Passports & Visas for Sharm el Sheikh
| It is important that you check your passport before making any holiday booking, thi smay mean that you turn your house upside down before you can find that elusive little red book. Please make sure that your passport is in good condition as most airlines are very strict and have the right to refuse travel if they believe that the condition of your passport will not let you enter the country of your chosen destination. If in doubt get it rebewed, it is a lot less expensive than loosing out on a holiday. |  |
All nationalities are required to have a passport valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of travel. All visitors to Egypt (except those from the EU and the USA) must register with the local police within one week of their arrival, although this service is usually carried out by your hotel. Nationals travelling from the UK, EU and USA do not need a visa to enter Sharm el Sheikh, however if you intend to stay longer than 14 days then a visa is required. If you are a non UK or EU national please check with the Egyptian Consulate before travelling.
Entry without a visa will limit your stay to the Sinai penisula and therefore if you wish to travel further afield you will require a visa that can be obtained on entry at the airport. The cost of this tourist visa is approximately £15. A visa is required if you wish to travel outside of Sinai or leave the immediate beach area and go further out to sea.
You do not need a visa to visit Mount Sinai, St Catherine's monastary, sunset quad biking, seascope boat trip, Tiran Island boat trip, jeep safari, Stargazing in the desert, Coloured Canyon, Dahab or Nuweiba. If you think you will need a visa then we suggest that you buy one on your arrival at the airport otherwise it will mean that you will have to either return to the airport or ask your holiday rep to organise one for you (where they will normally add a handling fee for doing so).
If you know that you do not need a visa then on your arrival simply write "Sinai Only" on the back of your landing card and head straight for passport control. Be aware that tour reps wil try to "encourage" you to buy a visa when you arrive at the aiport. If you wish to buy your visa on arrival head for the desks either left or right as you enter the airport which are clearly maked with $15 sign. The visa is a silvery insert which clearly states $15 on it. If you do obtain a visa from a tour reptry to haggle the price as they will add their fee on to the cost of your visa.