Egypt Visa for British Citizens
Travellers should never miss an opportunity to visit Egypt. Lucky are those who plan Egypt trips amidst their schedules. Visiting the world's ancient wonders and monuments or exploring the desert adventures in Egypt requires a valid and appropriate visa. Egypt offers visa free entry only for the citizens of certain countries, except them all the other citizens must acquire an Egypt visa to enter Egypt, despite the travel reasons.
The African country Egypt has various stunning sights to see and beautiful white sand beaches to enjoy a relaxing vacation. Tourism isn’t the only reason that attracts travellers to Egypt. Every individual travelling to Egypt has their reasons to visit the country, some travel for leisure and some travel for business meetings, but all have got to get a valid visa unless they are exempted from an Egypt visa. British citizens visiting Egypt must have a proper and valid Egypt visa. The Egypt visa has become a necessary travel document for British citizens, and they do not have the option of skipping it.
Egypt Visa for British Citizens
Regardless of the reason for the visit and length of stay, British citizens should obtain an Egypt visa. Selecting the right visa can be a challenging task because each category of Egypt visa differs in its eligibility criterion, validity, requirements, and cost. Understanding the general Egypt visa requirements is important before selecting a visa. An easy way to select a correct Egypt visa is to list down the travel requirements. It helps British citizens match their travel requirements with the Egypt visa. Ensure to check back before choosing the visa. Always look for the latest information because the requirements will never remain the same.
Types of Egypt Visas for British Citizens
Collecting general information about the categories of Egypt visas is a baseline process. The visas are categorized according to the travel motive. A few common types of Egypt visas are listed below.
Egypt e-visa does not require a physical visit to Egypt consulate or embassy to get a visa. The visa offers convenience by entitling the travellers to apply online and receive the visa in their email ID. The Egypt e-visa allows British citizens to stay for a period of 30 days for business and tourism.
Tourist visas can be used only for tourism and related trips to Egypt. It is issued at the Egypt consulate or embassy office in the United Kingdom. British citizens must submit their tourist visa application form and other documents at the Egypt embassy. The process usually takes more than three weeks.
Business visa allows British citizens to participate in business meetings, conferences and related activities in Egypt. British citizens applying for an Egypt business visa must not forget the business document, such as an agreement, cover letter or business invitation, along with the other required documents.
Visa-on-arrival is issued at the Egypt border crossing and international airport after the traveller’s arrival. British citizens can get their Egypt visa after arriving at Egypt airport. The process involves waiting in line, getting the visa application form and submitting the completed visa form with the required document at the visa counter.
Student visa is for students who are eager to pursue education in Egypt. The validity of an Egypt student visa depends on the years needed by the student to complete the academic course. Students applying for the visa are mandated to provide a medical certificate and acceptance letter from the institution.
Work visa gives a permit to reside and work in Egypt. A job offer in Egypt is mandatory to apply for an Egypt work visa. Mostly, the employer will initiate the Egypt work visa process for their employee. The visa process includes additional verification such as National Security Agency clearance and security check.
Transit visa is necessary for British citizens if they are using Egypt International Airport as a transit route to reach the desired country. Egypt transit visa is not required if the traveller decides to stay within the airport premises and the layover time is less than 48 hours. Stepping out of the Egypt airport mandates a valid visa.
Besides the above-mentioned Egypt visa types, the list also includes an Egypt medical visa for undertaking medical procedures and treatment in Egypt and an Egypt family, a relative or friend visit visa, a visitor visa, etc. Please note that the requirements for each Egypt visa type may vary, it is recommended to check out updated information.
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The Egypt embassy offers an array of visa categories. Travellers must be aware of the types of Egypt visas they decide to get before making an appointment with the Egypt embassy. Learn more at Egypt Embassy Visa Application Process.
Processing Time of Egypt Visa
All the given visa processing time durations are rough estimations and British citizens can mostly get their visa within the processing time. Sometimes, the visa process might exceed the anticipated time. Calculating the processing time of each category of Egypt visa types is a hard task. The process of Egypt e-visa takes 2-7 business days. Getting an Egypt visa from the embassy approximately takes 15-20 business days. British citizens applying for Egypt business or tourist visas through the embassy or consulate should consider submitting the visa application at least four weeks prior to the travel date.
The Egypt transit visa processing time is about 3-7 business days. Egypt work visas take more time to process and the average processing time for an Egypt work visa is one month. The application processing time for an Egypt visa on arrival can take a few minutes to hours. A standard processing time does not exist for an Egypt visa. Considering the processing time and submitting the visa application form accordingly is crucial to experience a worry-free Egypt visa process. Factors like an incomplete application process, additional security screening, missing to attach documents, etc., can delay the Egypt visa application process.
Securing an Egypt Visa from the UK
The application process of securing an Egypt visa from the United Kingdom differs for each category of Egypt visa type. As mentioned earlier, the Egypt e-visa is an online process and the other visa types which mandate applying through the embassy are manual processes. Follow the below steps for applying to an Egypt e-visa.
- Research and find a reputable Egypt e-visa online platform (read the reviews and services).
- Open the Egypt e-visa application form and have all the documents ready.
- Completely fill the application form, do not skip or avoid any entry field (ensure the provided details perfectly align with the travel documents).
- Select the visa types and upload all the required documents (usually, travellers will upload their photograph and passport copy).
- Verify all the provided details and check the uploaded documents.
- Submit the Egypt e-visa application form and proceed with the visa fee.
After the submission, travellers will get an Egypt e-visa application confirmation message. The application status tracker online provides the traveller’s Egypt e-visa application status. Application number or traveller’s passport details and date of birth are essential to check the application status. Regardless of the application outcome, travellers will be notified. If the Egypt e-visa application is rejected, find out the reason and address them before reapplying.
Applying for a visa through the Egypt embassy or consulate definitely requires physical visiting. Moreover, it is a lengthy process and sometimes mandates multiple visits to the embassy or consulate. British citizens obtaining an Egypt visa by visiting the Egypt embassy or consulate should know the below steps.
- Select an appropriate and suitable Egypt visa.
- Visit the Egypt embassy or consulate (located in the UK) to get the visa form.
- Provide all the details in the application form and avoid providing incorrect information or missing the entry field (first read the requirement and then fill out the required details).
- Check if all the entry fields are correctly answered and the information matches with the other travel and supporting documents.
- Stick a photograph to the application form and attach all the required documents (verify whether the photograph and all the documents meet the Egypt visa application requirements).
- After selecting the visa process, pay the fee and get the fee receipt.
- Add the fee receipt with the required documents and Egypt visa application form. Submit it at the embassy or consulate (sometimes an appointment is mandatory).
Contacting the embassy to check the application status is acceptable, but waiting till the provided visa processing time is necessary. The Egypt embassy or consulate will inform the applicant regarding the outcome of the visa application. The embassy usually takes 15-20 days or a week more for processing visa applications, British citizens are advised to plan the visa application submission accordingly.
A Convenient Egypt Visa Option for Nationals of United Kingdom
British citizens must go through a lengthy process and spend hours preparing all the required documents to get an Egypt visa. The whole visa application process was simplified and made online with the initiative of Egypt e-visa. The privilege of getting an Egypt visa without having to step outside the house made Egypt e-visa a convenient option for British citizens. Online flexibility is the key advantage of Egypt e-visa. Another notable benefit of the Egypt e-visa is the processing time, which is faster than that of other traditional Egypt visas.
The Egypt e-visa can be used for business and related activities and tourist visits. British citizens can complete the application process online by filling the visa application form and uploading the photograph and documents. Once verifying the provided information, British citizens can choose the desired payment method for the visa fee. After the approval travellers can receive it in their given email ID. The online efficiency entitles British citizens to get an Egypt visa within a short period.
In terms of visa fees, Egypt e-visa is a cost-effective option for British citizens. The cost of a multiple-entry Egypt e-visa is higher. The multiple-entry Egypt e-visa holders can enter and exit Egypt multiple times with a stay of 30 continuous days for each of their entries. The visa is valid for 180 days. A single-entry Egypt e-visa holder can only enter and exit Egypt one time with a stay of 30 days within its 90 days validity period. The Egypt e-visa extension option facilitates travellers to extend their authorized stay in Egypt only for valid reasons.
Process of Getting Egypt Visa on Arrival for British Citizens
Egypt visa on arrival is issued only after arriving at the Egypt airport. Getting an Egypt visa on arrival requires proper pre-preparations such as checking the eligibility and visa requirements, gathering the necessary documents and photographs, having adequate funds, etc. Follow the below process to apply for an Egypt visa upon arrival.
- After arrival at Egypt International Airport, British citizens must get to the visa banks or counter (mostly located in the airport’s arrival hall).
- Get the Egypt visa form and enter the details completely.
- Check the Egypt visa on arrival application form for accuracy and errors.
- Submit the application form at the visa counter along with the necessary documents (ensure all the documents are valid and correct).
- Cash is the only accepted payment for visa fees (euros, British pounds and US dollars are accepted).
- Wait at the airport for approval, mostly, the visa will get approved immediately, but it can also take a few minutes to hours.
- Remember to get the visa sticker and do not make the mistake of sticking it to the passport as soon as receiving it.
- Proceed to the passport control office for immigration procedures (follow the protocol).
- Handle the passport, visa and other travel documents to the officials for immigration check and after the checking, the officials will stick the visa and stamp the passport.
Often, waiting in a long queue becomes a part of the Egypt visa on arrival process and British citizens opting for the visa cannot skip the waiting. One of the major concerns about the Egypt visa on arrival process is that it does not guarantee pre-approval like the other Egypt visas. Another concern is the rejection, if the visa application is rejected the traveller’s entry will be denied and they are left with no other option than to fly back home. The validity of an Egypt visa on arrival is 30 days, but it comes with an extension option. Egypt visa on arrival is valid only for tourism activities and it is a single-entry visa.
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The capital of Egypt is situated in the northern parts of Egypt. The approximate population of Cairo is over 22 million. Cairo is home to the Nile River delta, the longest and famous river in Africa. Learn more at Guide to Cairo Egypt for First Time Tourists.
Check your eligibility for Online Egypt Visa and apply for Egypt e-Visa 5 (five) days in advance of your flight. Citizens of many countries including Argentine citizens, Czech citizens, Georgian citizens, Russian citizens and Swedish citizens can apply online for Egypt e-Visa.