Egypt Travel Restrictions as of COVID-19 Pandemic

Public Health Card to Travel to Egypt

Travelers must also present a completed Public Health Card on arrival in Egypt. Countries worldwide are introducing this kind of entry requirement to prevent the virus from spreading.

Passengers should provide flight information and contact details. The authorities will notify them if someone they traveled with later tests positive for COVID-19, in which case they would have to self-isolate.

Egypt Airport COVID-19 Procedures

Temperature checks are in place at airports in Egypt. Travelers are required to wear a face mask at all times in the airport terminal.

Passengers are also asked to maintain a safe distance between themselves and others, especially when boarding and disembarking the aircraft.

The airport has set up hand sanitizing stations. Visitors should wash their hands or make use of the alcohol-based hand gel at regular intervals.

At the airport passengers arriving from overseas will be asked to present the medical certificate, public health card, and proof of valid health insurance.

Egyptian Health Declaration Form

Egypt has introduced a mandatory health declaration form for travelers entering the country during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The Egyptian health declaration form must be filled out before arrival in the country and a signed paper copy must be presented at border control in order to enter Egypt.

Find out who needs to complete a health declaration and how to do so with this handy guide.

Who Needs to Complete the Egyptian Health Declaration Form?

All incoming travelers arriving in the country from abroad need to fill in a health care declaration form for Egypt.

While some passengers are exempt from certain pandemic-related travel restrictions for Egypt, every individual who arrives at the Egyptian border must have a health declaration completed and signed.

It is important to understand that it is not simply an Egyptian health declaration for tourists. The following travelers must also complete a form of their own:

• Egyptian nationals
• Foreign residents of Egypt
• Business travelers
• Medical visitors
• Individuals traveling for work

Children who are too young to complete their own health declaration form must still have one in order to enter Egypt. Parents or guardians may fill it out and sign it on their behalf.

Where Can I Find the Health Declaration for Egypt?

There are a number of ways to obtain a self health declaration form for Egypt. As an important entry requirement in the current climate, it has been made widely available to ensure that all travelers complete a copy and bring it with them to immigration control.

It is possible to obtain the Egyptian health declaration form in the following ways:

• Online
• From certain airlines (provided in-flight)
• From Egyptian tourism companies and their international counterparts

How to Fill in the COVID Health Declaration for Egypt

Passengers must provide a number of details when filling in their Egyptian health declaration form.

Each applicant should submit some basic personal information, including the following:

• Full name
• Nationality
• Date of birth
• Profession
• Passport number
• Contact details (email address and phone number)

It is also necessary to list some of the passenger’s travel details, such as:

• Airline
• Flight number
• Country of departure
• Address of accommodation in Egypt

The passenger must answer a few questions related to health, including the following:

• Whether they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19
• If they have had contact with anyone who has coronavirus within the past 14 days
• Which countries they have spent time in within the previous 14 days

Finally, the traveler must sign and date the declaration to state that they will take the appropriate action(s) mentioned on the form if they experience any coronavirus symptoms during their stay or if their circumstances change.

If completing the form on a computer, it should be printed before signing and dating it. A physical copy must be brought to immigration control in order to enter Egypt.

Why Do I Need to Complete a Health Declaration Form for Egypt?

It is necessary to complete a health declaration for Egypt as it is one of the measures the country has taken to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The details provided allow Egyptian authorities to know the situation of travelers entering the country. In the event that an individual who has recently entered the country is diagnosed with COVID-19, authorities will be able to contact any other passengers on the same flight or other individuals they may have had contact with.

In this way, the form is an important part of the country’s management of the pandemic.

Do I Still Need a Visa as Well as a Health Declaration Form for Egypt?

Yes, travelers who require a visa for Egypt must still obtain one in addition to the health declaration form.

The Egyptian health declaration form is in no way an alternative to a visa.

The Egypt electronic visa is the most convenient way to get authorization to enter the country, since it eliminates the need to go to an embassy and can be obtained from any location with an internet connection.

Travelers must fill out a quick online Egypt visa application form and will receive the eVisa by email.

While some travelers are exempt from needing a visa, all travelers must fill in a health declaration.

Applying for an Egypt Visa during COVID-19

Egypt is open to tourism and the government is now issuing visas. The safest way to obtain a visa during the pandemic is by using the Egypt online visa system.

Travelers from 46 countries can quickly obtain their electronic authorization to enter Egyptian territory.

Foreigners should check they meet all the Egypt eVisa requirements before proceeding with the application. The eVisa form is straightforward to complete, requiring just a few personal and passport information in addition to travel details. Visa fees are paid securely online using a debit or credit card.

Access to Egypt eVisa Application

Once approved and issued, the Egypt visa is valid for 30 days which means that travelers have 1 month to enter the country for the first time. Single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas are available. Both permits allow for stays of up to 30 consecutive days in Egypt.

Foreigners who are not eligible for the Egypt visa should contact their nearest embassy or consulate

Activity Restrictions in Egypt

Egyptians and foreigners currently in the country have to respect activity limitations designed to minimize contagion risk.

There is no evening curfew in Egypt. Restaurants and cafes are still required to close by 10 pm. Shops are now required to close no later than 9 pm.

It is compulsory to wear a mask when out in public in Egypt, and those who do not wear one will not have access to Egyptian public transportation.

Travelers seeking accommodation in Egypt should be aware that hotels currently operate at 50% capacity with reinforced hygiene standards. Cafes, restaurants, movie theatres, and sports clubs are also now open and able to operate at reduced capacity.

Places of worship have also reopened with limitations on the number of attendees and other health precautions in place.

COVID-19 Testing for American citizens in Egypt

• Are PCR and/or antigen tests available for US citizens in Egypt? Yes, at numerous private testing centers, as well as the Central Public Health Lab.
• If so, are test results reliably available within 72 hours? Yes. Most test providers offer 48-hour turnaround. Faster service is possible at extra cost.
• The Government of Egypt provides COVID-19 tests at a cost of 1,680 Egyptian Pounds for foreigners and 1,260 Egyptian pounds for Egyptians.
• Please visit this list (in Arabic) of public hospitals in Egypt which offer COVID-19 tests. The U.S. Embassy in Cairo maintains a list of medical providers that U.S. citizens in Egypt have used in the past.  Individuals should contact the medical providers directly to determine if they offer COVID-19 testing.
• The U.S. Embassy is also aware of the following private companies which offer PCR tests:
  • Prime Speed Medical (2,400 Egyptian pounds, results within 24 hours); VFS Global Sites;
  • Al Mokhtabar labs (PCR swab tests are offered at a cost of 3,000 Egyptian pounds per test and results are available within 24 hours);
  • Ain-Shams University Labs (3,000 Egyptian pounds for foreigners and 1,500 Egyptian pounds for Egyptians).
• Delivery of test results varies by provider. Some are able to email results within 24 hours.
• The Government of Egypt established the following COVID-19 dedicated hotlines: 105– Ministry of Health Hotline (Press 1 for COVID-19 information; Arabic proficiency recommended); 15335 - Press 1 for Arabic. Press 2 for English.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information:

• Has the government of Egypt approved a COVID-19 vaccine for use? Yes
• Are vaccines available in Egypt for tourists to receive? Yes, the mediahas reported that anyone over age 18, including foreign residents, can now register for the vaccine. There is limited supply of the vaccine available and the media reports that priority for the vaccine will go to the elderly and those with chronic illnesses.
• Which vaccines are available in Egypt? AstraZeneca and Sinopharm.
• Patients can register online at https://egcovac.mohp.gov.eg/#/home.

Egypt COVID-19 Travel Advice

After coronavirus cases were reported in the country, COVID-19 testing and quarantine facilities have been set up at hospitals across Egypt.

Foreigners in the country should follow this travel advisory for Egypt

• Avoid large gatherings of people
• Wash your hands frequently, especially after contact with others
• Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing
• Try to maintain a distance of at least a meter between yourself and strangers when out in public

Egypt Entry and Exit Requirements for US citizens

• Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes.
• Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes.
  • All passengers travelling to Egypt (including Egyptians) must be in possession of negative PCR test certificate for COVID-19, taken at a maximum of 72 hours before their flight departure time.
  • Passengers travelling from Japan, China, Thailand, North America, South America, Canada, London Heathrow, Paris, and Frankfurt will be allowed to provide the test certificate performed at a maximum of 96 hours prior to flight departure, due to the long travel and transit period from these airports.
    • Although we understand the PCR testing policy to require a test result performed no more than 96 hours before the original departing flight, we have received anecdotal reports that some travelers have been denied entry when their PCR test was performed more than 96 hours prior to the departure of their connecting flight.
    • Travelers must present paper copies of the test results; digital copies will not be accepted.
    • Children under the age of six of all nationalities are exempt.
    • Incoming tourists must show proof of health insurance upon arrival.
    • The Embassy is unable to confirm if your specific health insurance policy will be accepted as proof of insurance by the Egyptian authorities and is unable to confirm whether your proposed flight itinerary and the date of your PCR test complies with Egyptian government policy.
    • Please contact the Egyptian Embassy in Washington D.C. or the nearest Consulate for updated information concerning Egyptian government policies and with your specific questions regarding required proof of insurance and PCR testing timelines.
  • Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes.
  • If you remain in Egypt beyond the one-month duration of your tourist visa, you are allowed to be present for 14 additional days without incurring a fine. Beyond this you will have to go to an office of the Passports, Emigration & Nationality Administration to update your visa status and pay the fine before you will be allowed to exit Egypt. For those in the Greater Cairo area, the office is located in Abbassiya. The Abbassiya office has reduced hours due to COVID-19 and is open from 8:30 am until 2:00 pm. While Egyptian immigration officers may grant waivers of some overstay fines for travelers who remained in Egypt because they were unable to depart the country due to the COVID-19 outbreak, an Egyptian immigration officer will make this determination on a case by case basis.

Movement Restrictions

• Is a curfew in place? No
• Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No

Quarantine Information 

• Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine?
  • Upon arrival, travelers to Sharm El Sheikh are allowed to arrive without a PCR test and then be tested upon arrival. In this situation the travelers have to quarantine until the test results are known and then isolate if the test results are positive.
  • Travelers who arrive with to any location in Egypt with a negative PCR test are not required to quarantine.
  • Anyone that tests positive for COVID-19 while in Egypt is required to quarantine for 14 days.

Transportation Options

• Are commercial flights operating? Yes
• Is public transportation operating? Yes

Fines for Non-Compliance (if applicable)

• Individuals who do not adhere to precautionary measures such as wearing a mask indoors may be subject to an immediate fine or prosecution.

Consular Operations

• American Citizen Servicesis accepting limited appointments for passports, notary services, Certificate Records of Birth Abroad, and marriage affidavits. Limited non-emergency services are available by appointment.  You can schedule an appointment directly through our online system by visiting our website.
• Routine immigrantand nonimmigrant visa services are suspended. The U.S. Embassy will continue to provide emergency and mission-critical visa services as resources and local conditions allow.  For questions about nonimmigrant visas, please visit U.S. Embassy Cairo’s nonimmigrant visa page or email ConsularCairoNIV@state.gov.  For questions about immigrant visas, please email ConsularCairoIV@state.gov.  The Embassy will resume routine visa services as soon as possible but are unable to provide a specific date at this time.

Local Resources:

• The U.S. Embassy in Cairo encourages U.S. citizens seeking COVID-19 medical information to reference the Government of Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population’s social media accounts at  https://www.facebook.com/egypt.mohp/ (Arabic only). The Government of Egypt has also provided a COVID-19 dedicated hotline at 105 or 15335 for additional inquiries (Arabic proficiency recommended).
• Other links:
  • COVID-19 Traveler Information page on gov
  • CDC page on COVID-19
  • gov Country Information and Travel Advisory page
  • COVID-19 Vaccinations and Consular Issues
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts.