Visa to Egypt for US Citizens
Most travellers stepping into Egypt to explore its famed monuments and Nile River will need an Egypt visa. The country offers an array of visa categories, but travellers cannot opt for all of them. The nationality of the travellers determines the type of Egypt visa they can choose for the Egypt trip. Not every traveller is required to get an Egypt visa for their trip to Egypt, the country permits visa-free entry to the nationals of particular countries.
The citizens of America need an Egypt visa regardless of their travel purpose. The country offers Egypt e-visa, traditional visa, Egypt visa-on-arrival and other visa category options for American citizens. Tracking down the visa requirements and applying for the appropriate Egypt visa can be a tedious process, but skipping it is never an option. US citizens must look into the documents required, visa cost and validity, application processing time and extension or renewal options when choosing the right Egypt visa.
Is an Egypt Visa Mandatory for American Citizens?
All the nationals of the United States of America must have a proper Egypt visa that is totally in line with their Egypt trip. Despite the US citizen’s travel reasons, the Egypt visa requirement remains mandatory. Securing an Egypt visa is simplified by the availability of visa on arrival and e-visa options. US citizens can enjoy the flexibility of applying for an Egypt visa online and receiving an approved visa via email without leaving their houses.
Egypt Visa Types for US Citizens
As mentioned earlier, American citizens can choose any of the Egypt visa types which they are eligible for to enter Egypt. An important aspect is that when selecting an Egypt visa make sure that it meets all the travel needs and budget. Gathering all the visa-related information makes the process of acquiring an Egypt visa easier.
Egypt e-visa online offers a hassle-free application process, fast approval and minimal paperwork. The application process is fully online and the visa is valid for business trips and tourist activities in Egypt. Egypt traditional business or tourist visas can be obtained by applying at the embassy or consulate office in the USA. The visa usually requires a physical visit, lengthy paperwork and 15-20 days of visa processing time. Egypt visa on arrival facility is granted only at a few Egypt International Airports. The visa counters or banks in the airport may have a long queue during the tourist peak seasons or vacation times.
Egypt transit visa is mandatory for getting on the connecting flights at the Egypt airport. However, the visa is unnecessary if the transit or layover time in Egypt airport is 48 hours or less. Egypt work permit or visa is for US citizens starting or continuing their job in Egypt. The visa is mostly accompanied by a residence permit which gives legal permission to stay and work in Egypt. Egypt diplomatic visa is issued only for diplomatic passport holders. The visa entitles the diplomatic passport holders to official or diplomatic activities in Egypt. Egypt student visa is a must-needed visa for American citizens if they are travelling to Egypt for academic reasons. The visa mandates a medical or health certificate, acceptance letter and other documents.
American citizens are also eligible for the Sinai Resort Permit Stamp. The entry stamp is free and it is issued only at a few Egypt airports and it entitles the US citizens to stay in the Sinai resort areas or zone in Egypt for 14-15 days. US citizens planning for medical procedures or treatment in Egypt must get an Egypt medical visa. A consent letter from a licensed doctor and all the health documents must be submitted to Egypt medical visa process. Visiting a friend or relative visa entitles US citizens to visit or stay with relatives or friends who are residing in Egypt. Out of all the Egypt visa types the nationals of the US can go for the visa type that benefits their travel plans and purpose.
Why is Egypt e-visa a Convenient Option for American Citizens?
The beneficial factors of Egypt e-visa make it a convenient option for US citizens. It is the best choice for all the citizens of over 50 countries including the USA who can opt for an Egypt e-visa. Below are the few benefits of Egypt e-visa.
- The application form and process are entirely online (no visiting the consulate or embassy).
- Minimal paperwork and documentation.
- An option to choose a single or multiple-entry e-visa category.
- The application process is quick and effortless (processing time is mostly 3-7 days).
- Cost effective than the other Egypt visa types.
- Email delivery (can receive the Egypt e-visa via email).
- Availability of extension option (but e-visa extension is not an online process).
- Saves a lot of effort and time.
The Egypt e-visa should be acquired before the start of the Egypt trip. So, e-visa provides pre-approval and US citizens can get the Egypt e-visa before the travel which eventually offers a relaxed journey and smooth entry at Egypt port. The above-mentioned factors make Egypt e-visa a convenient visa choice for US citizens.
Egypt e-visa Validity Period
The Egypt e-visa validity period and length of stay are different for both e-visa types. While choosing the e-visa category, remember to check the validity specified to the particular category. The validity period of a single-entry Egypt e-visa is three months (90 days) and the length of stay is 30 days. Using the visa US citizens can enter and exit Egypt once. The multiple-entry e-visa category will be the perfect choice for frequent visits because, within its 180 days (six months) of validity it facilitates multiple entries to Egypt. The best aspect is that for each entry the e-visa holder can stay for up to 30 days.
Egypt Visa Extension
US citizens can extend their Egypt visa only if the Egypt visa they choose is eligible for an extension. Before choosing an Egypt visa make sure that it is eligible for an extension. The Egypt visa extension process, fee, document required and extension duration granted entirely depends on the type of Egypt visa chosen by the American citizens. The documents such as an accommodation proof and financial proof to assist the extended stay days in Egypt are crucial. Explaining the reason for the extension is a part of the process. It is recommended to apply for a visa extension at least a week prior to the expiry date of the current Egypt visa because the visa extension process might take 3-7 days. Applying early helps to avoid overstaying and paying penalties.
The Egypt e-visa offers extension for emergencies and valid reasons. The e-visa extension process involves submitting an application form, providing the document and paying the e-visa extension fee. It is mandatory that the e-visa extension application process must be initiated within the expiry of the current Egypt e-visa. Also, the extension application or request needs to be submitted at the immigration office by visiting the office physically. Upon the approval of the request an additional 30 days of stay in Egypt will be granted. Leaving Egypt within the extended authorized days is advisable because further visa extension is not possible and overstaying might cause penalties and legal issues.
READ MORE:
Egypt visa regulations require owner of an authorized e-Visa to print out the PDF approval paperwork after it has been issued. While it may appear that this is no longer essential in the digital era, you cannot just present a snapshot of the e-Visa on your mobile device. Learn more at Is It Necessary to Carry Egypt e-Visa Printout.
Egypt e-visa from the USA
Even though the application process for an Egypt e-visa is simple, there are a few steps to follow. The first step is to analyse whether the Egypt e-visa is the right choice and to make the right decision. Knowing the e-visa requirements is important. American citizens can opt for an Egypt e-visa if they have planned a short tourism or business trip to Egypt. Also, the stay in Egypt cannot exceed 30 days (Egypt e-visa authorized stay duration). US citizens who agree to the Egypt e-visa requirement must keep ready the below listed documents.
- Valid passport (6 months of validity is a must and 2 blank pages)
- Travel itinerary
- Accommodation proof
- Two or three recent photos (check the Egypt visa photo requirements)
- Passport photocopy
- Financial proof
- Return tickets
After getting all the documents ready, complete an Egypt e-visa application form online by visiting any of the trustworthy Egypt e-visa portals. Mostly, the application form requires personal information such as full name, gender, date of birth, citizenship, etc., and a separate section for passport and travel details. All the information must be accurate and valid, if not, the e-visa application will be rejected. Following the process, upload the photo and passport copy and after checking them submit the application form. Choose any valid payment method from the given options and pay the Egypt e-visa fee. Use a valid credit or debit card and check the funds before making the payments. It helps to avoid unsuccessful payments due to insufficient cash.
Egypt e-visa Processing Time
The visa processing time is approximately 3-7 days for an Egypt e-visa, however, there might also be potential delays that extend the visa processing time. In the meantime, US citizens can use their e-visa application ID or number or passport details to check the Egypt e-visa application status online. Submit the visa application form 6-7 days before the departure date to avoid last-minute rejection or delay in obtaining a visa.
Egypt Visa on Arrival for Nationals of the United States of America
Only the nationals of a few countries are entitled to get an Egypt visa upon their arrival and American citizens are among them. The visa choice is best for unexpected tourism trips to Egypt because the visa on arrival is valid only for tourism trips. The validity and authorised stay of the visa are the same which is 30 days.
The visa preparation processes include gathering the appropriate documents, arranging cash, and verifying the visa-on-arrival facilities at the preferred Egypt airport. All of these processes contribute to a seamless visa on arrival application process. Egypt visas are only given at certain Egypt International Airports, therefore select the airport appropriately. The Egypt visa on arrival application procedure may be completed in three or four steps. Receive a visa application form from the visa bank or counter (located within the airport's arrival hall), fill out all of the details and attach a photo, then submit the completed application form with all required papers to the visa counter and pay the fee.
US nationals can only pay the visa fee in US dollars, euros or British pounds. Credit and debit card payments will not be accepted. The risk concerns connected with the visa on arrival procedure include standing in a line to collect the visa form and staying at the airport for visa approval, which is normally given within minutes but can take hours. During the holiday and high tourist seasons, the waiting time and visa application procedure may become difficult. The risk factor is visa rejection or denial, in such circumstances, US residents should return home as quickly as possible.
Managing Egypt Visa Rejection
Visa rejection can be tough to handle, mostly people will get confused and worried during such times. Managing the situation properly and correctly can ease all the worries and get the trip back on track. If an Egypt visa is rejected or denied leave the worry behind and analyse the situation and note down the reasons. Some common errors are submitting invalid documents, incomplete application form, poor travel history, etc. Mostly, the applicants will receive an explanation letter stating the visa rejection reason. Identify the issues and correct them and then start the re-applying process. Provide accurate and correct documents.
READ MORE:
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. It is the place where the Nile River is split into two branches, namely the Rosetta and Damietta. 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 US citizens, Brazilian citizens, Croatian citizens, Russian citizens and Peruvian citizens can apply online for Egypt e-Visa.