Egypt Tourist Visa for Indians: The Consular Master Guide (2026)

Yes, but strictly conditionally. Indian citizens can obtain a 30-day Visa on Arrival ($25 USD) at Cairo (CAI), Hurghada (HRG), and Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) ONLY IF they hold a valid and previously used visa or permanent residence permit from the United States, United Kingdom, Schengen Area member states, Japan, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand, OR hold a valid residence permit from a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) state. Indian tourists without these credentials must secure an e-Visa or embassy visa prior to departure.

The only official sovereign portal operated by the Ministry of Interior and Department of Passports, Emigration and Nationality is visa2egypt.gov.eg. Scores of commercial clone portals charge $50 to $90 USD markups above the legal fee. Ensure you only remit payment on visa2egypt.gov.eg.

The statutory consular fee for a single-entry Egypt tourist visa (both online e-Visa and Visa on Arrival) is $25 USD (approx. ₹2,100 INR). A multiple-entry e-Visa costs $60 USD (approx. ₹5,000 INR). At Egyptian airport bank counters, the VoA fee must be paid strictly in physical US Dollar cash.

Under the Sinai Resort Exemption, tourists arriving directly at Sharm El Sheikh (SSH), Taba, or Saint Catherine airports can receive a free 15-day 'Sinai Only' entry stamp. However, this stamp is legally restricted exclusively to the South Sinai coastal strip (Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, Taba). It CANNOT be used to travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, or Giza. If you plan to see the Pyramids, you MUST hold a standard $25 USD Egyptian visa.

Airport bank counters (Banque Misr, National Bank of Egypt) at Cairo, Hurghada, and Luxor require payment strictly in cash US Dollars ($25 USD) or Euros (€25). Credit card machines at these kiosks frequently experience connectivity downtime. Bank tellers strictly inspect dollar notes; bills that are torn, dog-eared, marked with ink, or printed prior to 2013 will be rejected.

A standard single-entry Egypt tourist visa (e-Visa or VoA) is valid for 90 days from issuance and permits a maximum continuous stay of up to 30 days from your date of arrival. A multiple-entry e-Visa is valid for 180 days and allows multiple stays of up to 30 days per entry.

Egyptian e-Visa processing takes approximately 7 business days, but administrative delays are frequent. Applying at least 15 to 20 calendar days prior to your scheduled departure from India is strongly recommended to accommodate manual security reviews.

No. Operating or importing camera drones into Egypt is strictly illegal under Egyptian Aviation Law No. 216/2017 without explicit prior authorization from the Ministry of Defence. Customs officers at Cairo International Airport will seize any drone found in passenger luggage, and unauthorized drone operation can lead to arrest and prison sentences.

Under Egyptian immigration law, all foreign nationals must register their address with the police within 7 days of arrival. When staying at commercial hotels, licensed Nile cruise ships, or registered resorts, the hotel management automatically registers your passport with tourist police authorities upon check-in, requiring no individual effort on your part.

Egypt allows a statutory 14-day grace period following the expiration of your 30-day visa. If you overstay beyond the 14-day grace period, you must pay statutory administrative fines (starting at approximately 1,500 to 3,000 EGP, scaling with length of overstay) at the Passport and Immigration Administration (Mogamma) in Cairo or at airport departure counters before boarding.