Egypt visa on arrival for citizens of the United States: conditions and fees 2026

Our guide to the Egypt visa from the United States

U.S. citizens need a visa for Egypt; it can be obtained on arrival at eligible airports or, more easily, online before departure.

Egypt requires an entry visa from United States nationals for a tourist stay. The traveler can choose between visa on arrival and the e-Visa requested in advance on the official portal. The U.S. passport should remain valid for at least six months.

How much does a visa for Egypt cost from the United States?

30 USD

Official government fee only. Providers and visa centres add their own service charge on top.

Egypt e-Visa, applied for online before departure: 30-65 USD.

What documents are required for a visa for Egypt?

Documents published for the online application (Egypt e-Visa):

• Passport valid 6 months
• Recent photo
• Travel itinerary

No separate list is published for the visa issued on arrival in a source we can verify: confirm with the official source which documents the counter will ask for.

How to apply for a visa for Egypt from the United States

1. 1Check before departure that your entry point actually issues the visa on arrival.
2. 2Prepare the supporting documents and the fee, often required in cash.
3. 3Complete the form at the dedicated counter after landing.
4. 4Pay the fee and collect the sticker before immigration control.

Where do you apply for a visa for Egypt from the United States?

A visa on arrival for Egypt is issued at the border post itself, at a counter placed before immigration control.

• Not every crossing issues it. Confirm that your specific airport or land border does before you book.
• The counter is reached after landing and before immigration. Follow the visa signs rather than the exit.
• The fee is usually paid on the spot, sometimes in cash and in a specific currency. Card is not guaranteed.

How long does a visa for Egypt take?

A visa on arrival is issued at the counter of the entry point when you cross the border: there is no processing time to plan for before departure.

Through the online application (Egypt e-Visa): 5-7 business days.

Before you fly, and at the border

• Passport validity: most countries require the passport to stay valid beyond the return date, and the margin required differs from one destination to the next. Check it on the official source, and count from your return, not from your departure.
• A visa is not a right of entry. The border officer decides, and may ask for a return ticket, an address or proof of funds even when everything is in order.
• Conditional exemptions exist: several countries waive the visa for holders of a valid visa or residence permit from a third country. This depends on the destination and on the document, and we do not publish that rule when our sources do not carry it. The official page does.
• Minors travelling alone or with one parent are often asked for extra papers, typically a parental authorisation and the family record. Ask the post before booking.
• Overstaying is not a formality. It exposes you to a fine, to removal, and to an entry ban that can outlast the trip by years, including for the whole area when the destination belongs to one.