Do I need a visa to Sharm El Sheikh? Free visit to Egypt with a Sinai visa. Possible problems when obtaining a visa to Egypt
At any time of the year, the hot heat of the African state is ready to welcome guests from different parts of the world. Russians especially fell in love with Egypt due to its clean beaches, high level of service, the presence of a majestic historical base and the relative affordability of prices compared to other resorts.
Entry into Egypt requires a special tourist residence permit. However, visas to Sharm el-Sheikh, which allow you to move around the territory of several regions for a certain amount of time, much easier to get, besides, the Sinai visa in Sharm el-Sheikh in 2020 is free.
Only Sinai: visa specifics
The small wedge-shaped peninsula, straddling Asia and Africa, is under the control of the Egyptian state. Sinai is one of the best resort areas in the country, famous for its comfortable stay and the presence of numerous hotels with different levels of service.
Tourists who have received an Egyptian visa can enjoy the beauty of the peninsula without restrictions. Although it is possible to obtain a separate visa to Sharm el-Sheikh, which has several features:
- The Sinai stamp gives the right to stay on the territory of the peninsula for only 15 days;
- Travel within the state is limited to a few cities, travel outside of which may result in a heavy fine;
- It is not possible to extend the Sinai visa;
- The applicant's international passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of crossing the border;
- A child over 14 years old must have a foreign passport.
Obtaining a permit stamp is possible only if a foreign citizen enters the territory of the peninsula at one of three points:
- Sharm El Sheikh Airport;
- Border checkpoint in Taba;
- Border control in Nuweiba, at the border with Jordan.
The document is valid for 2 weeks from the moment the visa is issued, and its cost is zero.
Sinai stamp: historical commentary
The war between Israel and Egypt, which ended in 1978, led to the signing of the Camp David Peace Accord. According to the document, Israel returned the captured Sinai Peninsula to Cairo control. However, Israeli rule significantly changed the local economic structure - new highways, airports, and settlements appeared here, which became the home of many Israelis.
Diplomatic troubles had to be resolved, so in addition to material compensation, Israel demanded from Egypt the right of free entry to the peninsula for its citizens.
After so many years, not only Israelis have the right to apply for a Sinai visa - every tourist who has expressed a desire to admire the local beauty can receive a free permit.
Despite the apparent complexity of completing the document at first glance, traveling around the outskirts of Egyptian territory is a fairly easy procedure. In addition, it will not hurt the tourist’s pocket: entry into the territory of Sinai does not cost a single cent.
Obtaining a Sinai visa in Sharm el-Sheikh: features of the procedure
Upon arrival at the airport, immediately after the flight arrives, you must fill out a migration card, where you must enter the answers to the following questions:
- Passport data (last name, first name, date of birth);
- The country of which the tourist is a citizen;
- The name of the hotel where you plan to stay.
The issuance of Sinai visas became the responsibility of the border guards - they should hand over the completed application form, writing “SINAI ONLY” on the back side in legible printed font in English. The card with the passport should be handed over to the passport control officer, making sure that the inscription “SINAI ONLY” is noticed by him.
Sinai visa in 2020 or where to go?
The document applies to a number of established regions. Receiving a border stamp gives the right to visit:
- The cities of Sharm el-Sheikh and its surroundings;
- The small tourist town of Tab;
- Family resort Nuweiba;
- Golden beaches of Dahab;
- Ancient monastery of St. Catherine;
- Ras Mohammed Nature Reserve;
- Mountains of Moses.
The southern side of the peninsula is completely open to tourists and excursions, but Sinai visas do not allow visits to ancient Alexandria, the pyramids of Cairo, the wrecks of Thiselgorm and other attractions that many travelers seek out.In this situation, the applicant needs to obtain a regular visa by contacting the Egyptian embassy or tour operator.
If the cultural and historical heritage of Egypt is not the main purpose of travel, then 15 days during which a visa to Sharm el-Sheikh is valid in 2020, will give you the opportunity to bring home an unforgettable experience.
What to do in case of refusal?
Refusal to issue a stamp is an extremely rare occurrence, but you can also get into the position of officials. The Egyptian state wants to attract more than 10 million tourists every year. When calculating the income from the issuance of official visas, it is not difficult to guess what billions of dollars are coming into the budget.
The inexperienced traveler may be informed that filling out the Sinai form and subsequently receiving a stamp is a privilege that applies exclusively to Israeli citizens. Having heard such arguments, you should not worry or argue with customs officials. Specify (preferably in English) what, according to the Camp David Agreement, a stamp is given to all guests of the island.
The last resort may be your polite request to invite your superiors, tactfully reminding the higher-ranking official that at the moment Egyptian legislation does not operate with laws that would prohibit the issuance of this type of entry permit.
Responsibility for violating the visa regime
Different reasons for violations of migration legislation determine different ways of punishing the perpetrators:
- An overstayed visa will result in a fine of 157 Egyptian pounds (about 30 US dollars);
- Violating the boundaries of territories that the Sinai stamp gives the right to visit threatens three days imprisonment and the procedure for deportation to their homeland.
Tourists who violate the state's migration regime can fly home only from Cairo on special scheduled planes. The traveler pays the costs associated with deportation on his own, and he is prohibited from entering the country for the next few years.
Law-abiding citizens need not worry - a Sinai visa will open up to them the entire range of pleasures available on the Egyptian peninsula!
Video: how to travel to Egypt without a visa
Traveling to Egypt continues to be popular among our compatriots, gaining more and more momentum from year to year. Resorts of the Mediterranean and Red Seas attract vacationers from all over the world. The question of abolishing the visa regime between Russia and Egypt has been raised more than once, but for now it remains in theory. Therefore, an entry permit is still required. It is issued upon arrival at the local airport. Its cost when entering Egypt for Russians from May 1, 2015 is $25. But if a tourist plans to vacation in Sharm El-Sheikh, there is an opportunity not to pay this fee. This happens if a Sinai free visa is issued.
Understanding whether it is worth applying for such a permit must be compared with the goals of your trip. The Sinai visa in 2019 has a number of restrictions and features:
- The document is issued for a period of up to fifteen days.
- Movement within the country is limited, and sightseeing is only allowed within the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula.
- For divers, it does not allow access to the main dive site - the wreck of the Thiselgorm ship.
- Traveling to cities that tourists usually flock to, such as Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, is also impossible.
If a traveler entering the state does not qualify for any of these items, he will have to pay for a regular permit. Egyptian border services are very strict, and it will not be possible to negotiate any concessions with them. The list of places that can be visited according to this document includes such settlements as the resort town of Taby, the city for divers and surfers of Dahabe and the coastal resort of Nuweibu.
You can also go to the Monastery of St. Catherine, located at the foot of Mount Sinai, better known as Mount Moses. It is listed as a World Heritage Site. Sinai Visa Sharm El Sheikh 2019 now allows you to take an excursion to the beautiful Ras Mohammed Nature Reserve. Previously this was prohibited.
The Sinai Peninsula on the map borders Israel, so you can also visit the ancient city of Bethlehem. The appearance of this document is precisely connected with Israel, with which the Egyptian authorities entered into a peace agreement in 1978. Thus, the war of these two states was over, and the peace treaty signed in the city of Camp David returned the Sinai Peninsula to the country and affected the tourist destination. The Sinai visa was created for free movement, first between residents of these countries, and later among other tourists who felt their rights were being infringed upon compared to Israelis.
If the fifteen-day period has already expired and the tourist has not yet left the country, he will have to pay a fine of $30. This is the case if a violation of the deadline was discovered at the airport before departure. If the violator is stopped on the territory of the state, then the matter will not end with one fine. He faces imprisonment for three days and subsequent deportation with all the ensuing consequences and expenses. It will no longer be possible to fly on a charter; you will have to leave on a specialized flight. Subsequently, it will be difficult to get here for a long period of time.
Registration procedure
Before flying to this country on vacation, travelers will learn in advance how to fill out a visa in Egypt so that there is no confusion or disagreement on the spot. A free permit is issued in the same way as a paid one - you take a migration card from your tour operator. The 2019 sample is provided at the airport. It is filled out in English letters, and a sample of its completion can be viewed in advance on the Internet.
There is not much information to be entered, so this process is usually not difficult. You must enter: last name, first name, date of birth, nationality, and address - this will be the name of the hotel where the accommodation is booked. On the back of the card you must write the phrase “Sinay only”, which will make it clear to customs officers that a free permit is being issued. Next comes the migration card to Egypt, a sample of which can also be provided by the travel agency; together with the international passport, they are handed over to the border guards, in contrast to the paid entry - where the documents are handed over to the customs window. Border guards must say the same phrase that is indicated on the back of the card: “Sinay only, please.” After the check is carried out, a Sinai stamp is affixed to the citizen’s foreign passport.
In general, there should be no problems during registration. This applies to tourists of any nationality and race. Some travelers write reviews that Egyptian officials are preventing them from obtaining this document.
Indeed, until recently, some border guards were looking for any excuse not to affix a stamp. The fact is that for them this is a loss of money that tourism brings to the treasury.
Of course, $25 is an insignificant fee, but if a company of four or more people comes on vacation, saving a hundred dollars is already significant. Currently, the situation at customs has been settled, the border guards are not causing any obstacles.
If, nevertheless, any hitch or unpleasant situation arises at the airport, you need to challenge your rights. In this case, you need to refer to the current law, which was issued after the conclusion of the settlement agreement. You can also request that a senior manager be invited to resolve the dispute.
For both Russian citizens and Ukrainians, a Sinai permit is issued and issued absolutely free of charge.
Of course, obtaining such an entry right is pointless if the traveler, having flown to Sharm El Sheikh, wanted to relax in Cairo or Hurghada - in 2019 the same restrictions apply as in previous years. In this case, you can apply for an ordinary visa at any time during your stay in the Sinai Peninsula.
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Sharm El Sheikh is a resort city located on the Sinai Peninsula. This region is rightfully one of the most amazing places in Egypt. It is usually the choice of diving enthusiasts, as there are coral reefs along the entire coastline. When you go on a trip here, you can see with your own eyes the remains of sunken ships.
Shark Bay, excursions on boats on the reefs, the opportunity to snorkel and see the beauty of the underwater world - all these opportunities are offered by a trip to Sharm El Sheikh. Do Russians need a visa or can it be obtained at the entrance?
So, it is a mistaken opinion that visas to Egypt, including Sharm El-Sheikh, are not required. Russians in 2019 can obtain a visa upon entry, but for this the following conditions must be met:
- Firstly, the trip must take place in a group - several people;
- Secondly, the purpose of the trip must be tourist;
- Thirdly, you must have a foreign passport with you, which will be valid for three months after completion of the trip.
If you plan to obtain a visa on arrival in 2019, it can be purchased at the airport ticket office and costs $25. The exception is children under 12 years of age - they are exempt from paying. A visa is purchased for each citizen who has a passport. If a child is included in his parent’s foreign passport, then a double visa is marked in this document.
When will you need to get a visa?
If the trip is not carried out collectively, or the purpose of the trip in 2019 is not related to tourism, then you will need to apply for a visa. To do this, you need to contact the Consulate located in Moscow or one of the visa centers.
Documents can be submitted:
- On your own - in this case, you need to have a passport with you as an identification document.
- With the help of intermediaries - by contacting a travel agency or a private person who processes permits to cross the border.
What documents need to be collected?
A visa to Sharm El Sheikh is required for Russians in 2019. To obtain it you need to collect the following package of documents:
- International passport. If you plan to obtain a visa at the Consulate, the passport must be valid for six months from the date of completion of the trip.
- A copy of the first page of the passport for foreign travel, which contains personal information about the applicant.
- One photograph, the dimensions of which are 3x4 cm.
- Questionnaire. It must be filled out in English, and it is personally signed by the applicant.
- Travel voucher or document confirming your hotel reservation.
- A copy of the civil passport (only pages with personal data and registration are attached).
- Health insurance policy. The requirement is that the amount of coverage must be at least 15 thousand dollars.
- For minors, a photocopy of their birth certificate.
Depending on the purpose of travel, additional documents may be required; the need to provide them will be reported at the visa center or Consulate.
Visa application, which one is required?
What visa do Russians need in 2019 to travel to Sharm El-Sheikh? The answer to this question will depend on the purpose of the trip. Depending on this, a professional visa is allocated. It is issued to members of diplomatic missions arriving in a foreign country, journalists, pilots and sailors.
As for the tourist permit to cross the border, it is the most common. It is valid for a month, but can be extended if necessary. Interestingly, citizens of retirement age may not renew their visa, but still remain in Sharm El Sheikh for any time, the main requirement is that they must have a source of income.
If the applicant wishes to work in Egypt, he must obtain a work visa. Its validity period ranges from six months to a year, the cost starts from $150. If necessary, this permit can be extended, but only at the initiative of the employer.
To obtain a work visa to Sharm El Sheikh, you need to attach the following documents to the general package of documents:
- Diploma of higher education.
- Insurance policy.
- Work permit application form.
- Letter of guarantee issued by the employer. It will serve as confirmation that the specialist profession is rare, or that the company employs more than 11,000 Egyptian citizens.
Attention! A work visa for Russians in 2019 is issued only to a specific employer, so if you change your place of work, it will be invalidated.
Another type of visa that can be obtained for traveling to Sharm El Sheikh is a student visa. It is issued to individuals who are studying at higher education institutions, taking linguistics courses, or are accepted into an international school. Interestingly, when minors study in Egypt, their parents can also go with him.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the fiancé visa, issued for a period of 6 months. It is issued to girls who have decided to enter into a marriage with a citizen of Sharm El-Sheikh. It is important that if she does not get married during the validity period of the permit, then she will no longer be able to issue such a document again.
Another type of visa is the resident border crossing permit, which does not provide the right to work. Only two groups of citizens can receive it - property owners in 2019 in Sharm El-Sheikh, or wives of Egyptian citizens. This permit costs up to $60. Documentary evidence is a real estate contract or marriage contract.
General requirements for foreign passports
When obtaining a visa to Sharm El Sheikh in 2019, Russians must take into account the following provisions:
- The passport must have a signature;
- The validity of the passport (when obtaining a visa through the Consulate) must be at least 180 days after completion of the trip;
- If a visa is purchased upon arrival, then the validity of the foreign passport must be three months from the end of the trip;
- If the child is over six years old and is included in the parent’s passport, then his photograph must be attached;
- Children over the age of fourteen travel with their own passport for foreign travel.
The processing time for a visa to Sharm El Sheikh is about 7 days.
Egypt is one of the most popular countries for beach holidays among Belarusians. Indeed, you can enjoy the sea and sun there almost all year round; there are plenty of interesting cities and places where you can go on excursions. In addition, it is possible to visit neighboring Israel and Jordan by checking not one, but three countries on the travel map. And the cost of travel is much lower than in many other destinations.
Another point that makes the country of Arabian dreams attractive in the Belarusian tourism market is the absence of the need to obtain a visa in advance. You can get it directly at the airport upon arrival. However, do not forget that this applies exclusively to tourist visas. All others must be opened in advance.
Documents for tourist visa
In order to obtain a tourist visa to Egypt, Belarusians do not require any additional documents. All you need is a valid passport, a completed migration card, a return air ticket and a hotel reservation.
Border guards rarely ask for confirmation of the latter, so tourists who decide to decide on a place to live directly in Egypt often write information “at random”, having found information on the Internet about any hotel in the resort they are going to.
One of the most common questions that Belarusian tourists have is filling out a migration card. All columns are indicated in English and Arabic, but it is not difficult to guess their meaning.
Migration cards are usually issued on board the plane. Here, flight attendants help fill them out, politely answering questions that Belarusians have. If there are technical problems and the airline does not have the forms, do not worry. You can always pick up the form at the airport information desk, where there are samples to fill out. But it’s better to take care of having a pen in advance, at home.
As for filling out, the main rule is to write legibly and in Latin letters. All fields must be filled in. Border guards often do not read into the meaning of what is written, and sometimes limit themselves to a cursory glance, but empty cells always catch the eye.
Registration process
Applying for a visa at Hurghada airport is very fast, all formalities are kept to a minimum. The procedure consists of three stages.
Tourists fill out a migration card (on the plane or at the airport upon arrival).
When going through passport control, the foreign passport along with the completed migration card is presented to the employee.
After checking the documents, the customs officer glues the visa into the passport and puts an arrival stamp on top of it.
You shouldn’t expect any tricks - Egyptians treat Belarusian tourists loyally and never refuse entry.
Price
Speaking about the cost of a visa, it is worth remembering again that there are two types - the Sinai stamp and a full-fledged Egyptian tourist visa. The first one is completely free, the second one costs $25. Children who do not have their own passport can count on free entry. If a minor traveler is traveling on their own passport, they must pay a consular fee of $25.
Validity
The Sinai stamp is valid for 15 days; a tourist visa obtained outside the Sinai Peninsula is valid for 30 days. Violation of the terms of stay in the country threatens with serious fines and even a further ban on entry into Egypt.
Possible problems
The first problem faced by Belarusians arriving in Egypt is filling out a migration card. The difficulty is not so much in filling out the form itself, but in understanding what is required of you, because everything is written in English and Arabic. It is best to do everything on board the plane - here you can count on the help of a flight attendant. But even if you had to fill out a form at the airport and there’s nowhere to wait for help, don’t despair. Try contacting Russian-speaking tourists or representatives of travel companies. As a last resort, write the information as you see fit. The main thing is clearly and in Latin letters. Customs officers rarely read forms; most often they pay attention exclusively to the fact of filling them out.
Egypt is an Arab country where many seek to profit from tourists. This is the peculiarity. You can encounter this already at the airport, when for a Sinai stamp they will demand 25 dollars from you, as for a full-fledged visa. This is completely illegal and you should not give extra money for fear of threats and possible consequences. Refusal to pay will not harm you! Although many, in order to avoid conflict and not spoil their vacation, are ready to fork out money. This is exactly what the rogue customs officers are counting on.
Perhaps these are the only problems that Belarusians may encounter when obtaining an Egyptian visa, and they, apparently, are not so significant and significant. If you are at least a little familiar with the English language, solving them will not be difficult at all.
Visa for a child
Entry into Egypt is even easier for children than for adults. There is no need to fill out a separate migration card for small tourists; it is enough that they will be included in the parent’s card. But it is still recommended to have the following documents with you:
birth certificate;
permission to travel from parents (one or two, respectively) if the child is traveling with one of them or accompanied by third parties.
Customs will most likely not require you to present them, but if controversial situations arise and there are no documents confirming the child’s legal departure abroad, trouble may arise.
A visa for a child, regardless of whether you are planning a holiday in the Sinai Peninsula or beyond, is issued free of charge. Just as in the case of the Sinai stamp, cunning border guards may require you to pay 25 dollars for it, but this requirement is absolutely illegal and can be ignored by tourists.
Despite rumors about the abolition of the visa regime between Egypt and the Russian Federation, the old rules are still in effect - a visa to Egypt is needed, and the applicant is given a visa stamp at the border control. The territory of the country is conditionally divided into several parts, each of which has its own immigration rules. Thus, to visit Hurghada, Alexandria or Cairo, a visa is required.
Moreover, in 2018, Russian citizens do not need to obtain a preliminary visa to Egypt if the purpose of the trip is tourism. The document is issued immediately after arrival at the airport. For the city of Sharm El-Sheikh and visiting South Sinai, a visa stamp is affixed free of charge, while for the rest of the state you will need to pay a consular fee.
Territory with visa-free regime
Sinai stamp
If a visitor flies to the Sinai Peninsula through the airports of Tabu, Dahab or Sharm El-Sheikh, a visa-free regime applies; a special Sinai stamp is affixed at the border. This decision imposes restrictions on movement around the country, which can be inconvenient for many independent tourists. For example, with a Sinai stamp you will not be able to visit the Ras Mohammed nature reserve or go diving in Thistelgorm.
This feature of visiting the state is associated with military relations between Israel and Egypt. Previously, the Sinai Peninsula belonged to Egypt, but after the war, Israel captured part of this territory, and Egypt was forced to come to terms with this. Now, in order to limit the mass entry of Israeli citizens into their country, the Egyptian authorities have created separate visa legislation for this territory.
According to the Sinai stamp, one is allowed to stay on the territory of the peninsula for no more than two weeks, and attempts to travel beyond the borders of resort towns are stopped by border guards. Therefore, you will not be able to enter the rest of Egypt without a visa.
Experienced travelers said that upon arrival in Sharm El Sheikh, immigration officers try to force travelers to pay a fee, which actually means issuing a visa, like in Hurghada. By law, Russian citizens have the right to count on a visa-free stamp, but in practice, everyone decides for themselves what to do in this situation.
Visa regime for Hurghada
Russians can apply for a visa to Hurghada in 2018 directly upon arrival in Egypt after presenting the required list of documents. If the trip is limited to tourism purposes, there is no need to obtain permission in advance. Similar rules exist in Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor and other territories.
Documents for tourist visa
To obtain a visa at the airport you will need to collect the following documents:
- a valid foreign passport;
- confirmation of hotel reservation or rental housing;
- return ticket.
How to apply for a visa to Egypt?
There are standard rules for everyone entering Egypt that must be followed. You need to go through a simple procedure before applying for a visa to Hurghada and other cities. The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- Filling out the migration card according to all standards.
- Passing visa control with a map and passport.
- Obtaining a visa stamp.
There are no strict inspections at the border, so the process of obtaining a visa to Hurghada is quite quick.
How much does a visa to Egypt cost?
The current cost of a visa to Egypt in 2018 is presented below.
Egyptian visa validity period
The current validity periods for the two types of tourist visas are shown in the table.
| Visa type | Permitted length of stay in Egypt |
|---|---|
| Tourist stamp | 30 days |
| Sinai stamp (SINAI ONLY) | 15 days |
Possible problems when obtaining a visa to Egypt
The aircraft crew can provide assistance in filling out the application for a visa to Egypt. If you were unable to fill out the form on the plane, you can do so immediately upon arrival, using the sample provided.
Tourist visa extension
If your stay in Egypt needs to be extended, you should contact the special passport office. There is no additional charge for this.
Important: If the document was extended for more than 30 days, departure from Egypt should only be carried out on a regular and not a charter flight.
To extend a tourist visa, you must provide the following list of documents:
- 4 photocopies of a civil passport from the main page and registration data;
- 2 photocopies of the visa stamp that was affixed upon entry;
- 2 photocopies of supporting documents regarding rental housing or hotel reservations with the address;
- one color photograph measuring 3.5x4.5 cm;
- filled
Russian citizens aged 60 years or over have the right not to renew their visa. Egypt allows them to stay on its territory for an unlimited amount of time if they can prove a stable income.
If the flight was not on time and the documents were expired, then at the border the authorities will require you to pay a fine of 22 US dollars or 150 local pounds.
Other categories of Egyptian visas
To travel to Egypt for the purpose of finding a job, enrolling in training, meeting relatives or on a business visit, you will need to apply for a visa. To do this, you must contact the Egyptian Embassy in Moscow or obtain permission directly at the Egyptian airport after arrival.
Work Visa
This type of entry document for cooperation with employers is canceled after moving to another place of work.
student visa
This type of visa will be required for citizens wishing to study in Egypt. The student category of visa can be approved even for a minor, provided that he is accompanied by his parents or guardians, for whom the visa is also issued.
Bride's visa
For women wishing to enter into an official marriage with Egyptian citizens, there is a separate fiancé visa. It is drawn up on the basis of an ORFI document - a temporary marriage contract, which will need to be legalized in the future.
Girls who visited the state under this document must get married at the specified time, otherwise the visa will be cancelled.
Resident visa
This type of permit gives its holder the right to stay in the country for a long time, but prohibits taking up work or carrying out commercial activities. Only two categories of Russians can receive it: relatives of Egyptian citizens or owners of property on the territory of the state.
Cost of non-tourist visas
The cost of an Egypt visa in 2018 is much higher than a standard tourist stamp. Prices are shown in the table below.
To calculate the exact cost of a visa to Egypt in 2018 for brides and students, you need to know in advance the list of required procedures to complete. The officially established amount is usually minimal. To comfortably go through all the bureaucratic barriers when applying for a visa upon arrival, you can pay a tip (baksheesh).
