Two Easy Options
Most Western tourists can get an Egypt visa either on arrival at the airport or in advance via e-Visa. Both options are available to citizens of the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, and many other countries. The cost is $25 for a single-entry visa (valid 30 days).
Visa on Arrival
Available at Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Luxor, and Aswan airports. Purchase a visa sticker from the bank counters before the immigration desks (look for clearly marked booths). Payment accepted in USD, EUR, or GBP cash. The process takes 5–15 minutes. Have your hotel address and return flight details ready.
e-Visa (Apply Online)
Apply at visa2egypt.gov.eg at least 7 days before travel. Benefits: skip the airport queue, pay by card, get approval by email. Upload your passport scan and photo, fill in your travel details, and pay $25 (single entry) or $60 (multiple entry). Processing takes 5–7 business days. Print the approval letter.
Sinai Only Permit (Free)
If you're ONLY visiting the Sinai Peninsula (Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, St. Catherine's Monastery, Ras Mohammed), you can get a free Sinai-only entry permit valid for 15 days. This is stamped on arrival at Sharm el-Sheikh airport. You cannot leave the Sinai with this permit — visiting Cairo, Luxor, or any mainland Egypt requires a full visa.
Tips
Carry small USD bills for the visa fee — change isn't always easy to get at the airport bank counters. Your passport must have at least 6 months validity. Women traveling alone may receive extra questions at immigration but this is routine. Egypt doesn't stamp Israeli stamps — if you've visited Israel, there's no issue entering Egypt.