Do Indian passport holders need a visa for Egypt?
Indian passport holders require a visa to enter Egypt, but the process is simple: a visa on arrival is available at major Egyptian airports and does not require any advance application. You pay the fee at the immigration counter on arrival and receive your stamp within minutes. Egypt is a straightforward, cost-effective destination for Indian travellers.
Egypt draws Indian tourists with its unparalleled ancient monuments — the Pyramids of Giza, the temples of Luxor, the Valley of the Kings — alongside Red Sea beach resorts in Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh that rival anything in Southeast Asia. The entire country is accessible on a single visa on arrival.
How to Apply
No advance application is required. Process on arrival:
- Land at your entry airport (Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, or Luxor).
- Proceed to the bank counter (Banque Misr) before the immigration desks — this is where you purchase your visa sticker. Do not go to immigration first.
- Pay $25 USD (or equivalent in EUR/GBP) and receive a visa sticker.
- Stick the visa label in your passport at the counter or ask the teller to do it.
- Proceed to immigration, present your passport with the visa sticker, and complete entry.
The entire process takes 5 to 20 minutes depending on queues.
Documents Required
- Valid Indian passport (minimum 6 months validity beyond travel dates, at least 1 blank page for the visa sticker)
- Return or onward flight ticket
- Hotel booking or tour package confirmation
- $25 USD in cash (or EUR/GBP equivalent) as backup
- Proof of sufficient funds (credit card or cash)
Costs & Fees
- Visa on arrival fee: $25 USD (approximately ₹2,100)
- Payment accepted in USD, EUR, GBP, or Egyptian Pounds (EGP); card payments accepted at most counters
- No additional government fee
- If you book through a tour operator, the visa fee is sometimes included in the package price — confirm before travel
Tips
- Carry USD cash. While card payments are often accepted, having $25 in USD notes avoids any payment issues at the bank counter.
- Go to the bank first. Many first-time visitors make the mistake of queuing at immigration without a visa sticker. The Banque Misr counter is located before passport control — follow the signs.
- Cairo layover entry: If you have a layover and wish to enter Egypt briefly, you still require a visa on arrival.
- Best time to visit: October to April is ideal — temperatures are cooler and the desert sites are far more comfortable. May to September is extremely hot in Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan (40°C+), though Red Sea resorts remain popular year-round.
- Currency: Egypt uses the Egyptian Pound (EGP). USD is widely accepted in tourist areas, but using local currency gives better value.
- Dress modestly outside beach resort areas, especially when visiting mosques, bazaars, and historic sites.
- Must-see beyond Cairo: Luxor’s Karnak Temple and Valley of the Kings, the temples of Abu Simbel (day trip from Aswan), and a Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan are all exceptional experiences.