and the process is a lot quicker. It usually only takes five business days to approve an online visa, though apply a little in advance of travel in case of unexpected delays.
Your passport should be valid for at least eight months.
The online application form for an Egypt visa for US citizens is quick and easy to fill out. When approved, the visa is emailed to you in PDF format, which you can then print out and show upon arrival in Egypt.
E-visas permit stays of up to 30 days in Egypt.
A single entry visa costs 25 USD, and a multiple entry visa costs 60 USD. You need to pay by debit or credit card.
Visa on Arrival
US citizens can obtain an Egypt visa on arrival. The process is relatively quick and easy, though you may need to wait in a queue for some time.
Simply complete the application form, present your passport (valid for at least another six months and with a free page for the visa sticker), and pay the fee. The cost is around 25 USD and you need to pay in cash. You can pay in US Dollars, Pounds Sterling, or Euros.
Visas on arrival let you stay in Egypt for up to 30 days. You can only obtain single entry visas on arrival.