This Article contains information on the Egypt Visa Application and Immigration Requirements: 2019. Admittedly, Egypt is one of the most fascinating early ancient civilizations in human history. The capital, Cairo, is home to Ottoman landmarks like Muhammad Ali Mosque and the Egyptian Museum, a trove of antiquities.
Yearly, many people travel to Egypt for numerous reasons either for tourism, business, study, visit or immigration. Depending on the purpose of the trip to Egypt, there are different types of visas that apply to the occasion.
So before applying for an Egyptian visa, it is necessary to know the Egyptian visa requirements and which of the visa category that you are eligible for.
LIST OF DOCUMENTS FOR AN EGYPTIAN VISA APPLICATION
The following documents are required for the Switzerland visa application:
Business Visa Application Requirements for an Egypt Visa
Passport
You must provide your actual signed passport, including two copies of the personal information page of your passport. Your passport must:
- Be valid for the next six months
- Have at least one blank visa page (amendments and endorsement pages cannot be used to fulfill this requirement)
- Not be frayed, torn, separating, or altered in any other way
Photographs
You must provide two color, passport-type photographs that meets the following criteria:
- Be taken within the last three months and printed on high-quality photo paper
- Be taken against an all white background
- Be two inches by two inches
- Provide the full frontal view of your head with your face centered in the middle and displaying a neutral (non-smiling) expression
- You may wear neither eyeglasses nor headwear except for religious purposes
- Your photos should not be affixed to your application and it may not display evidence of adhesive tape or staples
Business Cover Letter
You are required to provide a Business Cover Letter from your U.S.-based company. All letters must be printed on company letterhead that displays a U.S. mailing address. Use the included sample Business Cover Letter to complete your letter.When printing your Business Cover Letter, you must:
- You must to provide 2 copies of the business cover letter
Visa Application Form
You must provide two fully completed the visa application forms found in this kit. The application forms must:
- Include answers for all fields
- Display your full name as it appears in your passport
- Be signed
- For the box labeled “Other Information,” specify the name of your employer. If applicable, use “Student” or “Retired” instead of employer.
Proof of Travel Arrangements
You must provide proof of travel arrangements for the duration of your trip. Details of your intended arrangements must:
- Include two copies of an itinerary or e-ticket that displays your round trip travel and entry and exit dates for your destination
- Show the traveler’s full name (as printed in his or her passport)
Tourist Application Requirements for an Egypt Visa
Passport
You must provide your actual signed passport, including two copies of the personal information page of your passport. Your passport must:
- Be valid for the next six months
- Have at least one blank visa page (amendments and endorsement pages cannot be used to fulfill this requirement)
- Not be frayed, torn, separating, or altered in any other way
Photographs
You must provide two color, passport-type photographs that meets the following criteria:
- Be taken within the last three months and printed on high-quality photo paper
- Be taken against an all white background
- Be two inches by two inches
- Provide the full frontal view of your head with your face centered in the middle and displaying a neutral (non-smiling) expression
- You may wear neither eyeglasses nor headwear except for religious purposes
- Your photos should not be affixed to your application and it may not display evidence of adhesive tape or staples
Visa Application Form
You must provide one original and one copy of the visa application form found in this kit. The application forms must:
- Include answers for all fields
- Display your full name as it appears in your passport
- Be signed
- For the box labeled “Other Information,” specify the name of your employer. If applicable, use “Student” or “Retired” instead of employer.
Visa Upon Arrival
It is possible to obtain your visa upon arrival. Visa requirements and restrictions vary greatly when obtaining an on arrival visa. The local immigration officials also hold the right to refuse entry to anyone for any reason. We strongly recommend that you obtain your visa prior to departure. Should you choose to obtain your visa upon arrival, you will need to inquire with your airline if boarding is allowed without a visa. Business activities are not permitted if admitted as a tourist.
Student Visa Application Requirements for an Egypt Visa
In order to apply for a student visa, you require a passport valid for at least six months after your planned return from Egypt.
You will need to enter Egypt on a standard tourist visa, then proceed to register your name and address at the nearest local police station within seven days of your arrival.
Concurrent to this, you will need to fill out a visa application form (which should be available through the institution at which you are studying. You will need to provide your application form, passport, and a passport-size photo to an office of the Ministry of the Interior to finalize your application. You will be charged a fee between LE50 and LE100 to process your application.
Residence visas for long-term stays in Egypt
You may apply for one, three or five-year residence visas for Egypt.
Most foreigners begin by applying for a one-year residence visa, which can be done at an office of the Ministry of the Interior with a valid passport. The office will supply you with the necessary application materials.
Three-year residence visas are more common for foreigners with valid work permits, as are five-year residence visas.
While technically speaking, there are rules governing who is eligible for which visa, you will find that these are subject to loose interpretation by government officials. For more specific and up-to-date information on the residence visa application process and its requirements, you will be best served by contacting the Egyptian consulate in your home country.
Work Visas/Permits Application Requirements for an Egypt Visa
In many countries, there is a separate work visa category. In Egypt, however, foreigners who intend to work must simply apply for a work permit.
Unfortunately, the application process itself is anything but simple. Obtaining an Egyptian work permit is an arduous descent into the bowels of Egyptian government bureaucracy – the author has met more than one expat whose application has been in processing for close to a year (or longer!). The general outline for the process is described below (know in advance that you will not be able to complete the process without a dedicated effort from your employer).
You will begin by obtaining the application form from the nearest Ministry of Manpower and Training Office (in Cairo this is located within the Mugamma in Tahrir Square).
You will then need to assemble the following:
- A valid passport (with valid Egyptian residence status)
- 7 passport-size photos
- Two copies of your employer’s incorporation contract
- Two copies of your Tax ID card (which you will likely need to obtain from another office – officials at the Ministry of Manpower should be able to direct you to the correct location if this is the case)
- Two copies of your academic qualifications (such as university degrees and professional certifications; this can also include letters of reference from past employers)
- A copy of the commercial register (from your employer)
- Any licenses required for practicing your profession (have both the original and copies, just in case)
- A memorandum from your employer explaining why it is necessary to hire a foreigner rather than a qualified Egyptian citizen
- Approval from the Authority related to your profession (e.g. Investment, Petroleum – you and your employer will have to obtain this through the office of that Authority)
- A representative from your employer who will “sponsor” your work permit
- Proof of test showing you are free of HIV/AIDs
- Approval from Egypt’s State Security Service showing that you are not a threat to national security or public safety (this can be obtained through a division at the Ministry of Manpower and Training office)
Finally, you will need to pay a registration fee of LE1,000 to complete the process.
Becoming an Egyptian citizen
If you have lived in Egypt for an extended period of time, or you are married to an Egyptian national, consider applying for Egyptian citizenship. You will no longer have to renew any visas or permits, nor will you have to renounce your first citizenship.
Children born in Egypt or to at least one Egyptian parent automatically earn citizenship. Spouses of Egyptian nationals do not earn citizenship through marriage, though marriage to an Egyptian will undoubtedly improve the chances of your application being approved.
To be eligible for Egyptian citizenship, you must have lived in the country for a minimum of 10 consecutive years, and you must be over 21 years of age. You cannot have a criminal record, and you must be able to prove that you are mentally sound and have no serious physical disabilities that would make you “a burden on the state.” You must be able to demonstrate competency with Arabic and prove that you have a legal means of earning a living.
Applying for Egyptian citizenship as a spouse
If you are the wife of an Egyptian national, the process for citizenship application comparatively simple (curiously, this courtesy is not extended to foreign spouses of Egyptian women). You need only fill out an application form (available at an Egyptian consulate or the offices of the Ministry of the Interior in Cairo) and attach the following documents:
- The original (and one copy) of the Egyptian husband’s birth certificate
- Original and copy of the husband’s father’s (or uncle or aunt’s) birth certificate
- Original and copy of the Egyptian marriage certificate
- A copy of both the husband and wife’s passport
- A written statement from the husband conveying his wish for his wife to obtain citizenship and verifying good martial relations. This must be notarized by either a notary public or an Egyptian consulate official.
- Four recent photographs of the wife
- A processing fee equivalent to about USD100
At this point the application is submitted to the Ministry of the Interior in Cairo for approval.
Other citizenship applications
If you are not the wife of an Egyptian national, you should visit the Egyptian consulate or the Ministry of the Interior office in Cairo to begin the application process. Experiences with the process (and success rates) vary wildly. You should make sure to collect documents similar to those above before your trip (and don’t forget copies!). Also, make sure that your residence and work permits are in order.
If you are granted citizenship, you are not allowed to participate in elections until five years from the day it is granted. You may not run for political office until you have been a citizen for 10 years.
Citizenship by Presidential Decree
The Egyptian President may grant citizenship to any foreign national who has rendered some major service to Egypt. This includes officials of Egypt’s two leading religions, Islam and Coptic Christianity. The President may also waive the restrictions on political participation mentioned above.
Finally, the Ministry of Interior may declare a physically or mentally disabled foreigner eligible for citizenship if that individual has fought as a member of the Egyptian military.
A note on citizenship for women
Foreign women married to Egyptian men should pursue citizenship if at all possible, especially if they have children. Egyptian divorce law is notoriously counterintuitive with regards to women’s rights (an Egyptian court will not grant a woman a divorce unless her husband also approves, for example). A foreign woman without citizenship will undoubtedly get even less than the meagre consideration that the law affords women, even where her children are concerned.
Please consult the Egyptian Embassy in your country for the updated Egyptian Visa requirements!
