The beauty of Egypt's landscapes and ancient monuments has made the country a popular tourist destination. If you are interested in visiting it as a tourist, you will need a passport and a tourist visa. The process for applying for this visa will vary depending on your citizenship status and where you plan to enter Egypt from. You can apply for a visa before starting your trip, but there are also people who can get a visa right away when they get there. If you plan to stay in this pyramidal country for more than a few weeks, renew your visa while you are still living there.
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Method 1 of 3: Making Tourist Visa Before Departure
Step 1. Make a passport before traveling
Regardless of when and where you plan to apply for a visa, you will still need a passport to enter Egyptian territory. Usually you make a passport application at a government office, such as at the immigration office. To do so, you will need an application form, a birth certificate, and an identity card.
- If you already have a passport, make sure that it won't expire soon. Passport is valid for at least 6 months after the date of arrival in Egypt.
- Holders of a diplomatic passport or black passport must still apply for a visa before arriving there, even if traveling as a tourist.
Step 2. Check the government website for travel information to Egypt
Your country's government will provide you with the latest information on how to get a tourist visa to go to Egypt and other requirements specifically for tourists from Indonesia.
- For example, for citizens of the United States, visit the state government's travel information site and search for information on travel to Egypt. The state government website provides information on entry and exit requirements as well as requirements for passports and visas, travel warnings and restrictions, health information, laws and customs in Egypt, contacts for American consulates and embassies in Egypt, as well as a general description of this Pharaoh's country..
- As for Indonesian citizens, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get more information about the advice to travel abroad, such as to Egypt.
Step 3. Apply for a tourist visa through the nearest Egyptian Embassy or consulate
You can visit the embassy in person or submit your visa application by mail. Keep in mind that applications sent by post will take longer to process. To submit an application at the nearest embassy, you will need:
- Completely completed visa application form (the form can be downloaded from the official website of the embassy or consulate)
- Two photographs measuring 5.08 cm x 5.08 cm on a white background.
- Passports with a validity period of more than six months are counted from the date of arrival to Egypt.
- Bring two copies of the passport information page.
Step 4. Prepare money to pay the visa application fee
Most consulates and embassies only accept cash or checks. Usually, the cost of applying for a visa ranges from IDR 210,000 to IDR 421,000 depending on your country of origin.
Step 5. Bring other additional documentary evidence if needed
You may need to bring other documentary evidence, such as a photocopy of your round-trip ticket, travel itinerary, or a letter from work or school. If you are not residing in your home country and will be traveling from there, also bring other evidence such as a residence permit card.
Step 6. Prepare pre-approval documents from the Egyptian Consulate if required
Tourists from some countries need pre-approval before applying for an Egypt tourist visa. This process can take up to 6 weeks and the paperwork must be completed before the visa can be processed. Check with the nearest Egyptian Embassy to find out the procedure for obtaining visa document pre-approval.
Currently, pre-approval documents are required for citizens of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda, Liberia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mali, Niger, Chad, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Philippines, Lebanon (for tourists aged 16 to 50), Morocco, Mauritania, Nigeria, Tunisia, Bosnia (for tourists coming from Egypt), Congo, China, Somalia, Algeria, Cyprus, Sudan, Kosovo, Libya (for men aged 16-60 years), Pakistan, Moldova (for women aged 15 to 35), Syria, Turkey (for tourists aged 18 to 45), Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Yemen, and North Korea
Method 2 of 3: Making Visa on Arrival
Step 1. Check with the nearest Egyptian Consulate to find out if you can get a visa on arrival or a visa on arrival
Egypt offers this type of visa for travelers from different countries. So check if you can get it too or not. If you are not sure, find out ahead of time about Egypt's entry permit policy for tourists from Indonesia. Also, ask if you are not sure if you are eligible to enter Egypt or get a visa or not.
Step 2. Make sure all documents are complete
If you wish to obtain a visa upon arrival in Egypt, you must have a valid passport with at least one blank page, two passport photos, two photocopies of the front page of the passport, and a completely filled out visa form. Check with the nearest consulate to see if you still need other documents.
Step 3. Obtain a visa when arriving at the Egyptian airport
Travelers from many countries can get a visa on arrival once they arrive at the Egyptian airport. They can get it from the bank kiosk located at the airport arrival terminal.
- Visas on arrival usually cost IDR 352,000 or IDR 492,000 for multiple visas.
- Make sure to buy the visa from the bank's official kiosk. You may run into an agent who is trying to offer you a visa at a very high price.
- Most tourist visas on arrival are valid for 30 days.
- Tourists from several countries such as the UK can get a free entry permit which is valid for up to 15 days. However, they had to travel directly to the resorts of Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba.
Method 3 of 3: Updating Visa in Egypt
Step 1. Prepare the document
If you plan to stay in Egypt for more than 30 days, you must renew your tourist visa. Prepare the same documents as when making a visa for the first time when you are going to renew it. These documents include:
- Passport
- Two passport photos
- Two photocopies of the passport information sheet and the sheet with the previous tourist visa.
Step 2. Go to the nearest passport office to renew the visa
You have to find an office location that is closest to the area where you live. The cost of renewing a visa can vary, but it costs around IDR 12,700.
Step 3. Be prepared to pay a fine if you don't renew your visa
Tourist visas are usually only valid for 30 days in Egypt. There is also a grace period of 14 days which is calculated from the time the visa expires. If you cannot renew it within this grace period, you will have to pay a fine at the airport before you can leave Egypt. If you are in this situation, check beforehand how much fine you have to pay. So, you can prepare local currency when you go to the airport.
Tips
- You can also get multiple visas to extend your stay in Egypt from the Egyptian Consulate. This type of visa allows you to stay in Egypt for 90 days and return there more than once in a 6 month period.
- Malaysian citizens may stay in Egypt for up to 2 weeks without a visa. They will need a visa if staying for more than 2 weeks.
- Heed travel advisories, especially on the Sinai Peninsula. You can visit the official website of the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo to monitor the current dangers in Egypt and travel restrictions.
- Diplomats, South African nationals, and the wife or parent of an Egyptian citizen do not have to pay the visa fee.
