Visa for Egypt Holiday

gipi

I'm off to Egypt at the end of October on a 12 day touring holiday, taking in Cairo and a cruise along the Nile.

I know that I need a Visa, but haven't seen much advice on how to get one other than to queue on arrival in Cairo Airport with $20 in my hand!

Has anyone here "been there, done that", is it as much hassle (long queues) as the guide books say it is? Or did you get one before you left?

Thanks!

Galadriel

I went to Egypt a few years ago, I got my visa before I left...didn't know you could get one there, have a look at the website: http://embegyptireland.ie/the-embassy.htm

I would avoid any hassle and get it before you go!

growler

went to Sharm earlier this year and it was no problem to get one, every booth in the airport was flogging them.

lord lucan

you can get them at the bureau de change in most egyptian airports,been to luxor 7 times and always buy them when we arrive. they'll take euro and will give you back egyptian change.

guideanna

I flew into Cairo airport a few years ago and got one in the airport one we got off the plane. The booth is just beside the exchange bereau. It's just like 2 postage stamps that they stick on your passport. Wasn't expensive at all and completly hassle free.

gipi

Thanks to all of you for the information - wasn't even aware that there was an Egyptian embassy in Ireland (thought I'd have to send my passport to UK and wasn't too keen on doing that!). Sounds like I'll have no trouble sorting it out in Cairo itself.
One less thing to sort out!

Thanks to all again.

Tazzle

Don't forget your vaccines!

Galadriel

If I knew that you could just get it when you arrive I wouldn't have wasted my time going all the way across city to the Embassy, then back the next day to pick my visa up...doh!

aviendha

oops - also heading to Egypt in October - what Vaccines/ malaria tablets will I need? :rolleyes:

lord lucan

i've never taken any malaria tablets or got vaccinations for any of my trips to egypt and touch wood the worst i've had was a dodgy stomach once from a dodgy bbq!!

gipi

I've read that there's no malaria problem in the touristy parts of Egypt, although there are mosquitoes (so bring mozzie repellant).

There are no compulsory vaccinations, but there are recommended ones. I checked with the "fit for travel" website run by the NHS in Scotland - here's the link

Meathlass

Visa is completely hassle free. THe visa booths are to the right of customs. No queue to buy visa but always a queue to go through immigration so I recommend being fairly quick off the plane. Most of the flights seem to arrive at night. I don't know if other people experienced this but when I went through immigration they held onto my passport while they processed the guy behind me, when they were finished with him they gave me my passport, then held onto his while they processed the guy behind him etc. They always had 2 passports behind the class. Very strange. Woudn't bother with malaria tablets but bring repellent. Would update your Hep a and b if you don't have it though.