Before going to Egypt

There is a visa traffic between Poland and Egypt. To cross the border, you need a passport with a validity period of min. 6 months from entering Egypt and a residence visa. Before leaving, a Polish citizen should obtain a visa at the Egyptian diplomatic mission, be at the airport too 15 USD (in the form of two stamps). This applies to both residence visas, and transit.

In order to obtain a visa at the Embassy of the Arab Republic in Warsaw, you must submit one application and attach one recent photo and a visa fee of PLN 75 (single visa) or PLN 90 (multiple visa). The waiting time for a visa is 2 days. The residence visa is valid 1 month (you can also apply for the so-called. double tourist visa for the period 3 months) and after exceeding the deadline, a penalty of 160LE is paid.

It is possible to extend the stay – In Cairo, the registration office and visa extension office are located in the city center, in the Mugamma Building on Midan at-Tahrir, in Alexandria at Sh. Tal at Harb 28.a in other cities, formalities are done at the police station. Of the necessary documents, the only receipt documenting the exchange is required at least 180 US dollars (USD) and passport photo. Moreover, people, who have entry to South Africa in their passport, they are unlikely to receive an Egyptian visa. It is worth informing yourself about the formalities before leaving, which must be completed, because regulations change very quickly.

You can travel freely in most areas of Egypt. Special travel permits are required along the Red Sea coast south of Marsa Allam and in the area between Marsa Matruh and the Libyan border. For permits, please contact the Cairo Home Office.

People entering Egypt do not need any special vaccinations, if they are not coming from the country, in which there is an epidemic right now. Check the validity of polio and tetanus vaccinations. Vaccinations against typhus and hepatitis A and B are commonly recommended, but they are not mandatory. Rabies is a serious problem throughout Egypt, so do not touch any wandering animals. More about vaccinations, what can be done before going to Egypt, and you can read more about health and hygiene in this country.

You can get to Egypt in several different ways – you can go by plane, drive your own car or buy a trip from a proven operator. Boat trips are not currently possible. Traveling by car undoubtedly gives us the most freedom in moving around Egypt, allows you to reach the desired place when you want and in ideal conditions (it is worth having a well-functioning air conditioning). The downside, however, is the long journey from the home country and various formalities and requirements, what we must fulfill, to let our car pass at the border.

Therefore, most people choose to reach the pharaohs state by air, by purchasing tickets yourself, or through a travel agency, which, apart from transport to Egypt, offers us a complete organization of our stay in Egypt, including accommodation in a luxury hotel, driving to it, meals and an interesting excursion program to the most famous places in the country and beyond. In addition, the total cost of travel and stay in Egypt is much lower, when we buy an organized trip, than if we wanted to do everything separately on our own. More about travel options to Egypt, regulations and fees in the department “How to go?”

When crossing the Egyptian border, customs may require video cameras to be entered on the customs declaration, computers and other electronic devices and pay the duty or deposit. When leaving, the declared items must be presented as proof, that they weren't sold. Besides, it is forbidden to bring to Egypt and export the amount exceeding 20 Egyptian pounds. You can bring in 250 cigarettes or cigars, be 250 g of tobacco. It is also allowed 1 liter of high percentage alcohol above 22% obj. Or 2 liters of wine products, be 5 liters of beer. No part of the coral reef is allowed to be exported from Egypt, even shells found on the beach. Where elements of the reef are discovered, you should take into account very high fines.

Possession of any amount of drugs can carry sanctions. Depending on the amount, these penalties range from cash penalties, by prison terms up to 25 years up to and including the death penalty.

If you want to enter Egypt with your own car, the rules are a bit more complicated.