Visitors Guide to Egypt

Residency, Visas and Passports

Passports are required by all nationalities to enter Egypt and must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of arrival. Visas are also required by most nationalities and can be purchased upon arrival.

The cost of the visa will vary between countries of origin, as an example, the cost of a single entry touristic visa for a UK national is approximately £15. The exemptions of visas include EU nationals travelling to the Sharm el Sheikh area for up to 2 weeks, who will only require an entry permission stamp upon arrival.

Those visiting Egypt from countries outside the EU or the USA will need to register with the police within 1 week of arrival. Usually the hotel where the travellers are booked into will arrange this for their guests. Visitors to Egypt who hold a residency permit will not need to arrange an entry visa.

Residency permits can be arranged for 5 years and are renewable. Residency can be obtained when purchasing a property in Egypt valued at over US$50,000. This can only be arranged if the purchasing transaction was made through an Egyptian bank. The residency will be provided to the buyer and their wife and children.

Getting There

Egypt is becoming increasingly earlier to reach as the market for overseas purchasing expands at a rapid pace. The country is only 5 hours flying time from the UK and is easily accessible from all major European airports. Direct flights to Cairo are offered by many major airlines, and many also offer direct flights to the touristic areas along the Red Sea Riviera, especially the Hurghada International Airport.

As Egypt has for many years been one of the world’s major touristic destinations, getting there is quite easy. Many discount airlines also offer cheaper fares to the country, along with discounted fares available for internal travel. Egypt Air is the main domestic airline, offering regular flights throughout the country with scheduled and charter flights.

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Local Transport

The local transport networks in each of Egypt’s towns and cities are quite extensive, with varied price options relating to the level of comfort. The cheapest options can be rather crowded, uncomfortable and very noisy.

Within each city there are regular bus and mini bus services. The mini buses are the more comfortable option as these buses to not allow standing. Tickets are often sold on the bus, or they can be purchased at the stations and can be bought in advance.

Intercity buses run regularly, also with the price of the tickets relating to the comfort of the transport. Egypt has a number of military checkpoints between cities where buses are often stopped for identity checks, so carrying a passport at all times is recommended to avoid any potential problems.

Flying is a faster and more comfortable way of travelling long distances in Egypt. The country has several domestic airlines servicing the main cities with the touristic areas. The country also has an extensive rail network, yet the services are in need of modernising and many feel that for travelling long distances it is more comfortable to either fly or take the intercity buses.

Many international car hire companies operate in Egypt, such as Hertz, Avis, Budget and Europcar. Drivers are required to be over the age of 25 and hold an international drivers license. The use of a 4WD vehicle can provide visitors with a larger range of areas of the country for exploring compared with regular cars and public transport. One of the problems with hiring a car is that many of the streets in Egypt are un-named, which can make navigating a little difficult.

For visitors who are visiting the Red Sea Riviera there are speed boat services travelling between Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh. The speed boat option enables visitors to avoid a long travelling route by road, along with stopping at the police check-points.

Health and Safety

One of the main problems that are likely to arise from visiting Egypt is from excessive sun exposure. Keeping hydrated and protected from the extreme heat can assist with avoiding heat stroke and similar issues.

Bottled water is cheap and readily available throughout Egypt, as the tap water is not safe to drink. Comprehensive medical insurance is recommended for all visitors as the medical facilities outside of the main towns and cities are quite simplistic.

Egypt has quite a low crime rate yet in crowded areas travellers should be aware of possible pickpockets and bag snatchers, such as when travelling in many other areas of the world. Egypt is a very conservative society so it is advisable to show respect in order to experience a more comfortable visit.

When away from the touristic beach areas, women are advised to cover their legs and upper arms to avoid harassment. When all travellers are visiting mosques or souq markets, modest dressing is required. Women visitors to Egypt are advised to travel in groups, rather than alone and should never hitchhike.

All visitors to Egypt need to carry photographic ID at all times, as there are often routine identity checks, especially when travelling. Drinking is permitted in Egypt, yet only in licensed premises. Egypt has a very vibrant nightlife, yet drinking in the streets can lead to arrests.

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