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When you need to pass through an Egyptian airport, you might need an Egypt transit visa. Although most countries do not need a visa if they stay for up to 48 hours in the country, some might need it.

This article will explain who needs a transit visa and who doesn’t need it, the requirements, and the application process.

Do you need an Egypt transit visa?

A Transit visa is different from a tourist visa. The first allows you to move through one of the airports and catch a connecting flight and the second one permits you to stay in the country for a certain time. If you need to change your flights or the means of transport to continue your journey, you might need a transit visa.

The point to remember is that if you need to stay in the Egyptian airport for a few hours, you WILL NOT NEED a transit visa. Many foreign nationals can transit through Egypt without a transit visa if they stay for up to 48 hours.

But if you need to stay for a longer period, the rules changes per your nationality.

The nationals of some countries can leave the airport and visit the city if waiting for up to 48 hours in the airport. In case you have to wait for your connecting flight for up to six hours, you need to stay at the airport and don’t leave it.

How to Transit through Egypt without a Transit Visa

The citizens of some countries can leave the airport and visit the city, but citizens of some countries have to stay at the airport:

  • Afghanistan
  • Lebanon
  • Palestine
  • The Philippines

Whether you need a transit visa is up to your nationality and duration of stay in the airport.

The citizens of the following countries do not need an Egypt transit visa:

  • Bahrain
  • Hong Kong
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Macao
  • Oman
  • Saudi Arabia
  • UAE
  • Malaysia

Do US citizens need an Egypt transit visa?

US citizens do not need an Egypt transit visa if they should wait for up to 48 hours for the next flight. If the waiting time is between 6 to 48 hours, they have permission to leave the airport and explore the city.

If you need to stay longer than 48 hours, you can apply for a tourist visa on arrival and explore the city.

In short, yes, US citizens need a visa to visit Egypt. There are, however, some exceptions.

If the US citizens visit the following destinations, they do not need a visa to enter the resort at:

  • Sharm El Sheikh
  • Taba
  • Nuweiba
  • Dahab

The visitors can not stay longer than 15 days and do not have permission to leave the places. 

Egypt transit visa requirements

When you want to apply for an Egypt transit visa, you need to have a valid passport to travel. It must hold validity after you will leave your destination.

Also, you need a valid onward ticket for your destination. It’s proof of the purpose of your trip to your destination.

The Egyptian embassy or consulate in your home country might require further documents. It’s up to your nationality and the authorities’ decision.

If you have other evidence for the purpose of your visit, provide them to the Egyptian officials.

How to Transit through Egypt without a Transit Visa?

The residents of most countries are able to transit through Egypt without a visa if they need to stay for up to 48 hours. When you need to stay for your connecting flight for up to two days, there is no need to apply for an Egypt transit visa, and you can catch your flight.

Egypt transit visa application process

If you need to apply for an Egypt transit visa, you can follow the following procedure.

You need to contact the Egyptian embassy or consulate. They will guide you on whether you need a visa based on your conditions and nationality. If yes, they will provide you with the list of requirements to apply for the transit visa. The two requirements you need are a passport and an onward ticket to your destination.

You reserve a meeting with the embassy to submit requirements, pay the fees and ask questions about the purpose of your visit to your destined country.

It could take about 1-2 weeks until the embassy issues a transit visa, so you would better apply about 30 days before the date of your travel date.

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