Egypt is one of the world's most popular destinations for British travellers, offering ancient monuments, Red Sea resorts, desert landscapes, Nile cruises, and historic cities. If you are planning a holiday from the United Kingdom and hold a full British citizen passport, it is important to understand Egypt's visa requirements before travelling.
British passport holders normally need a visa to enter Egypt. Depending on your itinerary, you may be able to obtain an Egyptian eVisa before departure, purchase a visa on arrival at an approved airport, or use a special visa-free entry arrangement when visiting certain resorts in the Sinai Peninsula for a short stay.
This guide explains the main Egypt visa options for UK passport holders, including eligibility, passport requirements, application methods, costs, permitted stays, arrival procedures, and useful travel planning advice.
Yes. In most circumstances, British passport holders travelling to Egypt for tourism need an Egyptian visa.
For ordinary holidays, the main options are:
Apply for an Egyptian tourist eVisa before travelling.
Obtain a tourist visa on arrival at an eligible Egyptian airport.
Use the limited free entry permission available for certain short stays in the Sinai resort area.
Apply through an Egyptian consular mission when your circumstances require a different type of visa.
The option you choose depends largely on where you are travelling, how long you intend to stay, and whether you plan to visit destinations outside the permitted Sinai resort area.
For example, a traveller flying directly to Cairo for a sightseeing holiday would normally need a standard Egyptian tourist visa. Someone flying to Sharm El Sheikh and remaining in the qualifying Sinai resort area for no more than 15 days may be able to enter without purchasing a standard tourist visa.
There is no single visa procedure that applies to every UK traveller. Egypt provides several routes for British passport holders.
The Egyptian tourist eVisa is an electronic visa that can be obtained before travelling.
The official Egyptian eVisa system lists the United Kingdom among the nationalities eligible to apply online. Tourist eVisas include single-entry and multiple-entry options, with the fee determined by the visa type.
An eVisa can be particularly convenient if you want to arrange your entry permission before leaving the UK.
A typical tourist eVisa application involves providing information such as:
Full name
Date of birth
Nationality
Passport details
Intended travel information
Accommodation details
Other information requested during the application
After approval, travellers should keep a copy of the eVisa available for their journey and present it together with their passport when required.
British citizens can also obtain a tourist visa on arrival at approved Egyptian airports.
The visa on arrival is generally valid for a stay of up to 30 days. The current UK travel guidance states that the visa costs US$30 and is payable in cash.
Travellers arriving at airports offering this service can use the designated visa facilities before proceeding to immigration.
Although obtaining a visa on arrival can be convenient, some travellers prefer arranging an eVisa before departure. Having the visa arranged in advance can make the arrival process more predictable and reduce the need to deal with visa procedures after a long flight.
There is an important exception for some British tourists visiting the Sinai Peninsula.
If you fly into Sharm El Sheikh and stay for less than 15 days within the qualifying resort areas, you may not need to purchase a standard Egyptian tourist visa.
This arrangement applies to stays in places such as:
Sharm El Sheikh
Dahab
Nuweiba
Taba
Eligible travellers can receive a free entry permission stamp on arrival at Sharm El Sheikh Airport.
However, this is not a general visa exemption for Egypt.
If you decide to travel outside the permitted resort area, or if your stay exceeds the applicable 15-day limit, you should obtain the appropriate Egyptian visa.
This distinction is especially important for travellers who initially plan a beach holiday but later decide to visit other parts of Egypt.
The Egyptian eVisa is one of the most convenient options for British tourists who want to arrange their visa before departure.
The Egyptian electronic visa system includes the United Kingdom among eligible nationalities and provides tourist visa options for eligible travellers.
A single-entry tourist eVisa and a multiple-entry tourist eVisa are available through the electronic system, subject to the applicable requirements and approval.
Applying online before your trip can have several practical advantages.
You can:
Complete the application before leaving the UK.
Avoid relying on a visa purchase at the airport.
Have your travel authorization arranged before departure.
Keep a digital and printed copy of the approved visa.
Check your application information before travelling.
For families or travellers with a detailed itinerary, arranging visas before departure can also make travel preparation easier.
A visa on arrival is another option for many British tourists.
When arriving at an eligible Egyptian airport, you can purchase the visa before reaching the immigration counters. The current UK government guidance states that the tourist visa on arrival costs US$30 and is valid for up to 30 days.
Because payment is required in cash, travellers should plan accordingly.
It is also worth remembering that you do not have to purchase a visa from an airport agent. Official visa facilities are available for eligible travellers, and unofficial agents may charge additional fees.
If you are unsure whether your airport offers visa-on-arrival facilities, check the arrangements for your specific arrival airport before travelling.
Before travelling, check that your British passport satisfies Egypt's entry requirements.
For a normal tourist visit, your passport should generally:
Be valid for at least six months after your arrival date.
Have at least one blank page.
Be in good condition.
Match the personal information used in your visa application.
Passport validity is particularly important. Even if your passport is still technically valid on the date of departure from Britain, it may not meet Egypt's six-month validity requirement.
Always calculate passport validity based on your arrival date in Egypt rather than simply checking whether the passport has not yet expired.
Even after receiving an eVisa, travellers should prepare their supporting travel documents.
It is sensible to carry:
Your valid British passport.
A printed copy of your Egyptian eVisa, if you applied online.
Your flight details.
Hotel or accommodation information.
Your return or onward travel information.
Travel insurance documentation.
Any additional documents relevant to your itinerary.
The Egyptian eVisa portal states that travellers may be asked for an eVisa printout, travel itinerary, accommodation details, and supporting documentation depending on the purpose of the visit.
Having these documents accessible can make the arrival process easier.
Applying for an Egyptian tourist eVisa involves entering your personal and passport information into the electronic application system.
Confirm that you are travelling on a full British citizen passport and that your nationality is eligible for the electronic visa system.
The United Kingdom is included among the nationalities listed by Egypt's electronic visa portal.
Before beginning the application, verify that your passport will remain valid for at least six months after your planned arrival.
Also check that you have a blank passport page available.
Have your planned travel details available, including your expected arrival date and accommodation information.
You should enter your information carefully and consistently.
Provide the requested personal, passport, and travel information.
Make sure your name, passport number, date of birth, nationality, and other details correspond exactly with your passport.
The applicable eVisa fee depends on the visa type.
The Egyptian eVisa system currently lists tourist visa fees of US$30 for single entry and US$65 for multiple entry.
Once the application has been submitted, allow sufficient time for processing before your journey.
Do not leave the application until the last moment if you can avoid doing so.
Once your eVisa is approved, save a digital copy and print a copy to take with you.
Keeping a paper copy can be useful if airport or immigration officials request evidence of your electronic visa.
For a standard tourist visa on arrival, British travellers can generally stay for up to 30 days.
Tourist eVisa arrangements can differ depending on the visa type and applicable Egyptian immigration rules.
The special Sinai resort entry permission is different. It is intended for short stays of less than 15 days within the qualifying resort areas.
The permitted stay should never be confused with the overall validity of a visa. A visa's validity determines when it can be used, while the permitted stay determines how long you may remain in Egypt after entering.
Travellers should consider their itinerary when deciding which visa type is appropriate.
A single-entry tourist visa is generally suitable when you intend to:
Travel to Egypt once.
Enter Egypt and remain there throughout your holiday.
Leave Egypt at the end of your trip.
For a straightforward holiday, this is often the simplest option.
A multiple-entry visa may be more suitable if your travel plans involve leaving Egypt and returning during the relevant visa period.
For example, someone taking a broader regional trip may need to enter Egypt more than once.
However, multiple-entry visas have different conditions and fees, so travellers should check the applicable requirements before applying.
Cairo is one of Egypt's most popular destinations and is home to major attractions including the Giza pyramid complex, the Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum area, historic Islamic Cairo, and the Nile.
British tourists flying into Cairo for a conventional sightseeing holiday should plan to obtain a standard Egyptian tourist visa.
The special Sinai resort entry permission does not cover a normal Cairo itinerary.
If Cairo is part of your trip, arranging the appropriate tourist visa before travelling can help you avoid confusion about whether a resort-specific entry arrangement applies.
Hurghada is another major destination for British holidaymakers.
The Red Sea resort is known for beaches, boat excursions, coral reefs, and access to marine activities.
Travellers flying into Hurghada should normally plan for the standard Egyptian tourist visa arrangements rather than relying on the special Sharm El Sheikh/Sinai resort entry permission.
A tourist eVisa obtained before departure or an eligible visa on arrival can be considered depending on your circumstances.
Sharm El Sheikh has special entry arrangements that can be useful for British holidaymakers.
If you arrive at Sharm El Sheikh Airport and remain for less than 15 days in the qualifying Sinai resort area, you may receive free entry permission instead of purchasing a standard tourist visa.
This can make a short Sharm El Sheikh beach holiday simpler.
However, you should plan carefully if your itinerary includes destinations such as Cairo, Luxor, Aswan, or other parts of mainland Egypt.
Leaving the qualifying area can mean that the special entry permission is no longer sufficient.
Luxor is one of Egypt's most important historical destinations.
The city provides access to attractions including:
Karnak Temple
Luxor Temple
Valley of the Kings
Valley of the Queens
Colossi of Memnon
Nile River excursions
Because Luxor is outside the limited Sinai resort area, travellers visiting Luxor should arrange a standard Egyptian tourist visa appropriate to their trip.
This is particularly relevant to travellers who combine a Red Sea resort with a Nile Valley itinerary.
Nile cruises are a popular way to combine sightseeing with accommodation and transportation between major archaeological destinations.
A typical itinerary might connect Luxor and Aswan while stopping at historic sites along the Nile.
A British citizen travelling on a Nile cruise should ensure that the visa they obtain covers the full itinerary.
If your holiday begins at a Red Sea resort but later includes Luxor or Aswan, do not assume that a special Sinai resort entry permission will cover the entire journey.
Children travelling with British passports also need to meet Egypt's applicable entry requirements.
Parents or guardians should check:
The child's passport validity.
Whether the child requires a visa.
Whether an eVisa application is required.
Whether the child qualifies for a particular entry arrangement.
Whether supporting documentation is required for the journey.
Each traveller should have the appropriate travel documentation.
Families should avoid assuming that because an adult qualifies for a particular entry arrangement, every part of a child's travel documentation is automatically covered.
Passport validity is one of the most important things to check before booking an Egyptian holiday.
Egypt generally requires a passport to have at least six months of validity from the date of arrival.
For example, if you plan to arrive in Egypt in December, your passport should normally remain valid for at least six months beyond that arrival date.
If your passport is approaching expiry, renewing it before the trip may be necessary.
Do not rely on the passport being valid for the duration of your holiday alone.
After landing in Egypt, you will proceed through the airport's immigration process.
Depending on the type of entry permission you are using, you may need to:
Obtain or present your visa.
Present your British passport.
Provide your travel documentation if requested.
Pass through immigration.
Collect your baggage.
Continue through the airport.
If you already have an eVisa, keep the approval document easily accessible.
If you are obtaining a visa on arrival, follow the airport's official instructions and use the designated visa facilities.
Yes, British passport holders can generally obtain a tourist visa on arrival at approved Egyptian airports.
The current UK travel guidance states that the visa on arrival costs US$30 and is valid for up to 30 days.
However, airport procedures can change, and not every border crossing operates in exactly the same way.
Travellers should therefore verify the arrangements for their particular arrival point before departure.
Not necessarily.
A British citizen arriving at Sharm El Sheikh Airport and staying for less than 15 days within the qualifying Sinai resort destinations may receive free entry permission.
This is one of the most important exceptions to the general Egyptian tourist visa requirement.
However, it is not intended to cover travel throughout Egypt.
If you intend to visit Cairo, Luxor, the pyramids, or other destinations outside the qualifying area, obtain the appropriate Egyptian visa.
Travellers should be careful with this situation.
The special Sinai entry permission is geographically limited. If you leave the qualifying area and travel elsewhere in Egypt, you may need a standard Egyptian visa.
Therefore, a traveller who starts with a Sharm El Sheikh resort holiday but later decides to visit Cairo should check the visa requirements before making the journey.
It is better to arrange the correct visa in advance than to assume that a resort-specific entry permission covers the whole country.
The cost depends on the visa method and type.
The Egyptian eVisa portal currently lists:
Single-entry tourist eVisa: US$30
Multiple-entry tourist eVisa: US$65
For visas on arrival, current UK government guidance states that the tourist visa costs US$30.
Visa fees and procedures can change, so travellers should check the latest information before paying.
Additional service charges may apply when using third-party services, agencies, or other intermediaries.
It is sensible to arrange your Egyptian visa before your trip rather than waiting until the last minute.
Applying early gives you time to:
Correct mistakes.
Resolve document problems.
Check passport validity.
Deal with processing delays.
Print your approval.
Confirm your itinerary.
If you are travelling during a busy holiday period, additional preparation can be especially helpful.
A few simple mistakes can cause unnecessary problems during international travel.
Your passport number and personal details should be entered carefully.
A mistake in your application may create complications when your visa is checked against your passport.
Egyptian visa requirements are based on nationality and travel documents, not simply where someone lives.
A person living in the UK but travelling on a non-British passport may have completely different Egyptian visa requirements.
This guide specifically concerns travellers using a full British citizen passport.
The special entry permission for certain Sinai resort holidays does not mean British citizens can enter all of Egypt without a visa.
This is one of the most common misunderstandings.
Make sure your passport meets Egypt's validity requirements before you travel.
Although your eVisa is electronic, carrying a printed copy is a sensible precaution.
Holding a UK residence permit does not automatically make someone eligible for the same Egyptian visa arrangements as a British citizen.
The Egyptian authorities primarily consider the nationality and travel document used for entry.
For example, a person who lives permanently in Britain but holds a Pakistani, Indian, Nigerian, Bangladeshi, or other non-British passport may have different visa requirements.
Therefore, when checking Egypt's rules, always use the passport you will actually present at the Egyptian border.
There is also an important distinction between a full British citizen passport and certain other British nationality or travel documents.
The UK government's Egypt entry guidance states that British passport holders from British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies cannot use the online eVisa application route in the same way as full British citizens.
If you hold a British document that is not an ordinary full British citizen passport, check the applicable Egyptian requirements before travelling.
Egypt provides procedures through its passport and immigration authorities for travellers who need to extend their stay.
However, you should not assume that an extension is automatic.
If you intend to remain in Egypt longer than your permitted period, arrange the appropriate extension before your existing permission expires.
Remaining in Egypt after your visa expires can create problems when you try to leave the country.
Although travel insurance is separate from the visa itself, it is strongly recommended for an international holiday.
A comprehensive policy can help protect you against unexpected situations involving:
Medical treatment
Trip cancellation
Delays
Lost baggage
Travel disruption
Emergency assistance
Check the policy carefully to make sure it covers the activities you intend to undertake.
Once your visa arrangements are sorted out, Egypt offers an enormous range of attractions.
Cairo is the country's major urban centre and an excellent starting point for exploring ancient and modern Egypt.
Popular attractions include the pyramids, the Sphinx, museums, historic neighbourhoods, markets, and the Nile.
The Giza pyramid complex is one of the world's most recognizable archaeological sites.
The Great Pyramid, the other major pyramids, and the Sphinx make the area a highlight for first-time visitors.
Luxor is ideal for travellers interested in ancient Egyptian history.
The city and surrounding area contain an extraordinary concentration of temples and tombs.
Aswan offers a more relaxed atmosphere along the Nile and is a popular stop on many Nile cruise itineraries.
Hurghada is well known for Red Sea beaches, resorts, boat trips, and marine attractions.
Sharm El Sheikh is one of Egypt's best-known resort destinations and is particularly popular for beach holidays and Red Sea activities.
Dahab has a more relaxed atmosphere and attracts travellers interested in the Red Sea, desert landscapes, and outdoor experiences.
Before departing from the UK, check the following:
Your passport has sufficient validity.
Your passport has a blank page.
Your visa matches your itinerary.
Your flight details are correct.
Your accommodation information is available.
You have appropriate travel insurance.
You have enough funds for your planned holiday.
You have copies of important travel documents.
You understand the conditions attached to your visa.
It is also wise to monitor travel advice before departure, particularly if you plan to travel to areas close to borders or regions subject to specific security advice.
Generally, yes. British citizens normally need a visa to enter Egypt, although a limited short-stay entry arrangement applies to certain travellers visiting specified Sinai resorts.
Yes. The Egyptian eVisa system lists the United Kingdom among eligible nationalities for tourist eVisa applications.
The Egyptian eVisa portal currently lists US$30 for a single-entry tourist eVisa and US$65 for a multiple-entry tourist eVisa. A tourist visa on arrival is currently listed at US$30.
Yes, British passport holders can generally obtain a tourist visa on arrival at approved Egyptian airports.
The standard tourist visa on arrival is generally valid for up to 30 days.
For qualifying British travellers arriving at Sharm El Sheikh Airport and staying for less than 15 days within the specified Sinai resort area, a free entry permission may be available.
You should not assume that you can. The special entry permission is geographically limited. Travelling outside the qualifying Sinai area can require a standard Egyptian visa.
Your passport should generally be valid for at least six months after your arrival in Egypt.
Yes. Even though the visa is electronic, carrying a printed copy is a sensible precaution and may be requested during your journey.
No. Egyptian visa requirements depend on the nationality and travel document you use. UK residents travelling on another country's passport may have different requirements.
For most British tourists, obtaining an Egyptian visa is a straightforward part of planning a holiday.
If you are visiting Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan, Hurghada, or other destinations throughout Egypt, a standard tourist visa is generally required. British citizens can normally choose between arranging an eVisa before departure and obtaining a visa on arrival at an eligible airport.
Travellers visiting Sharm El Sheikh and other qualifying Sinai resorts for less than 15 days may benefit from the special free entry permission, but this should not be confused with general visa-free access to Egypt.
The safest approach is to check your passport validity, identify the exact destinations on your itinerary, select the appropriate visa option, and make sure your travel documents are ready before leaving the UK.
With the visa arrangements taken care of, British travellers can concentrate on exploring Egypt's pyramids, temples, Nile landscapes, historic cities, and Red Sea resorts.