Rules of entry to Egypt for Russians in 2024

Egypt is considered one of the most popular destinations for Russian tourists. Only in 2023, more than 1.5 million citizens of the Russian Federation visited the country. This is a country inhabited by ancient secrets and legends, and the climate is dry and better tolerated by tourists. Prices for tours are one of the most affordable and start from 103 thousand rubles.

In Egypt, you can see the majestic pyramids of Giza, temples in Luxor and Karnak and numerous artifacts from the time of the pharaohs. And for beach lovers, resorts on the Red Sea are available, such as Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam.

In this article we will tell you what you need to visit Egypt in 2024.

Do Russians need a visa to Egypt?

Tourist visa can be issued in three ways: upon arrival, independently before the trip, in the consular department of the Embassy of Egypt in Moscow.

The easiest way to get a visa on arrival. To do this, you need to buy a visa stamp worth $ 25 at any bank branch of the airport. After that, you need to take her to passport control, where the border guard will check your documents and paste it. This visa is single-entry and is issued for 30 days.

To obtain an electronic visa, you need to fill out a questionnaire on a special portal and upload a copy of your passport. The questionnaire asks for data from your documents and contacts. After filling, you should pay a visa fee - $ 25 for a single entry and $ 60 for a multiple entry. Only bank cards of foreign banks are accepted for payment.

Approval of the visa takes about two days, and the answer comes via the specified email. Before flying to Egypt, the visa should be printed and then shown at passport control.

Another way to obtain an Egyptian visa is to apply for it in the consular department of the Embassy of Egypt in Moscow. Accepted here on weekdays from 10:00 to 13:00. The required documents include: passport, two color photos 3 × 4 cm on a white background, confirmation of registration in Russia, certificate from work or study, bank statement, hotel reservations and air tickets.

After submitting the documents, you should pay the visa fee and wait for registration within 5-7 days.

You can extend the visa free of charge by applying with a passport to the local migration and passport service - gavazat. An employee of the Gavazat puts a seal in the passport and writes down the number up to which you can be in the country.

There is a fine for exceeding the period of stay in Egypt. For overlays up to three months, you will have to pay 1517 EGPе (2776 е), then 500 EGPе (915 е) for each subsequent three months. This can be done in advance at the airport or at the airport on departure.

What documents are needed to enter Egypt?

To visit the country of the pyramids, Russians will need a foreign passport with a validity of at least 6 months, a visa and a migration card. This is a short questionnaire, which is usually issued on the plane or at passport control. In the document you need to enter your data from the passport and the flight number that you fly.

We also strongly recommend that you do not neglect health insurance. The average cost of insurance will be for a tourist about 2-3 thousand rubles, but will save your nerves and money in case of illness.

What documents are needed to travel to Egypt with children?

To enter Egypt with children, you will need a child’s passport and a separate visa. But if the parents have a foreigner of the old sample, then the child can enter by registration in it, a visa for it is also not required.

If a minor child leaves unaccompanied by parents / guardians, for example, with a grandmother, brother, counselor, etc., in addition to a passport, he must have a notarized consent to leave. The document must be the original, which indicates the date of departure and the state he intends to visit.

How to get to Egypt from Russia

Direct flights to Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh and Cairo are from many Russian cities. The flight from Moscow or St. Petersburg will take about 6 hours, and the cost of tickets starts from 20 thousand rubles one way.

Due to the sanctions, only Russian Unionpay cards work in Egypt at the terminals of Arab African International Bank (AAIB) and Banque Misr. However, in practice, payments are not always made. Take your dollars in cash and exchange them for Egyptian pounds.