Sharm El Sheikh Visa Guide: Sinai Stamp, Visa on Arrival or E-Visa?

Arriving at Sharm El Sheikh airport, most holidaymakers choose between two ways in: a free Sinai-only entry stamp or a full Egyptian tourist visa. Which one you need depends on your nationality, how long you are staying and, importantly, which trips you plan to take.

Entry rules are set by the Egyptian authorities and can change at short notice. Use this guide to understand your options, then confirm the current rules with your government's travel advice, your airline or tour operator, and the official Egyptian e-visa portal before you fly.

Option 1: the free Sinai-only entry stamp

Visitors flying into Sharm El Sheikh for a short stay can usually ask for a Sinai-only entry permission stamp at passport control instead of buying a visa.

• •Cost: free.
• •Length of stay: up to 15 days.
• •Where it is valid: the South Sinai resorts along the Gulf of Aqaba, such as Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba, and usually St Catherine.
• •Where it is not valid: the rest of Egypt, including Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada. Several governments' travel advice has also stated that the Sinai-only stamp does not cover visits to Ras Mohammed National Park.

That last point matters. If you want to join a Ras Mohammed boat trip or the Ras Mohammed land tour by bus, get a full visa on arrival rather than the Sinai stamp, or check with us before you travel. Our boat trips also ask you to bring a copy of your passport.

Option 2: visa on arrival

Citizens of many countries, including the EU, the UK and the US, can buy a single-entry tourist visa on arrival at Sharm El Sheikh airport. At the time of writing it costs US$25 and allows a stay of up to 30 days.

• •Visa stickers are sold at the bank or exchange counters in the arrivals hall, before passport control.
• •Bring cash; US dollars, euros and pounds sterling are generally accepted. Card payment is not always available.
• •Your passport should normally be valid for at least six months from your arrival date.

A full visa gives you freedom: Ras Mohammed, mainland Egypt and stays longer than 15 days are all covered.

Option 3: e-visa before you fly

You can also apply online for an Egyptian e-visa before travelling. Use only the official government portal (visa2egypt.gov.eg); many look-alike websites charge extra fees. Apply well ahead of your trip and print the approval to show on arrival.

The e-visa is useful if you want everything settled before you land, though for most nationalities buying the visa at the airport is just as quick.

Which should you choose?

1. Staying under 15 days, only beaches, desert and Dahab: the free Sinai stamp works.
2. Planning Ras Mohammed National Park: buy the visa on arrival (or an e-visa).
3. Adding Cairo, Luxor or anywhere outside South Sinai, or staying longer than 15 days: you need the full visa.

If you are unsure, the visa on arrival is the safe choice; it costs little compared with missing the reefs at Ras Mohammed.

Before you go: a quick checklist

• •Passport valid for at least six months.
• •Return or onward ticket.
• •Cash for the visa (US$25 at the time of writing), in clean, undamaged notes.
• •Travel insurance.
• •A photocopy or photo of your passport for boat trips.

For everything else, from money to packing, see our Sharm El Sheikh travel guide and what to pack.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Sharm El Sheikh?

Many visitors can enter Sharm El Sheikh for up to 15 days on a free Sinai-only entry stamp issued at the airport. For longer stays, travel outside South Sinai, or a visit to Ras Mohammed National Park, you need a full tourist visa, which many nationalities can buy on arrival.

How much is the visa on arrival at Sharm El Sheikh airport?

At the time of writing a single-entry tourist visa on arrival costs US$25 and is valid for a stay of up to 30 days. Rules and fees can change, so check before you travel.

Can I visit Ras Mohammed with the Sinai-only stamp?

Several governments' travel advice has said the Sinai-only stamp does not cover Ras Mohammed National Park. If you plan to visit Ras Mohammed, buy the full visa on arrival or an e-visa.

Can I go to Dahab with the Sinai stamp?

Yes, Dahab is one of the South Sinai resorts usually covered by the Sinai-only stamp, so the Colored Canyon and Dahab day trip is normally fine on it.