Do I need a visa to Sharm El Sheikh? Sinai Visa: Free Entry to Egypt

Where you can have a great rest, having received a free Sinai stamp as a pass to the resort area.

Sharm El Sheikh city in Egypt

For many years, the Arab Republic of Egypt has been one of the most promising holiday destinations for Russians. And the reason is not so much that life in Egypt is inexpensive, even for students. We were all raised on the legends of this country. Books, films, and animation have taught us to love an amazing country where gods with animal heads once ruled. Egypt offers magnificent landscapes, amazing architecture and pleasant service at affordable prices. Everyone strives to visit the country at least once, to take their offspring and significant other to it.

Great Egyptian Pyramids of Giza

In 2020, nothing has changed for Russians in the rules for entering the territory of the Arab Republic. This means that those who decide to relax in the famous Sharm, that is, on the territory of Sharm el-Sheikh, do not need a visa at all. As a result, there is no need to fill out an application and pay a visa fee, which currently amounts to $25. The only pass to the treasured territories of the fantastically beautiful resort will be the Sinai stamp.

Sinai stamp in the passport

Features of the Sinai visa in 2020

The Sinai stamp is placed after filling. This short document is written in two languages: English and Arabic. Knowledge of basic English will make it possible to fill out the card yourself, since the questions in it are very simple.

External view of the Migration Card to Egypt

Upon arrival in Egypt, you must have your passport with you. Be careful, as there is a requirement for the document: it must be valid for another six months after your trip ends. If you have children with you on holiday in Sharm el-Sheikh, they must either have separate passports, or your offspring must be included in your passport. Photos of children certified with stamps should be placed next to written records.

If children have their own passport, they must fill out a separate migration card. A simple rule applies: each passport comes with a separate migration card.

How to fill out a migration card

You can get a migration form at the airport counter, or you can download it on the Internet and fill it out at home.

This method will be most suitable for those who are not particularly strong in English. The following data is included in the document:

the number of the flight that took you to the Egyptian airport;
the name of the city where you boarded the plane;
surname;
date of birth (written as is customary with us, that is, starting with the date);
nationality;
passport series and number;
the name of the hotel where you booked the room;
in the box asking for the purpose of your trip, you need to check the box next to the word “tourism”;
children (you must indicate your last name, first name and date of birth).

If you need a free Sinai visa, the card must indicate "Sinai only". Those who have already traveled to Sharm el-Sheikh and back are advised to have a pen at the ready. It happens when control representatives insist that a tourist must obtain a regular visa, for which he must pay. You have the right to defend your rights and do as you see fit.

If you enter a zone where you do not need to pay through Tabu, the Sinai stamp in 2020 is placed on the documents of Russians by default. Although the cost is low, many choose Sharm el-Sheikh for their holidays.

A small excursion into big history

Many people are wondering why Egypt behaves so kindly towards guests who want to stay in Sharm el-Sheikh, and for what reasons tourists in these territories do not need to buy an entry permit. After all, it is quite obvious that such a formulation of the issue is completely disadvantageous to the Arab Republic.

Meanwhile, the point is not at all about the courtesy of the Egyptians, but about history, which has thousands of years of roots. It's all about the relationship between Egypt and neighboring Israel and the centuries-old dispute over the lands sacred to the Israelis. Not long ago, Israel owned the territories adjacent to Sharm el-Sheikh.

Due to the current international situation, it was necessary to return the once captured peninsula to Egypt, but Egypt also had to make concessions. One of them is the Sinai stamp, which allows visitors to sacred territories not to pay the cost of a visa fee.

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 it is also possible to 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

Egypt has always been among the top three foreign countries where Russian citizens go on vacation. In the spring of 2018, the authorities promise to resume charter flights with this country, which means the flow of tourists there will flow there with renewed vigor. Do Russians need a visa to Egypt? Yes, even though it is done upon arrival, you still need a visa to travel to Egypt in 2020. If you are going for tourist purposes, then it is easily done and paid for at the airport, without preparing additional documents. However, if you go for another purpose, then the documents are prepared according to all the rules in advance.

The most popular visa to Egypt is a tourist visa. Russians can get it at an airport, for example in Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh. The cost of a visa to Egypt is $25 upon receipt upon arrival. They can also help you fill out the card for an additional fee (about $5).

To get it, you need to have a passport valid for more than 6 months and enter for the purpose of tourism. In practice, upon entry, at most they may ask for a tourist voucher or at least the name of the hotel where you will be staying. The rule of a 6-month foreign passport is also not checked in practice, the main thing is that you are put on a plane, but it is better, of course, not to risk it, but to get a new passport.

At the cash desk, a fee is paid and a visa to Egypt for 1 month is filled out. A sample of filling out the migration card form is shown in the photo. It is given out on the plane for free.

How to fill out a visa in Hurghada

If you want to extend it for another 1 month, you need to contact the migration police (in Hurghada the consular department is called Gauzet, in Cairo - Mugamma).

Sinai visa

If you are planning to visit only Sinai Peninsula, then you can enter there completely free of charge. The Sinai visa is valid in Sharm el Sheikh and nearby cities of the peninsula.

What are the features of this entry method?

It is valid only for 15 days.
Strictly limits the area of your presence.

The Sinai Peninsula is highlighted in purple on the map.

With it you can visit Dahab, Mount Moses, Nuweiba, St. Catherine's Monastery, up to and including Taba. But, for example, you will no longer be allowed into the Ras Mohammed Marine Reserve. It will also deprive you of the opportunity to go diving in Tiselgorm, the pyramids and, of course, the Sinai visa in Hurghada, Luxor and Cairo will also not work. When traveling to Israel, your Sinai visa is closed at the border. On the same day you can enter back through the Taby checkpoint and get a new one for 15 days.

Sinai visa stamps for visiting Israel

To get it, when filling out the migration card, you need to write on the back of it the note “Only Sinai visa” in English - “ SINAI ONLY" Next, you need to contact the border guards, not the cashier, and show this mark on the card. Now a free stamp is given to almost everyone who wants one. In some cases, border guards may demand payment, but if this happens, calmly explain to them in English that this is not legal and contact the Bikbashi (boss). You will receive the stamp after this in a couple of minutes.

Other types of visas

There are also visas in Egypt for other purposes of travel, which must be obtained in advance:

Professional (for diplomatic mission workers, journalists, sailors, flight crews). They can be obtained in advance from the Moscow embassy.
Work visa – allows you to work in a certain Egyptian company without the right to change employer. Issued for 6 or 12 months, its cost starts from $150.
To obtain it, you need to provide a certified diploma of higher education, insurance, a questionnaire, a letter of guarantee from the employer (stating that his company employs 11 Egyptians for every foreigner, or your profession is one of the rare ones).
Student - issued for children studying at an international school, students and for studying language in some linguistic centers.
Fiancée visa – issued to women who have entered into a temporary marriage contract (TMC). It is done only once and for 6 months, for marriage.
Resident visa without work rights - it can be obtained by property owners in Egypt for 3-12 months and wives of Egyptian citizens for 1, 3 or 5 years. The cost of a visa to Egypt of this type will depend on its duration, from 30 to 50 dollars. The purpose of the trip is confirmed by the presence of documents on the ownership of real estate, receipts for payment of utilities or a marriage contract.
Business visa – for businessmen who travel to conferences and business meetings. It is done on average for 7-10 days, and it costs $50.

To avoid problems when processing documents, you must have round-trip tickets and attach an itinerary receipt and hotel reservation.

If you have problems obtaining a visa directly from the consulate, you can contact an agency that will provide you with visa support. In Moscow, on average, such services, together with the consular fee, will cost $70-80.

Traveling with children

If you are flying with children, it is highly advisable that they have their own passport. It can be obtained even from the birth of the child. If the child is included in your passport, then when receiving a visa, make sure that there is a mark on it about 2 entrants, otherwise you will not avoid problems when leaving. Children over 6 years old must have a pasted-in photograph, and over 14 years old must have their own passport.

If a child is traveling with third parties (including grandparents, brothers and sisters) without parents, you must obtain from them a notarized permission for the minor to travel abroad. If at least one parent accompanies the child, this is not necessary.

Extension of a visa

In fact, upon arrival you are given a 30-day entry permit + 2 weeks are given to leave. To extend it and turn it into a real visa, you need to contact the Passport Office. It is open until 12:00, closed on Friday.

What does an Egyptian visa look like?

Instead of an arrival stamp, a tourist visa is given free of charge for 2 months (counting days from the date of entry). You need to go to the Egyptian passport office and ask the boss to put a new stamp on you. You can live on it until the date indicated on the stamp + 2 weeks to leave, after which you need to extend it. This cannot be done in advance, only after the stamp expires. To do this, you need to go to the passport office again, but not to the boss, but to a special window for tourists.

List of documents for visa extension:

4 copies of passport pages with your data;
2 copies of previous visa;
2 copies of the property ownership or rental agreement (the original is not needed) to confirm the place of residence;
1 color photo 4*6.
Ask for a form and fill it out in English.
Give your passport and payment (about 10 pounds) to the same window.

They will tell you to come the next day after lunch, and they will put a stamp with the number that you submitted the documents for renewal. They will be sent to Cairo, so you can live in Egypt using this stamp while the documents are being processed. Then they will issue a visa or a departure stamp instead.

If you need to return before the decision to extend is made, you need to come to Gauset with a plane ticket 3-7 days before departure.

Overdue documents

If your visa is overdue, you may be charged a fine of 1,000 Egyptian pounds (57 USD) upon departure. If you are caught on Egyptian territory, you may face arrest for 3 days and deportation to your homeland at your expense.

According to Egyptian law, anyone over 60 years of age has the right to live there long-term if they have a regular source of income. Therefore, for pensioners, there is no need to extend their visa for a stay of up to 1 year.

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.

Hello, my friend! Here's Chris and I'm glad to welcome you to my blog. Today's post is dedicated to the visa regime in Egypt. To be more precise, I will tell you in which case you do not need to pay $25 for a visa, what the “Sinai Only” stamp is and why, after a two-week vacation, they may ask you for some money at the border.

Save $25

If you are planning to vacation in South Sinai: Sharm El-Sheikh, Taba, Nuweiba, then upon arrival at the airport you do not have to buy a visa. You need to take a migration card from the customs officer, fill it out, write “Sinai only” on the back, and go through the border.

You will be given a stamp that gives you the right to stay on the eastern part of the peninsula for 14 days.

If you plan to stay only on the hotel premises and attend only local excursions, then this is the most suitable option. But if you are going to the pyramids in Cairo or Luxor, then this option will not suit you - you need a visa.

By the way, if you plan to vacation for more than 14 days, then you also have the option of not buying it, but for this you will have to go on excursions to Jerusalem or Petra in order to break up the total period of stay in Sinai.

Departure fines for ignorant tourists

Cost of fines and visa extensions 2018

More than once I have seen people standing at customs with bulging eyes, completely not understanding why they are demanding round sums of money in local currency upon departure. The fact is that visa rules in Egypt have recently changed. The cost of visas and fines for overstaying them have also increased. For example, previously the fine for delays of up to six months was 153Le, but now, for a minute, from 1 day to 3 months it is 1655Le (almost $100). In the old days, they could turn a blind eye to your extra 1-2 days in the country, but now even one “caught” tourist is a considerable addition to the treasury.

Therefore, when going on vacation, carefully count the days of your stay in the country, because one extra 15th day for a family of 3 people will cost you almost 300 bucks, which will need to be paid in local currency.

Another possible option: you bought a visa, rested for, say, 21 days, and upon departure they demand a fine from you. This unpleasant situation can arise when, upon entering Egypt, the customs officer stamped you not on the visa you purchased, but next to it or even on a different page of your passport. Unfortunately, this is the practice. I strongly recommend that you check for the presence of a stamp on the stamp, and, if it is missing, ask for it to be duplicated on the sticker.

Another “disadvantage” of the stamp

If you planned to take a vacation for 14 days, but had a desire to stay longer, and for Dahab this is a common practice, then these are unnecessary difficulties with the extension. You need to go to the airport, buy a stamp, then go to the visa office. But if you initially had a $25 stamp, in addition to 30 days, you have another 14, during which you can leave Egypt without any fines.

It seemed to be quite complete. Anyone who needs more detailed information is redirected to the article. I look forward to your questions in the comments to the article.

With respect and love from sunny Dahab