eVisa
Tourist
Entry
Validity
30 days
- Processing
- 5–7 business days
- Total cost
- £82 (US$104)
Do UK citizens need a visa for Egypt?
Yes, most UK passport holders need a visa, but the official e-Visa covers a typical Egypt trip and can be arranged online before you fly.
Pre-checkedReviewed
Expert check before submission
5–7 business days
Processing time
+21k21K
Satisfied customers
Available now24/7
Expert human assistance
Egypt Visa for UK Citizens: e-Visa & Entry Rules
- Visa required · e-Visa
- Apply 7–90 days before arrival
- Decision in 5–7 business days
- Verified
Plusvisa is a private visa application service, not a government agency or embassy. Official government source: Egypt e-Visa Portal (Ministry of Interior), visa2egypt.gov.eg.
Table of contents
Passport validity
6 months from arrival
Needed for every route into Egypt
e-Visa window
Valid up to 3 months
You must enter Egypt within this time of approval
Not e-Visa eligible
BOTC & Crown Dependency passports
These must apply at the Egyptian Consulate in London
Three routes into Egypt
British Citizen passport
e-Visa
Apply online through the official Egypt e-Visa Portal before you fly. It covers travel across Egypt, not just the coast, as a single or multiple-entry tourist visa.
Short Sinai trips
Sinai-only entry stamp
A free stamp on arrival by air at Sharm El Sheikh for stays of 15 days or less at Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba. It doesn't cover the rest of Egypt.
BOTC & Crown Dependency
Embassy visa
These passports can't use the e-Visa. Apply in person or by post at the Egyptian Consulate General in London before you travel.
Which UK passport are you holding?
The UK issues more than one type of passport. Egypt treats them differently for the e-Visa.
British Citizen passport
e-Visa eligibleApply online through the official Egypt e-Visa Portal before you travel.
British Overseas Territories Citizen / Crown Dependency passport
Not eligible onlineCan't use the e-Visa. Apply in person or by post at the Egyptian Consulate General in London.
British travel document (e.g. Certificate of Travel)
Needs embassy clearanceApply at the Egyptian Consulate General. Holders need clearance from Egyptian authorities first, which can take up to 3 months.
Egypt e-Visa types and cost for UK citizens, in British Pounds
| e-Visa | Validity | Processing | Government fee | All-in with Plusvisa* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tourist eVisa | 30 days Multiple entry | 5–7 business days | US$65 ≈ £52 | ≈ £82 |
Tourist eVisa | 30 days Single entry | 5–7 business days | US$30 ≈ £24 | ≈ £47 |
* The government fee is the government's own charge, never refundable. All-in adds Plusvisa's service fee, per traveller; it is refunded if we cause a refusal.
The 30-day rule, and what it does not mean
A single-entry e-Visa or visa lets you stay in Egypt for up to 30 days. A multiple-entry version allows a combined 90 days across separate visits within its validity.
Tourist: 30 days per visit.
Arrive 1 March
21 of 30 days
1 Mar – 21 Mar: 21 of the 30 days this visa allows in one visit.
Single entry: Covers one trip to Egypt of up to 30 days from arrival. You can't leave and re-enter on the same visa.
Multiple entry: Lets you enter more than once and stay a combined total of up to 90 days within the visa's validity window.
Sinai-only stamp: Capped at 15 days and limited to Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba. It doesn't let you travel to Cairo, Luxor or elsewhere in Egypt.
Extensions: Apply at an Egyptian Passport and Immigration office before your visa or stamp runs out if you want to stay longer.
Overstaying: Leaving on an expired visa can mean a fine, especially once you're more than 14 days over. Sort out an extension before that happens.
Your document checklist
Six things to have ready before you start your application, as a UK applicant.
Passport bio page
Must be valid at least 6 months after your arrival date in Egypt and have a blank page, whichever route you use.
Passport-style photo
Plain white background, head and shoulders visible. For an embassy application in London, bring two 45mm x 35mm prints with your name written on the back.
Travel itinerary
Flight booking showing your arrival and departure dates.
Accommodation details
Hotel booking or address covering your whole stay.
Debit or credit card
A UK-issued Visa, Mastercard or other accepted card works for paying online on the e-Visa portal.
Only for some visa types
Supporting or invitation letter
Only if Business or family visits. An employer's letter for business trips, or an invitation letter from your host for family visits.
When should you apply?
Processing takes 5–7 business days. Enter your arrival date and we'll work backwards.
Processing
Standard5–7 business days
Pick your arrival date
- 1
Apply online
—
Form and uploads, about 30 min
- 2
Pay the fee
—
By card, on the portal
- 3
Processing
5–7 business days
Official estimate
- 4
Approval emailed
—
Keep a copy on your phone
- 5
Arrive in Egypt
—
Show the approval at the border
The portal requires applications at least 7 days before you fly. E-Visas stay valid to enter for up to 3 months, so applying much earlier than that isn't useful.
Four questions, 20 seconds
Are you travelling on a full British Citizen passport?
Is your passport valid for at least 6 months after you arrive, with a blank page free?
Will you enter through one of Egypt's listed e-Visa airports, ports or land borders?
Is your trip for tourism, or a business or family visit, rather than work, study or residence?
Result
Answer all four
Four quick checks of the rules that most often catch travellers out, and we'll tell you where you stand.
The application, step by step
Before you apply
- 1
Check you hold the right passport
Only full British Citizen passports can use the e-Visa. Other UK passport types must apply at the Egyptian Consulate General in London.
- 2
Check your passport meets Egypt's rules
It needs at least 6 months' validity from your arrival date and a blank page.
- 3
Decide if you even need the e-Visa
If you're flying straight to Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba for 15 days or less, you may only need the free Sinai entry stamp.
On the official portal
- 4
Register on the official portal
Create an account on the Egypt e-Visa Portal with your email address.
- 5
Apply at least 7 days before you fly
Sign in, choose your visa type, and fill in your passport and travel details. The portal requires applications at least 7 days before departure.
- 6
Pay online
Pay using a UK-issued Visa, Mastercard or other accepted debit or credit card.
After you apply
- 7
Download and print your e-Visa
Once approved by email, sign back in to download and print it.
- 8
Carry it to the border
Show the printed e-Visa with your passport to the immigration officer when you arrive.
- 9
Extend if you need to stay longer
Visit an Egyptian Passport and Immigration office before your visa expires if your trip runs long.
Questions UK travellers actually ask
No. Gov.uk confirms British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependency passport holders can't apply online. You need a visa in person or by post from the Egyptian Consulate General in London.
A single-entry visa allows up to 30 days. A multiple-entry visa allows a combined 90 days across separate trips within its validity.
Yes, if you fly there directly and stay 15 days or less, within Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba. Travelling further, or staying longer, means you need a full visa.
You can apply to extend at an Egyptian Passport and Immigration office before it expires. Leaving on an expired visa can mean a fine, especially once you're more than 14 days over.
Yes, at listed Egyptian airports you can buy a visa at a kiosk before immigration, in cash. It's still worth applying for the e-Visa first to avoid queues.
No. That requirement is for non-British nationals applying at the Egyptian Consulate in London, not for British citizens.
Yes. Unlike the Sinai-only stamp, the e-Visa covers travel across Egypt, not just the Red Sea resorts.
Children with their own passport generally need their own visa. Check with the Egyptian Consulate if your child is included on your passport.
Visa sorted
The things that make the first
48 hours easy, compared with home
Your UK plug won't fit. Here's what will.
Type C
Two round pins · 2.5 A
Type F
Two round pins · 16 A
Type C
Egypt uses type C and F sockets and your plugs are type G. A G-to-C adapter works for the whole trip.
Voltage
220 V · 50 Hz
Against 230 V · 50 Hz at home. Check the label on chargers and appliances: anything marked 100–240 V, 50/60 Hz works in both.
Pack: one type C adapter and a small power strip — hotel rooms rarely have more than two sockets.
Egypt drives on the right — the opposite of home
Compare traffic side:
Egypt · right-hand traffic — the opposite of United Kingdom
Getting around
Cairo, Luxor and Aswan are linked by domestic flights, sleeper and day trains, and Nile cruises. Within cities, ride-hailing apps are widely used and generally more reliable than hailing a taxi on the street.
Health and water
Drink bottled or filtered water rather than tap water, and carry sun protection and rehydration salts, especially outside the Cairo winter. Discuss standard travel vaccinations with a doctor before you go.
Dress and etiquette
Dress modestly at mosques, churches and other religious sites, covering shoulders and knees. Ask before photographing people, and avoid photographing military or police sites.
Egyptian Pounds, cash and cards
Egypt uses the Egyptian Pound (EGP).
E£
£1 ≈ E£61.7 · indicative mid-market rate, possibly a few days old
Cards and ATMs
ATMs are common in cities and tourist areas and mostly accept international cards. Hotels, larger shops and restaurants take cards, but smaller vendors, taxis and markets usually want cash.
Carry small notes
Keep a supply of small EGP notes for tipping (locally called baksheesh), taxis, and small purchases, since change can be hard to come by.
Exchange sensibly
Exchange money at banks, official exchange bureaus or your hotel rather than with street changers, and keep some exchange receipts if you plan to convert leftover cash back on departure.
Weather by month (Cairo)
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
6°7°9.3°12.6°16.8°19.8°21.4°21.7°19.7°16.8°12.4°8.2°
- Daytime high
- Grey row = night low
- Best time to go
- Daytime high
- Grey row = night low
- Best time to go
| Month | High, °C | Low, °C | Rain, mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| January · best | 18.2 | 6 | 8.1 |
| February · best | 20.4 | 7 | 6.8 |
| March · best | 24.8 | 9.3 | 6.8 |
| April · best | 29.2 | 12.6 | 9 |
| May | 33.9 | 16.8 | 0.3 |
| June | 37.3 | 19.8 | 0.3 |
| July | 38.5 | 21.4 | 0.3 |
| August | 38.1 | 21.7 | 0 |
| September | 35.3 | 19.7 | 0.3 |
| October · best | 30.5 | 16.8 | 4.7 |
| November · best | 24.9 | 12.4 | 16.8 |
| December · best | 19.9 | 8.2 | 6.5 |
Monthly averages. Source: NASA POWER climatology, 2001-2020.
January · ideal
The best window runs January, February, March, April, October, November and December.
High 18.2°CLow 6°CRain 8.1 mm
Sweet spot: Cairo has a hot desert climate. Winters (December to February) are mild and dry with cool evenings, spring and autumn are warm, and summer (June to August) is very hot with little rain. Most visitors prefer the cooler months from October to April.
One time zone
London
--:--:--
Cairo
--:--:--
How much to tip, in GBP
E£900(£14.60)
Restaurant bill
Even where a service charge is already added, a small extra cash tip is customary.
10–15%
on a E£900 bill: E£90 · £1.46
Hotel porter
Per bag.
E£20–E£50
£0.32–£0.81
Housekeeping
Per night, left in the room.
E£20–E£50
£0.32–£0.81
Tour guide
Per day, more for private guides.
E£100–E£200
£1.62–£3.24
Driver
Per day.
E£50–E£100
£0.81–£1.62
Taxi or ride-hail
Rounding up the fare is common; not obligatory.
0–10%
on a E£900 bill: E£0 · £0
Restroom attendant
Small change is expected at many public restrooms.
E£5–E£10
£0.08–£0.16
SIM, eSIM or roaming?
Local SIM
Local SIM card
≈ £2.43E£150
Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat or WE kiosks at the airport or in any town, with your passport Prices vary by data allowance; a passport is required to register the SIM.
eSIM
RecommendedTravel eSIM
≈ £7.87US$10
International eSIM apps or websites, bought online before you arrive Quick to set up and avoids queuing at the airport, but usually costs more per GB than a local SIM.
Roaming
Roaming on your home plan
Activate through your home network before departure Usually the most expensive option; check your provider's Egypt roaming rates first.
Get your Egypt e-Visa in about seven business days, without the portal headaches
Upload a phone photo and your passport, we check them against every rule above, submit, and send your approval to your inbox. From £47 all-in.
- Card payments by PayPal
- Fee refunded if we cause a refusal
- Support by email and WhatsApp