Egypt Visa for UK Citizens (2026): e-Visa, Visa on Arrival, Sinai Stamp and Entry Rules

karofttours • September 29, 2026

Egypt Visa for UK Citizens (2026): e-Visa, Visa on Arrival, Sinai Stamp and Entry Rules

Yes. British passport holders normally need a visa to enter Egypt. You can apply for an e-Visa online before you travel, buy a visa on arrival at the airport, or, if you're only staying in the South Sinai resorts, use the free Sinai entry stamp.

A single-entry tourist visa costs $30 whether you get it online or at the airport. It allows a stay of up to 30 days. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your arrival date and have at least one blank page.

Do UK Citizens Need a Visa for Egypt?

The UK government's foreign travel advice for Egypt says British passport holders travelling to Egypt normally need a visa. The United Kingdom is also on the official e-Visa portal's list of eligible countries, and the application covers England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland alike.

The main exception is a short trip to the Sinai resorts, covered below. Otherwise, plan on arranging a visa.

Your Options as a British Traveller

Option 1: The e-Visa (recommended)

The e-Visa is issued through the Egyptian government's official portal at visa2egypt.gov.eg. It is the only official e-Visa site, so avoid look-alike websites that charge extra.

Cost: $30 for a single entry, $65 for multiple entries. You pay by credit or debit card, and the charge is in US dollars, so check whether your card adds a foreign transaction fee. A small service or banking charge may also apply.
Validity: A single-entry e-Visa is valid for 90 days from issue, and you can stay up to 30 days once you enter. A multiple-entry e-Visa is valid for 180 days, with up to 30 days per visit.
Timing: Apply at least seven days before you fly.
What you need: a passport valid for at least six months, a scan of the photo page, an email address, your itinerary and hotel details, and a payment card.
At the airport: Bring a printed copy. Immigration may ask to see your passport, the e-Visa, your itinerary and your hotel booking.
Same passport, one visa each. The e-Visa is linked to the passport number you applied with, and every traveller, including children, needs their own.
The fee is non-refundable, even if the application is rejected.

Enter your details exactly as they appear in your passport, because mismatches can delay or derail an application.

Option 2: Visa on arrival

British citizens can buy a single-entry, 30-day visa at Egyptian airports. Go to the bank counter in the arrivals hall before passport control, pay and have the sticker placed in your passport.

Cost: $30 since March 1, 2026, up from $25.
Payment: cash. US dollars are the safest currency to carry, with small bills or exact change if possible, since counters can't always make change.
Best for: last-minute trips.
Not available: multiple entry. For that you'll need an e-Visa.

The digital visa on arrival at Cairo Airport

Since August 1, 2026, Cairo International Airport has been piloting a digital visa on arrival that replaces the sticker with a QR code. It costs $36: the $30 visa fee plus a $6 charge for issuing the QR code. You can generate the code through the official portal, a mobile app or an arrivals-hall kiosk, and it expires 48 hours after generation. Paper stickers are still available during the pilot, and other airports such as Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Luxor still use the paper sticker.

Option 3: The free Sinai entry stamp

The FCDO describes what it calls the "Sinai Tax" exemption: you don't need an entry visa for up to 15 days as long as you stay within the Sinai Peninsula. In practice, this means British holidaymakers flying to Sharm El Sheikh and staying in Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba receive a free entry permission stamp on arrival.

The catch is the limits. If your stay in Sinai will exceed 15 days, or you plan to leave the Sinai Peninsula, including flying onward from mainland airports such as Cairo or Hurghada, you need a full entry visa. If there is any chance you'll add the Pyramids or a Nile cruise, buy the visa instead.

e-Visa or Visa on Arrival: Which Should You Choose?

Since both cost $30, the real difference is convenience and certainty.

Choose the e-Visa if you can plan a week ahead, you're travelling with family, or you're arriving in peak season. It's confirmed before you fly, and you skip the visa counter.
Choose visa on arrival if you've booked at the last minute or you'd rather not deal with online forms. Bring US dollars in cash.
Choose the multiple-entry e-Visa if you plan to leave and re-enter Egypt within six months, for example a side trip to Jordan.
Choose the Sinai stamp if you're staying only in Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba for 15 days or less.

Passport Rules for British Travellers

Your passport must have an expiry date at least six months after the day you arrive in Egypt.
You need at least one blank page for the entry stamp.
Don't assume your passport is fine because it hasn't expired. A passport with less than six months left can get you refused boarding at the airport.
Each child, including infants, needs their own passport and their own visa.
British passport holders from the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies are flagged by the FCDO as unable to apply online, so contact the Egyptian Embassy in London before you book.
The FCDO also warns that you may be denied entry if your gender expression or physical appearance doesn't match the sex marker or photo in your passport.
When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement.

Extending Your Stay and Overstaying

Tourists can usually extend their stay through a passport and immigration office in Egypt, and you should do it before your visa expires. Leaving after your visa has expired can result in a fine at the airport. Extension and fine amounts are paid in Egyptian pounds and change from time to time, so confirm the current figures locally. See our guide to Egypt visa costs for more.

The January 2027 Fee Change

Prime Ministerial Decree No. 2553 of 2026 raises a fixed fee built into every entry visa from $12 to $15 starting January 1, 2027. The Egyptian Travel Agents Association indicates this could take the single-entry visa to about $33, but the official portal hadn't published new prices as of late September 2026. Check the portal for the price on the day you apply.

Is Egypt Safe? What the UK Government Says

The FCDO does not advise against travel to Egypt's main tourist areas. Its regional advice is specific:

Advises against all travel to within 20km of the Egypt-Libya border (except the town of El Salloum, where it advises against all but essential travel) and to North Sinai.
Advises against all but essential travel to the northern part of South Sinai, beyond the St Catherine-Nuweiba road, except the coastal areas along the west and east of the peninsula, and to the Hala'ib Triangle and Bir Tawil Trapezoid.
Describes travel to the Red Sea tourist areas in the southern Sinai Peninsula as generally low risk, with routine security checks at resorts such as Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam.

Two practical points. First, your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice, so make sure your policy covers your itinerary and planned activities. Second, sign up for FCDO email alerts, and check the current advice again shortly before you fly, because it changes.

Common Mistakes British Travellers Make

Using an unofficial website for the e-Visa. Use only visa2egypt.gov.eg.
Passport validity. Six months from arrival, with a blank page.
Assuming the Sinai stamp covers the Pyramids. It doesn't.
Turning up without dollars for a paper visa on arrival.
Using a different passport from the one on your e-Visa.
Relying on old prices. Fees rose in 2026 and another small increase is expected in January 2027.
Skipping insurance. Emergency and intensive care facilities in Egypt can be limited outside major cities and tourist areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do UK citizens need a visa for Egypt?
Yes, in most cases. The exception is a stay of up to 15 days within the Sinai resorts, where you receive a free entry stamp.

How much is an Egypt visa for British citizens?
$30 for a single entry, whether you use the e-Visa or the paper visa on arrival. A multiple-entry e-Visa is $65, and the Cairo digital visa is $36.

Can I pay for the visa on arrival in pounds?
Sources disagree on which currencies the counters accept. US dollars in cash are the safest choice.

How long can I stay?
Up to 30 days per entry on the standard tourist visa.

How early should I apply for the e-Visa?
At least seven days before departure.

Do my children need their own visa?
Yes. Each traveller, including children, needs their own passport and visa.

Is Sharm El Sheikh included in the free stamp?
Yes, along with Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba, for up to 15 days, as long as you stay within the Sinai Peninsula.

Is it safe to travel to Egypt from the UK?
The FCDO advises against travel to specific regions, but not to the main tourist destinations. Check the latest advice before you go and make sure your insurance covers your plans.

Ready to See Egypt?

Once your visa is sorted, the best part begins. Egypt Karoft Tours arranges private tours across Egypt, from Cairo and Giza to Luxor and Aswan, with airport pickup so you're met right after immigration.

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This guide is general information based on sources available at the time of writing. Visa rules, fees and travel advice change, so always confirm current requirements with the official e-Visa portal, the Egyptian Embassy in London or GOV.UK before you travel.