Egypt eVisa for British Citizens

Sharm resort permission versus a wider Egypt holiday

FCDO distinguishes short stays at specified South Sinai resorts from travel beyond them. Before paying, write down every excursion you intend to take. A Sharm hotel booking with a Cairo visit is a different entry-planning case from staying only in the permitted resorts. The FCDO page also distinguishes a full British citizen passport from some other British passport categories. Check the nationality description inside the document; a UK address or departure from Manchester does not settle which rule applies.

Manchester departure, Sharm stay, Cairo day trip

In this example, the traveller books a week in Sharm and later adds a flight to Cairo to see Giza. The airport of first arrival remains Sharm, but the planned travel is no longer confined to the resort area. Resolve the visa requirement before the Cairo excursion rather than at the domestic airport. The domestic flight itself does not mean Multiple Entry. If the holiday also includes a separate trip to another country and re-entry into Egypt, count that international return independently.

Half-term bookings and last-minute excursions

When travelling at February or October half term, agree the sightseeing plans with the family while preparing the visa. Adding a mainland excursion late can change the relevant permission even when the hotel and return flight are unchanged. Seven days is the service's processing estimate; it is not a reason to wait until the week before a non-refundable departure.

Example: British citizen status and a renewed passport

For a fictional applicant called Alex James Taylor, include James if it is a given name on the current passport, even when the booking shows only Alex Taylor. If the passport has been renewed since a previous Egypt trip, upload the new biodata page and use its new number and expiry. Keep any old visa or travel history as history, not as the source of current identity. FCDO also specifies a blank passport page; check the physical booklet as well as the scan.

Illustrative names and itineraries for preparation. Confirm current routes and schedules with your carrier.

A check before applying with a British passport

A parent completing several applications should not copy their own birth date into a child's record. Review each saved approval against its matching passport before travelling. Keep travel dates in Egypt's local calendar date, especially after an overnight connection through a third country.

Prepare your application and travel file

1. Check the route first. Use the ordinary passport you will carry. The official Egyptian portal lists passport validity of at least six months from arrival. Resolve any nationality-specific conditions before payment.
2. Prepare a readable biodata page. This form accepts JPG or PNG, up to 500 KB. Keep all edges and the machine-readable lines visible. Manually verify automatically read names, numbers and dates.
3. Keep dates and addresses consistent. Have your actual Egyptian arrival date, intended departure, itinerary, accommodation address and contact email ready. The form advances between completed sections automatically; review the answers before submitting.
4. Review the entry product and total. Single Entry is $59 and Multiple Entry is $149 through this service. The stated processing estimate is 7 days. An application receipt is not an approved visa.
5. Check the issued permission. Save the approval, verify its identity and travel conditions, and print the eVisa. Carry the itinerary and accommodation or other supporting documents appropriate to the visit, as the official portal instructs.

Already applied? Check your application status. For changes to an existing request, use your reference when contacting Egypt eVisa Online; do not start a duplicate application merely to correct a question.

Questions from British passport holders

Do British tourists need an eVisa for a Sharm-only holiday?

A qualifying short resort-only visit may use the separate South Sinai permission described by FCDO. Check its precise conditions. Travel to Cairo or outside the permitted area requires reassessing the visa route.

Does living in the UK make me eligible as a British citizen?

No. Use the nationality and category of the passport you will present in Egypt. A UK residence permit, employment or departure airport does not replace that passport check.

Can I reuse an Egypt eVisa after renewing my British passport?

Check with the issuing authority before relying on a visa linked to an old passport. This application should contain the current passport you intend to carry, not the number from a previous visit.