Egypt Visa 2026: How Much Is a Visa for Egypt From UK, E-Visa and On Arrival

The 3 options for obtaining an Egypt visa in 2026

British nationals have three main ways to enter Egypt. Each suits a different kind of trip, and the right one depends on your travel profile. Whether you are planning a complete circuit, a shore excursion from a cruise ship, or a simple seaside stay, sorting the visa is an obligatory first step.

Planning your first Egypt holiday? The e-visa is the route we suggest every time. It costs less than the VOA, there is no queue on landing, and the approval lands straight in your inbox. Once the visa is sorted, our guide to the essential places to see in Egypt will help you decide where to go.

How much is a visa for Egypt from UK in 2026?

Because both routes now cost the same 30 USD, the real choice for a UK traveller is time, not price. Apply online before you fly and the approval lands in your inbox; leave it for the airport and you queue at the bank counter before immigration, paying in cash (USD or EUR, card accepted at some counters).

How much does the visa cost at Hurghada airport?

The same national rate applies at every Egyptian airport, Hurghada included: 30 USD for a single-entry visa on arrival, paid in cash or by card at the bank counter before passport control. Hurghada is not covered by the Sinai-only free entry stamp (that applies only to Sharm El-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba), so a visa is compulsory for anyone flying into Hurghada for a Red Sea stay.

Can I pay for the Egypt visa in pounds or euros on arrival?

Bank counters at Egyptian airports generally accept US dollars, euros and card payments, but the official fee is fixed in US dollars. Paying in GBP or EUR means your bank or the counter applies its own exchange rate, which is rarely in your favour. Bringing USD cash, or paying online by card for the e-visa, keeps the cost closest to the headline 30 USD.

Is it better to get the Egypt visa online or on arrival?

Both cost 30 USD for a single entry, so price alone will not decide it. The e-visa saves the queue at the bank counter and gets you to immigration with your visa already approved; the visa on arrival is a reasonable fallback if you are travelling at short notice and could not complete the e-visa in time. Planning a Luxor hot air balloon ride or an early start on your first day? The e-visa means one less queue to plan around.

Should I get dollars before I fly, or just use my card?

If you are booking the e-visa, a UK debit or credit card is all you need; check with your bank first so a foreign payment to Egypt is not blocked or flagged. If you are relying on the visa on arrival, bring the 30 USD in cash: sterling and euros are usually accepted at the airport bank counter, but the rate applied there is rarely as good as ordering US dollars from a UK bank or currency provider before you leave. A small stock of US dollars in small denominations also covers porters, taxis and cash-only stalls once you land, on top of the visa fee itself.

Egypt E-Visa: complete step-by-step guide

For British travellers the e-visa is both the easiest and the most dependable option. You apply from your sofa on the Egyptian government's official portal and the authorisation arrives by email. It makes no difference whether you are heading off on a honeymoon in Egypt or a holiday shaped around your own profile: the process is identical.

Check your eligibility

Before you begin, check you meet each of these requirements:

• You hold a valid British passport
• Your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your return date
• You have a working email address
• You have an international bank card (Visa or Mastercard)

Required documents

8-step procedure

1. Go to the official website : go to visa2egypt.gov.eg. Check the extension carefully .gov.eg to avoid fraudulent sites that charge 80 to 150 euros.
2. Set up an account: select "Apply for e-Visa", then give an email address and choose a password.
3. Select your nationality : choose "United Kingdom" and the type of visa desired (single entry at 30 USD or multiple entries at 65 USD).
4. Complete the application: surname, given name, date of birth, passport number, intended arrival date, airport of entry (Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor and so on) and where you will be staying in Egypt.
5. Upload your documents : ID photo + scan of your passport ID page + proof of accommodation.
6. Pay by credit card : Visa and Mastercard accepted. You are charged 30 USD converted to GBP at your card provider's rate, plus any foreign transaction fee your bank applies. Ask your bank in advance if you want to avoid a surprise.
7. Receive confirmation by email : standard delivery time of 24 to 72 hours. During low season, some requests are processed within 12 to 24 hours.
8. Print the e-visa: carry 2-3 paper copies plus one saved on your mobile. Border officers much prefer the printed version.

Prices and fees for the 2026 e-visa

Reasons for refusal of the e-visa and appeals

Rejections are uncommon, though not unheard of. These are the usual reasons:

If your application is turned down: an email will let you know. Fix the errors and submit again once 24 hours have passed. Should it fail a second time, the Visa on Arrival (VOA) is still there as a fallback when you land. Before you fly, run through our pre-departure checklist to make sure nothing gets left behind.

Visa on arrival (VOA): procedure and prices 2026

Ran out of time to sort the e-visa? A visa can still be bought when you land at an Egyptian airport. Since 1 March 2026 the cash fee has gone up to 30 USD: you get the original visa sticker plus a small additional "+5 USD surcharge" sticker, which together replaced the old 25 USD stamp. Plenty of travellers arriving to see the Giza pyramids, the earliest pyramids at Saqqara, or to join a cruise rely on this last-minute route.

How it works

1. When you land, make for the bank counters, which sit BEFORE the passport desks.
2. Buy one tax stamp (visa sticker) at the price of 30 USD. Pay in cash (USD or euros) or by card.
3. Fix the visa sticker onto an empty page in your passport.
4. Proceed to the passport desk, where the officer stamps the visa.

Digital visa on arrival at Cairo Airport (new from August 2026)

From 1 August 2026, Cairo Airport also offers a digital visa on arrival at self-service kiosks: 36 USD, card only, which already includes a 6 USD digital service fee (source: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt). It suits travellers who would rather not carry cash, but if you only have cash the classic bank-counter VOA at 30 USD is still cheaper.

Comparison of the 3 visa options

If you are taking a tour of Egypt that takes in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan, the Sinai exemption will not cover you. The e-visa is both the safest and the cheapest choice, and it opens the door to the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Valley of the Kings outside Luxor, and even the temples of Abu Simbel down near the Sudanese border.

Sinai-only free entry stamp: what it actually covers

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) confirms that British nationals flying directly into Sharm El-Sheikh Airport and staying under 15 days at Sharm El-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba do not need a visa: they receive a free entry permission stamp on arrival instead. It covers those four Red Sea resort towns only. It does not cover Cairo, Luxor, Aswan or Hurghada, and it does not let you travel onward to the Egyptian mainland.

Planning a tour beyond the Sinai coast? Get the e-visa or visa on arrival instead: the free stamp will not get you into the pyramids, the temples of Luxor or onto a Nile cruise.

Arriving overland from Israel via the Taba border crossing, or by ferry to Nuweiba from Aqaba? The same free stamp applies if you are staying inside the four resort towns above. If your trip continues onto the Egyptian mainland, you will still need the e-visa or visa on arrival before you travel further, so plan for that in advance rather than assuming the free stamp covers the whole trip.

Passport validity: the trap that many ignore

This is the rule that catches far too many people out: your passport has to remain valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the day you leave Egypt, not merely on the day you land.

Concrete examples

Immigration passage at the airport

Knowing what to expect at the checkpoint makes your arrival much easier. Whether you land in Cairo to visit the Great Egyptian Museum or to Luxor for a cruise, here is the typical procedure in an Egyptian airport. If you are just transiting through Cairo, take advantage of your stopover to visit the pyramids thanks to our formulas dedicated to connecting travelers.

What to keep on hand

• Printed e-visa (or digital version on phone)
• Easily accessible passport
• Completed arrival form (distributed on the plane)
• Address of your accommodation in Egypt

The progress

1. Follow the signs for “Arrivals” then “Immigration”.
2. Join the queue marked "International Passengers" (Egyptian citizens have their own lane).
3. Present your printed passport + e-visa to the agent.
4. Answer the questions briefly (“Reason for the visit? Where are you going? How long?”).
5. Biometric control: fingerprint scanning.
6. Your passport gets its stamp, and you are through into Egypt.

How long it takes: during the quieter months (May to August), expect 5 to 15 minutes. From November to March, when it is busy, 15 to 30 minutes. If you are joining a Nile cruise that boards the same day, build that buffer into your plans. Our day-by-day Luxor to Aswan itinerary, which covers the temple of Philae and the other key sites, will help you plan those first few hours.

Traveling with minor children

Additional rules apply when travelling with children. If you are travelling alone with your children, our dedicated guide for women travelling alone in Egypt covers the extra precautions worth knowing.

Mandatory documents for each child

• Individual passport (registration for parental passport not accepted)
• An e-visa of their own (every child needs one, whatever their age)
• Compliant digital ID photo

Authorization to leave the territory

If only one parent is traveling with the child, an authorization to leave the territory signed by the absent parent may be requested. Bring a notarised letter translated into English or Arabic, especially in the case of shared custody. Our guide for women travelling alone in Egypt covers the extra documents needed for children travelling without the father.

Special situations

Dual nationality (British-Egyptian)

Holding both nationalities? Come into Egypt on your British passport. For certain services inside the country the Egyptian authorities may ask to see your Egyptian ID. Strictly speaking no e-visa is needed in that situation, but check with the Egyptian Embassy in London about your own circumstances before you travel.

Passport lost or stolen in Egypt

Your passport can disappear at the worst moment. Here is the procedure to follow (also consult our Egypt safety guide for general precautions):

1. Report the loss at the closest Egyptian police station.
2. Contact the British Embassy in Cairo, 7 Ahmed Ragheb Street, Garden City: +20 2 2791 6000.
3. Request an emergency travel document so you can leave Egypt and get back to the UK.

Credit card refused for online payment

If your card is refused when paying for the e-visa: first contact your bank to authorize international payments, try with another Visa or Mastercard. If all else fails, take the VOA to the airport ($30 USD). You can also use a local agency in Egypt to support you in all procedures on site.

Belgians, Swiss and Canadians

The procedures are almost identical for these other nationalities:

Same prices, same conditions, same request site. The passport must be valid for 6 months after the return date, without exception. To choose the right kind of trip, our comparison of an organised versus an individual trip will help you decide.

8 common mistakes to avoid

Complete checklist before departure

• Passport valid 6 months after return date
• E-visa obtained and confirmed by email
• E-visa on paper (2-3 copies) and on your mobile
• Accommodation reservation confirmed
• Confirmed plane tickets
• Scans of every document stored online (Google Drive, iCloud)
• Travel insurance taken out
• Verified vaccinations (hepatitis A and B recommended)
• Currencies exchanged or verified bank card for international
• Emergency contacts stored in the phone
• Offline maps downloaded (Google Maps)
• Travel adapter packed (Egypt uses Type C/F sockets, not the UK's Type G)

For even more complete preparation, consult our ultimate preparation checklist. If you're arriving in Egypt via a cruise ship, our guide to shore excursions in Egypt covers formalities specific to stopovers.

Frequently Asked Questions: Egypt Visa for UK Travellers

Official contacts and useful resources

Official sites

Official e-visa site: visa2egypt.gov.eg
Egyptian tourist board: egypt.travel
FCDO: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice (British travel advice for Egypt)

Embassies and consulates

Egyptian Embassy in London (for UK-based visa queries):
26 South Street, London W1K 1DW
Tel: 020 7499 3304

British Embassy in Cairo (for emergencies while in Egypt):
7 Ahmed Ragheb Street, Garden City, Cairo
Tel: +20 2 2791 6000

Emergency numbers in Egypt

Practical information

Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP). 1 USD ≈ 30-35 EGP (approximate rate 2026).
Climate: Warm and dry. From 15°C in winter to 40°C+ in summer. Check out our guide when to go to Egypt to choose the right period.
Vaccinations: Not required, but hepatitis A and B recommended.
Activities: From the diving in the Red Sea to desert safaris, Egypt offers much more than the pyramids. Also explore Alexandria, the pearl of the Mediterranean, or the western desert oasis. Our guide to activities and adventures in Egypt gives you a complete overview, and photo enthusiasts will appreciate our photography guide in Egypt.

Related guides to prepare for your trip

Written by the team at Sem Élégant Voyage, specialists in Egypt holidays since 2020.
First published 21 March 2026 | Updated 29 September 2026
Fees, procedures and requirements can change without notice. Confirm the latest position on the official site, visa2egypt.gov.eg, before you travel.