Egypt is one of the few warm countries open to all tourists in 2020 and early 2021. However, during pre-covid times there were also many reasons to come to Egypt for a long stay: there are limitless opportunities for water sports, rich sightseeing and reasonable prices for long-term rentals. Most digital nomads choose Dahab – a small town not far from Sharm el-Sheikh. Dahab is loved by windsurfers and kitesurfers because of its steady, constant wind. And the waters off its shores hide some of the best diving spots in the world.
For those who decide to go to Egypt for the long term there are the nuances of obtaining and extending the visa. How much does a visa to Egypt cost, for how long is it granted, and how to extend it? Find the details in our article.
Egypt visa on arrival (VoA)
Those traveling to Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Taba, and Nuweiba for less than 15 days do not need a visa. Upon arrival, you must fill a migration card and write “Sinai only”. You will get a stamp that gives you the right to stay in Sinai for 14 days. If you plan to visit only local excursions, this is the best option. But if you are going to the pyramids, to Cairo or Luxor, then get a $25 visa upon arrival at the airport.
If you plan to spend more than 2 weeks in Egypt, a visa is required. To buy a visa at the airport, you must pay a $25 visa fee and fill out an immigration card. Warning: as soon as you enter the arrivals hall, there will be guides actively touting for buying a visa from them. Only it will cost $27 there. It’s the same as a $25 visa, but for an extra $2, the guides will help you fill out an immigration card. Decide for yourself whether you need such a service.
The Egyptian visa on arrival is given for 30 days, after which you have another 14 days to leave the country. In total, the total period of stay in Egypt could be 44 days.
The penalty for staying in Egypt after the expiration of the visa is approximately 1655 Egyptian pounds, or $105 (payable on departure). In this case, people who have overstayed their visa are not allowed to take charter flights from the airports of Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh. They can leave the country only on a regular flight from the Cairo airport.
How to extend the Egyptian visa for more than a month?
Within 14 days after the end of the visa you need to either leave the country or extend the visa for a longer period at the visa office in Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada or Cairo. Renewal for another month is done by a single visit. The fee for the extension will be approximately $1. After your visa expires, you will have two more weeks to depart or apply for the next extension.
How to extend the Egyptian visa for more than 2 months
So, the second month of the visa is coming to an end, and you are not going to leave. It is necessary to extend the visa further. When your visa expires, you can apply for a so-called temporary tourist residence permit (“ikama as-siyaha”), valid for one to six months (on average, this period is three months). In total, the residence permit allows you to spend another six months in Egypt. However, in exceptional cases, such as when the applicant reaches the age of 60, it can be as long as one year.
Documents required for applying for an Egyptian tourist residence permit
- 2 photocopies of the first page of your passport;
- 2 photocopies of the page with a valid Egyptian visa;
- 2 photocopies of the contract of rent, or contract of purchase of real estate in Egypt;
- 2 Egypt visa photos.
At the visa center fill out an application to extend your visa. Then pay the fee of 1105 Egyptian pounds (about $70). In about a week you will be invited for an interview at the tourist police. They will ask the standard questions: why do you want to stay in Egypt, what do you do here, what is your source of income? Answer honestly and friendly. Remember that the tourist visa does not allow you to earn directly in Egypt: the source of income must be outside the country.
Officially, the registration of a tourist residence permit takes 3 weeks, but in fact the process can take up to 2 months. During this time you will be issued a so-called waiting stamp. With this stamp you can safely reside and move around Egypt. The only things you cannot do is, for example, to buy any real estate, register a company, or notarize documents. For this you have to wait for a valid visa. In addition, if during this period you have to leave the country, you need to go to the visa center and request a note exempting you from paying a fine for overstaying.
The maximum amount of time a tourist is allowed to stay in Egypt without a break is one year.
If at the end of this term you will need to fly out of the country to renew the visa. You can fly back the next day after departure.
It is also worth noting that children under 14 years and people 60 years of age and older are allowed not to extend the visa. No overstay penalty is charged for such people.
