How to Apply for an Egypt Visa in San Diego

Egypt – ranked the world’s fourth fastest-growing tourist destinations by AFAR magazine – saw its travel sector grow by 37% in 2024, with residents of San Diego and other cities througout Southern California making up the list of visitors to the country.  Lonely Planet also ranked Egypt as its sixth best value destination, “captivating travelers with its rich history, cultural treasures, and awe-inspiring landscapes,” Al-Ahram noted. (https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/511989.aspx)

“One of the cradles of civilization, Egypt packs in more history than you can shake a textbook at,” The Times reported (https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/africa-travel/egypt/best-places-to-visit-in-egypt-6x8chhf2n). “Home to the only surviving wonder of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid of Giza, this country is positively littered with pyramids, tombs, temples — and a new breed of museums to show off all the discoveries.” The report continued, “One of the best ways to see Egypt’s ancient history is to take a cruise on the Nile, the world’s longest river.  But Egypt’s appeal extends far beyond its ancient sites.  Scuba divers in the know come to marvel at the Red Sea reefs, and the country has long been a winter sun favorite for shivering Europeans, with hundreds of resorts lining the eastern coast.”

Officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, the country is located in the northeastern corner of Africa and on the Sinai Peninsula in southwestern Asia.  Its population of more than 116 million people is largely concentrated along the Nile River or in coastal areas, as much of its land is barren desert.  The country covers 387,000 square miles, with more than 1,800 miles of coastline on the Mediterranean and Red Seas.  Egypt also shares land or sea borders with the Gaza Strip of Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Libya, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan.  With its central location in the volatile Mideast region, the U.S. State Department advises visitors to “reconsider travel to Egypt due to terrorism” in the Sinai and Western Desert regions, and in border areas near military zones. (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Egypt.html?)

Egypt has one of the longest histories of any nation, dating back more than 8,000 years.  Ancient Egyptians were among the earliest developers of organized religion, agriculture, writing, central governments, 365-day calendars, and urbanization.  It was also an early center of Christianity before adopting Islam in the Seventh Century.  Over the past 800 years, Egypt has been part of the Fatimid Caliphate, the Mamluk Sultanate, the Ottoman Empire, and the British Empire.  It gained independence as a monarchy in 1922 and became a republic following a 1952 revolution.  Modern Egypt is an important center of modern Arab culture and commerce.

The republic’s diverse economy is the second largest in Africa, with a GDP of $402 billion.  Energy, manufacturing, services and agriculture provide most of its output, with the agricultural sector contributing 28% of all jobs and 11.3% of GDP.  Textiles and apparel are the largest Egyptian non-fuel export to the United States at $1.1 billion (45% of the total), according to the U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA). “U.S. exports to Egypt include agricultural goods {such as Egyptian cotton}, transportation equipment, chemicals, machinery, and computer and electronic products,” ITA added. (https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/egypt-market-overview#) Industrial machinery, military equipment, and agricultural machines are also common exports from the U.S. to Egypt.  Other market opportunities for San Diego-based companies include renewal energy equipment, residential and commercial construction, healthcare, and oil and gas exploration in the Red Sea, ITA noted.

Travel and tourism also contributed 24% of Egypt’s GDP in 2023, reaching a record $18.7 billion and supporting 2.5 million jobs, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.  Cairo, the capital of Egypt and its largest city, is also the gateway to the nation’s most popular tourist attraction: the Giza Necropolis.  Only 12 miles from Cairo, this UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back more than 4,600 years to the times of the pharaohs.  It includes the Great Pyramid, the Sphinx, temples, rock tombs, and other monuments of Memphis, capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt.  The Great Pyramids are the only one of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” that remains intact today.  Giza is also the site for the Grand Egyptian Museum, a partially-completed facility which will be the world’s largest archeological museum and hold more than 100,000 ancient Egyptian artifacts – including the complete Tutankhamun collection.  Meanwhile, Cairo – the largest urban center in the Arab world and one of the world’s oldest Islamic cities – is known for its museums, opera houses, Islamic architecture, and the iconic Cairo Tower.  Historic Cairo is another of Egypt’s seven UNESCO site, with mosques, fountains, madrasas (Islamic schools), and hammams (public steam baths).  Others include the ancient temples and palaces of Thebes, plus the Saint Catherine monastery region, which includes easily-hiked Mt. Sinai (where the Old Testament records that Moses received the Ten Commandments).  About 30 miles from Cairo, a long-running project is underway to build the New Administrative Capital which will eventually become the new seat of the government.

The country’s beaches and scuba diving venues are also popular tourist draws for residents of the San Diego area.  Alexandria, Egypt’s second-largest city and the largest city on the Mediterranean Sea, is a major summer resort, combining sunny beaches and ancient historic treasures.  While Mediterranean beaches such as Marsa Matruh and El Alamein mainly draw locals, foreigners favor destinations on the Red Sea.  Popular Red Sea beach resorts on the Sinai Peninsula include Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, and Taba.  The Red Sea also contains some of the most famous scuba diving sites in the world.  The best known is the Blue Hole off Dahab, a 425-foot sinkhole carved into a reef that offers near-surface marine life for less experienced divers and snorkelers.  The lagoon of Sha’ab Samadai near Marsa Alam boasts three dive sites on its coral reefs plus spinner dolphins and other unique sea life.

 

Requirements for Obtaining an Egypt Visa

Citizens of the United States and most other countries living in San Diego are required to obtain a visa before visiting Egypt.  The main requirement for a visa is holding a passport valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date with at least one blank page.  Egypt does not generally require vaccinations, but those arriving from a country where polio is present need to be vaccinated at least four weeks before entering Egypt.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends being up-to-date on several vaccines: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/egypt.

Travelers now have several options to obtain a visa: apply online for an electronic visa; obtain a traditional visa using an embassy or consulate in the country where you live; or applying in person when you arrive at an international airport in Egypt.  The requirements among the programs are similar, with the E-visa program mainly geared at tourists.  Citizens of certain countries may be required to obtain their visas through a consular office in the country where they reside. 

 

Option 1: Apply Online for Egypt E-visa from San Francisco

An Egyptian electronic visa (E-visa) is available for U.S. citizens and those from most other countries living in the San Diego area that are traveling to Egypt as tourists. (The list of E-visa eligible countries can be found at https://www.visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/FAQ?VISTK=JT7U-OUXA-P37J-3I6E-UXFM-TQ8G-IK8P-5D41-59JB-73EC-9E5T-BZ20-7TVA-Y3C4-RZBH-03BF).  You can get a single-entry tourist visa for $25 or a multiple-entry visa for $60.  Both visas are valid for three months.

The application requires travelers to provide personal and travel information, including passport details, travel itinerary, and accommodation details.  Those who do not qualify for the program can apply for a traditional visa through an embassy or consulate.  To apply for the E-visa, you will need to provide the scanned passport information page from your passport, valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date; hotel reservations; and flight itinerary.

The basic steps in the E-visa process are:

It can take anywhere from two to seven business days for Egyptian officials to review your tourist E-visa application and respond, with most responses averaging five days.  Thus, travelers are encouraged to apply at least 10 days before their departure date.

 

Option 2: Apply By Mail or In Person at Consular Office

You can only apply for a traditional visa by mail or in person through the Egyptian consular office that serves the state where you live.  Residents of San Diego and the state of California are served by the Egyptian consulate in Los Angeles, as are those living in Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming, Utah.  Residents of other states should apply through consulates in Chicago, Houston, New York, or the embassy in Washington, D.C.  To see which office serves which states, visit https://egyptembassy.net/consular-services/egyptian-consulate-in-us/.

The requirements for traditional visas for U.S. passport holders include:

  • Completed and signed application, downloaded from the embassy website at https://egyptembassy.net/visa-application-2021/.
  • A recent passport-size (2x2 inch) color photograph, taken within the last six months.
  • Your passport plus two copies of the information page. The passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your entry date and contain at least one blank page.
  • Copy of your driver’s license or other proof of residency (such as copy of residential lease, medical bill, or utility bill) from one of the states the embassy serves.
  • Copy of hotel reservations (or contact information for a relative you will stay with).
  • Copy of round-trip flight itinerary.
  • A prepaid envelope from FedEx, UPS, or USPS with a tracking number and completed return address label.
  • For non-U.S. citizens, two copies of your Green Card or residency visa.
  • For business visas, an invitation from an Egyptian company and a letter from your employer on company letterhead, addressed to the embassy and detailing your employment status, length of service, places you will visit, and how long you will stay.
  • For student visas, a student enrollment letter valid for more than six months after you enter Egypt.
  • Fee payment.
  • Health Insurance. Although not required for the visa, we recommend purchasing international medical insurance to cover accidents, injuries, and illnesses while traveling in Egypt.  International medical insurance from GeoBlue can be purchased from Visa Supply online through the following link: ⇒Order Now.

The embassy fees to obtain tourist and business visas are $27 for a single stay up to 30 days and $62 for a multiple-entry visa for several 30-day visits.  San Diego-based tourists and business travelers can also get a five-year visa with multiple three-month stays for $702.  If you apply by mail, the embassy only accepts cashier’s checks from a U.S. Bank payable to the Consulate of Egypt.  If you pay with cash in person, exact change is required.  The five-year visa also requires a cashier’s check.

Whether applying in person or by mail, the embassy stated, it takes at least 10 business days to process your application (although we recommend applying at least 4 weeks in advance of your trip if applying through a consulate or the embassy).  You do not need an appointment to apply in person at the Los Angeles consulate during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 1:00 pm).  If applying by mail, provide express mail or certified mail (pre-addressed pre-stamped envelope) for the return of the passports and other documents.  The consulate is located at:

Consulate of Egypt
Attn: Visa Section
6300 Wilshire Blvd., Suite # 1890
Los Angeles, CA 90048

A complete list of requirements and fees for each type of visa can be found on the consulate website at https://www.egyconsulatela.com/visa.

 

Option 3: Apply Upon Arrival

While the Egyptian government recommends passengers obtain a visa through the consulate in their country of residence to ensure admittance to Egypt, most visitors can obtain an emergency visa at the airport when they arrive. “Kindly note that Egyptian customs have the right to deny entry at the airport if necessary,” the government stated.

Citizens of the United States and most other countries can obtain a renewable single-entry 30-day tourist visa on arrival at Egyptian airports for a 25 USD fee, according to the U.S. State Department (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Egypt.html).  A multiple entry visa is also obtainable for 60 USD.

Requirements include:

  • Holding a passport valid for more than six months upon arrival.
  • Non-U.S. citizens residing in the United States must possess a U.S. green card valid for more than six months.
  • Confirm with your airline that a visa is not required for you to board the plane.
  • Canadian passport holders can only acquire visa on arrival through the Egyptian consulate for their jurisdiction.

Passports holders who are on the list of countries requiring pre-approval also cannot acquire a visa upon arrival and must follow a different, two-stage process. (Pre-approval countries and their citizens’ process for applying for a visa can be found at https://egyptembassy.net/consular-services/visas-travel/visa-requirements/#visa-arrival).  It takes at least six to eight weeks to complete the first stage of obtaining a pre-approval visa, and then another roughly 10 days to complete the second stage.

 

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in San Diego or anywhere in Southern California and have difficulty applying for a visa for Egypt, or require assistance with any part of the visa process, you can call our office at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment online at the link on this page.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Egypt visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the government of Egypt.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans.  We provide the following Egypt visa services for our customers in San Diego:

  • Egypt Tourist Visa
  • Egypt Business Visa
  • Egypt Diplomatic Visa
  • Egypt Official Visa
  • Egypt Medical Insurance
  • Egypt Hotel Accommodations
  • Egypt Flight Tickets
  • Egypt Tour Packages