Get Consultancy for Egypt Visa
Independent consultancy • Free initial evaluation
Egypt Visa for US Citizens: Visa on Arrival, e-Visa and Fees
US citizens need a visa for Egypt: visa on arrival, an e-Visa at US$30 or US$65, or a consular visa. Passport rules, documents and timing from official sources.
About this route
This guide covers the official Egypt entry process for United States passport holders: required documents, the application steps, and where our optional support fits in.
Do United States citizens need a visa for Egypt?
Yes. United States passport holders need a visa to enter Egypt, and they have three ways to get one: a visa on arrival at Egyptian airports, an e-Visa issued in advance through the government portal, or a consular visa from the Egyptian Embassy in Washington. For most tourists the practical choice is between the visa on arrival and the e-Visa. The Egypt e-Visa Portal of the Ministry of Interior states that a foreign citizen wishing to enter Egypt generally must first obtain an e-Visa, and it lists the fees for tourism.
The visa on arrival is the traditional route for Americans: a stamp bought at the airport before immigration, paid in US dollars. It works, but it means queuing after a long flight and carrying the right cash. The e-Visa moves the same decision to your laptop before departure, and the portal sends a download link once the fee is paid.
Visa on arrival, e-Visa or consular visa: which route fits your trip?
The three routes lead to the same tourist permission, so the choice is about convenience, timing and the purpose of travel. Business travellers and anyone staying with family should note that the e-Visa entry requirements ask for a supporting letter, and that the consular route handles categories the portal does not.
| Route | Official fee | Where and when |
|---|---|---|
| e-Visa, single entry (tourism) | US$30 | Online at visa2egypt.gov.eg before travel |
| e-Visa, multiple entries (tourism) | US$65 | Online at visa2egypt.gov.eg before travel |
| Visa on arrival | Paid in US dollars at the airport | Bank counters before immigration at Egyptian airports |
| Consular visa, single entry | US$27 | Egyptian Consulate in Washington, in person or by mail, at least 10 business days |
| Consular visa, multiple entry | US$62 | Same, with a ticket showing multiple entries |
All fees are paid to the Egyptian government. Kolay Seyahat is an independent consultancy, and any assistance fee we quote is separate from the amounts above.
Other destinations for United States passport holders
You can apply yourself.
This guide covers the full official process step by step. Honesty builds trust. If you have questions, you can reach us through the contact options above.
Egypt e-Visa entry requirements for US travellers
The portal lists what immigration expects to see on arrival from an e-Visa holder. Meeting the list in advance avoids questions at the desk.
- A passport valid for at least 6 months from the arrival date.
- A printout of the e-Visa.
- A travel itinerary.
- A supporting letter for business or family visits, for example a letter from your company or an invitation letter.
- Hotel bookings or details of the places you plan to visit if you travel as a tourist.
The e-Visa is granted to citizens of the countries shown on the portal, and the United States is among them. Applicants enter their information, pay by credit or debit card and receive a link to download the visa. Passport authorities at the ports of arrival check its validity in their own system, so a printout is a convenience rather than the only proof.
How to apply for the Egypt e-Visa step by step
The portal at visa2egypt.gov.eg belongs to the Ministry of Interior and is the only official e-Visa channel. The Egyptian consulate in Washington notes that it has no access to the portal and cannot assist with e-Visa applications; questions go to the portal's own contact form.
⏱️ Application Steps
1. Step 1: Check your passport
It must be valid for at least 6 months from your arrival date in Egypt.
2. Step 2: Register on visa2egypt.gov.eg
Create an account and register the traveller's data exactly as in the passport.
3. Step 3: Choose single or multiple entry
Tourism single entry costs US$30, multiple entries US$65.
4. Step 4: Pay by credit or debit card
The visa fee is collected through the website after the data is registered.
5. Step 5: Download and print the e-Visa
A download link is sent to you. Carry the printout with your itinerary and hotel details for the arrival check.
Sessions on the portal expire if a page is left idle, so have your passport and card details ready before you start. If the portal rejects the application, the consular route remains open.
The consular visa from the Egyptian Embassy in Washington
Americans who prefer a visa in the passport before departure, or who need a category the portal does not issue, apply to the Consulate of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Washington, in person or by mail. The consulate's page for American passport holders lists fees of US$27 for single entry and US$62 for multiple entry, paid in cash in person or by cashier's check from a US bank when mailing; money orders and personal checks are refused and exact change is required.
- Bring or mail two copies of the original documents, including the completed and signed application form with a photo.
- Mailed applications must include an express or certified mail envelope, pre-addressed and pre-stamped, for the return of the passport.
- Most applications are processed in at least 10 business days, plus mailing time.
- A pickup slip is required to retrieve a passport in person.
A separate page on the same site lists fees of US$32 and US$67 for applications that fall under the pre-approval procedure for certain nationalities and residency categories, which does not apply to ordinary American tourists. Check the page for American passport holders, not the general one, before sending payment.
Arriving in Egypt: what immigration checks
At Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and the other international airports, e-Visa holders proceed to passport control with the printout; visa on arrival buyers first stop at the bank counters before the immigration desks. Officers may ask for the itinerary, hotel details and, for business or family visits, the supporting letter named in the portal's entry requirements.
Passport validity is the check that catches Americans most often. Six months from the arrival date is the rule for every route, and airlines apply it at check-in in the United States.
| Question | Visa on arrival | e-Visa |
|---|---|---|
| When the decision is made | At the airport after landing | Before departure, online |
| Payment | US dollars at the bank counter | Credit or debit card on the portal |
| Multiple entries | Depends on availability at the counter | Yes, US$65 |
| Best for | Spontaneous trips, backup if the portal fails | Planned trips, families, tight connections |
Pros of applying for the e-Visa yourself
- US$30 single or US$65 multiple entry, paid by card, no cash to carry
- No airport queue for a visa after a transatlantic flight
- A download link arrives by email; the printout is easy to keep with the itinerary
Cons of applying for the e-Visa yourself
- The portal session expires quickly, and a mistyped passport number cannot be corrected after payment
- An approved e-Visa can still be refused at the port without explanation
- Business and family visitors must carry a supporting letter that tourists tend to forget
Common mistakes American travellers make with the Egypt visa
The Egyptian rules are simple, which is exactly why travellers stop reading too early. These are the errors we see repeated, each one avoidable with a minute of preparation.
- Arriving with a passport that expires in five months. Six months from arrival is the rule for the e-Visa and for the counters at the airport.
- Buying a single-entry e-Visa for a trip that crosses into Jordan or Israel and back. The second entry needs a multiple-entry visa at US$65.
- Travelling for business or to stay with family without the supporting letter that the portal lists among its entry requirements.
- Emailing the consulate about an e-Visa. The consulate has no access to the portal and cannot help; the portal's contact form is the only channel.
- Mailing a personal check or money order to the consulate for a consular visa. Only a cashier's check from a US bank, or cash in person, is accepted.
Official Sources
The information on this page has been verified from the official sources below.
Questions & Answers(7)
1Do US citizens need a visa to enter Egypt?
2How much does the Egypt e-Visa cost for US citizens?
3Can US citizens get a visa on arrival in Egypt?
4What passport validity does Egypt require?
5How long does the consular visa take at the Egyptian Embassy in Washington?
6Does the Egyptian consulate help with e-Visa problems?
7Does an approved e-Visa guarantee entry to Egypt?
Arrive prepared for the Egypt visa on arrival
Let's review the documents and fee required at the border before you travel, and book your flight and hotel here.
Free pre-assessment