Egypt Visa on Arrival from Dubai: Who Qualifies?

The Egypt visa on arrival (VOA) is a single-entry tourist visa issued at the point of entry — at the airport upon landing. It allows eligible foreign nationals to stay in Egypt for up to 30 days from the date of entry. The VOA is available at Cairo International Airport (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2), Hurghada International Airport, and Sharm El Sheikh International Airport.

The Egypt VOA is one of the simplest entry systems of any popular tourist destination. You do not need to pre-register, book an appointment, or upload any documents. All you need is a valid passport, USD 25 in cash, and your travel documents (return ticket and hotel booking) in case the immigration officer asks to see them.

Egypt's visa on arrival is available to nationals of approximately 180 countries. Below is a detailed eligibility table for the most common nationalities found in Dubai, along with the visa conditions that apply.

The Egypt visa on arrival process at Cairo International Airport is straightforward once you know what to expect. Here is the exact step-by-step process when you land at Cairo's Terminal 1 or Terminal 2.

1. 1After disembarking from your flight and before reaching passport control, look for the bank kiosks. These are staffed booths from Banque Misr and/or National Bank of Egypt, clearly signposted in both Arabic and English.
2. 2Join the queue at the bank kiosk. During peak hours (particularly morning arrivals of international flights), this queue can be 15 to 45 minutes long. If you pre-applied for an e-Visa, you can skip this entirely and proceed directly to the immigration counters.
3. 3At the bank counter, tell the teller you need a single-entry Egypt tourist visa. Pay USD 25 (or the equivalent in EUR, GBP, or AED).
4. 4The teller will give you a coloured visa sticker. Check that your nationality is correctly noted and that the sticker is intact. Affix it to a blank page of your passport — the teller can do this for you if you prefer.
5. 5Proceed to the immigration counters. Present your passport (open to the page with the visa sticker) to the immigration officer.
6. 6The immigration officer may ask to see your return ticket, hotel booking, and sufficient funds. Have these ready on your phone or printed.
7. 7The officer will stamp your passport with the entry date. Your 30-day stay period begins from this stamp date, not from when you bought the visa.
8. 8Collect your luggage and proceed through customs. Welcome to Egypt.

Visa on Arrival at Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh Airports

The same visa on arrival process applies at Hurghada International Airport and Sharm El Sheikh International Airport — both popular charter and direct flight destinations from Dubai. Bank kiosks for visa sticker purchase are located before the immigration counters at both airports. The fee, currency acceptance, and stay duration are identical to Cairo.

If your passport nationality is not eligible for Egypt visa on arrival, you have two options: apply for the Egypt e-Visa online before your trip (if your nationality is eligible for the e-Visa), or apply for an embassy visa through the Egyptian Consulate General in Dubai.

OraVisa handles both Egypt e-Visa applications and embassy visa applications for Dubai residents. We will confirm your eligibility, prepare your documents, submit your application, and track the status — so you have complete peace of mind before your trip.

If you want to stay in Egypt for longer than 30 days, you can apply for a visa extension without leaving the country. Extensions are processed at Egyptian immigration offices — the most well-known being the Mogamma building in Tahrir Square, Cairo.

• Apply for an extension before your current 30-day visa expires — overstaying has penalties
• Extensions are typically granted for an additional 30 days at a time
• Required documents for extension: your passport with the original visa stamp, accommodation proof (hotel booking or rental agreement), and financial means (bank card or cash)
• The extension fee is paid at the immigration office in Egyptian Pounds (EGP)
• Extensions are at the discretion of Egyptian immigration authorities — there is no guaranteed approval
• If you plan a long stay in Egypt, applying for a multiple-entry e-Visa before travel (USD 60 for 90 days) is more practical than a visa on arrival with an extension

Dubai residents frequently ask OraVisa the following questions about the Egypt visa on arrival process.

Do I need to show proof of UAE residency for Egypt visa on arrival?

Egypt does not require proof of UAE residency for the visa on arrival — your eligibility is based on your passport nationality, not your residency status. However, some Egyptian immigration officers may ask to see your UAE residence visa as evidence of your current country of residence and ties that will bring you back from Egypt. Keep your Emirates ID accessible.

Can I pay by card for the Egypt visa on arrival?

Card payment is not reliably available at all Egyptian airport bank kiosks. OraVisa strongly recommends carrying USD 25 in cash per person. Some kiosks have introduced card payment options, but this is not consistent across all airports or terminals. Do not rely on card payment alone.

Can I get a multiple-entry visa on arrival for Egypt?

No. The Egypt visa on arrival is only available as a single-entry visa. If you need to exit and re-enter Egypt during the same trip (for example, for a day trip to Jordan or Israel), you will need to apply for a multiple-entry Egypt e-Visa (USD 60) before you travel from Dubai.