Egypt Visa for CIS Citizens in 2026, Costs and Extension

Types of tourist visa

There are several options for a tourist trip to Egypt, and which one suits you depends mainly on your citizenship.

• Visa on arrival. You buy it at the airport before passport control.
• E-visa. You apply in advance on the official portal visa2egypt.gov.eg.
• Embassy visa. You get it before the trip, and for some countries it is the only option.
• Sinai stamp. A free entry stamp for holidays only in the Sinai resorts (Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, Taba) for up to 15 days.

Visa on arrival and how much it costs

Russian citizens can buy a single-entry tourist visa right at the airport. Since 1 March 2026 it has cost 30 dollars instead of the previous 25, and it allows a stay of up to 30 days.

Since 1 August 2026 a digital visa on arrival with a QR code has been running as a pilot at Cairo airport. With the service fee it costs about 36 dollars. At the start of the pilot the paper visa was kept in Cairo too, and other airports are to be connected gradually, so check the procedure before you fly.

For citizens of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan a visa on arrival is not always available. According to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry, adult citizens of Kazakhstan get it only at Sharm El Sheikh airport, for a trip of up to 15 days within the resort. According to tour operators, citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan get it as part of a package tour, backed by a letter of guarantee from the tour operator.

The e-visa on the official portal

The e-visa is issued on the portal visa2egypt.gov.eg. You apply no later than 7 days before departure and pay by card. In 2026 a single-entry tourist visa costs 30 dollars and a multiple-entry one 65 dollars, as prices went up at the end of April 2026.

The official list of e-visa countries includes Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Moldova. Citizens of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are not on this list.

Apply only on the official portal. There are many websites with similar names that charge noticeably more for the same visa.

Who needs a visa from an embassy in advance

A visa from an Egyptian embassy in advance is usually needed by citizens of countries that are not on the e-visa list, and by anyone going to study or work.

Since 2025 a separate rule has applied to citizens of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan under 21: they can enter only with one or both parents.

• Uzbekistan. An advance visa has long been required for Cairo, Hurghada and Luxor. From 1 November 2026, according to the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Cairo, it will also be needed for Sharm El Sheikh and all of Sinai. The Egyptian authorities have not yet published the official text of these rules.
• Kazakhstan. For all trips except a short holiday in Sharm El Sheikh, the visa is obtained at the Egyptian embassy.
• Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. According to tour operators, those flying without a package tour need an embassy visa and clearance from the Egyptian security service, which can take several weeks.
• Students and those going to work. They need not a tourist visa but a different status, arranged through the university or the employer.

How long you can stay in Egypt

A regular tourist visa allows you to stay in the country for up to 30 days. With a Sinai stamp you can stay up to 15 days and only in the Sinai resorts.

Overstaying means a fine on departure, and serious violations of the residence rules can end in deportation. In 2025 the Embassy of Uzbekistan warned about large-scale document checks of foreigners in Cairo, so carry your original passport and keep an eye on deadlines.

How to extend a visa in Egypt

Tourist visas are extended at the Passports, Immigration and Nationality Administration of the Egyptian Interior Ministry. In Cairo it is in the Abbasiya district. You must apply in person and before your current visa expires.

These documents are usually requested.

• Your passport and copies of the photo page and the page with the visa or entry stamp.
• Passport photos and an application form, which is given out on site.
• Proof of address in Egypt, such as a rental contract or a hotel booking.
• A receipt from a bank or official exchange office showing that you exchanged dollars or another currency into pounds to pay the fee. This rule has applied since 2023, and the receipt is valid for a limited time.

Fees, terms and students

The length of the extension and the fee are decided by the passport administration, and fees have changed several times in recent years. Check the current amount on site before exchanging money, and keep all receipts.

The Sinai stamp is meant only for a short holiday. If you plan to live in Egypt longer, you need a regular visa and then a residence permit.

Students get a student residence permit through their university (Al-Azhar has a separate administration for foreign student affairs). According to the embassy, from November citizens of Uzbekistan will not be allowed to change a tourist visa to another type inside Egypt, so it is better to get a study visa before the trip.

Common mistakes

• Travelling from Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo on a Sinai stamp. The mainland requires a regular visa.
• Paying for an e-visa on unofficial websites.
• Missing the deadline and hoping to sort it out at the airport.
• Working on a tourist visa. Work requires a permit and a different residence permit.
• Believing rumours from chats about new rules. Check them with the Egyptian embassy or the consul of your country.

How Tullab can help

In the documents and visas section you can find help with translations and paperwork, and in legal services consultations with lawyers. An extension requires an address, so it is best to sign a rental contract as soon as you move in, as explained in our article how to rent an apartment in Cairo.

If you are preparing to study, take a look at the university admission section, where listings offering help with admission are collected.