A hot country with a long history and the most beautiful sea has resumed flights with Russia from September 2, 2021 and is happy to welcome guests to its popular tourist resorts.
Direct flights between Russia and the resorts of Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada have not yet been resumed, so for Russians it is only possible to reach them with a transfer. Such flights are now operated by several airlines, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines. operates direct flights only to Cairo, and then you can get to the resorts by ground transport or buy a ticket for a domestic flight.
Before the trip
In 2021, a Russian wishing to visit Egypt must take a PCR test for coronavirus infection 72 hours before departure from the country. After receiving a negative test result, present it at the airport of departure in English. If you received the certificate electronically, make sure that it has a special QR code on it. If the certificate is on paper, then it must contain the original blue seal of the laboratory (clinic) and the doctor’s signature, QR code or barcode.
It is also necessary to have with you a printed version of the test result with a signature and the original seal of the laboratory (clinic) and it is advisable to have copies (they may be asked to give them on the plane).
The PCR test for coronavirus must indicate your full last name, first name and patronymic. Be sure to check whether the date and time of collection of biological material are indicated correctly in the certificate.
If you are flying from another region of Russia with a transfer, then you have the opportunity to take an urgent PCR test for COVID-19 directly at Moscow airports, which is very convenient when calculating the validity period of the test results. At the same time, you have the opportunity to do a paid PCR test for coronavirus ($30) in Egypt, at the airports of Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada, but the result will be ready only after 24 hours, so tourists are strongly recommended to fly with a ready-made PCR test. dough from Russia.
Other types of Egyptian visa
In addition to tourists and specialists, other categories of people come to Egypt. For some of them, there are special visas that establish the regime and duration of stay in the country. Let's look at the most common of them.
Student or study visa. It can be obtained by a student or attendee of almost any educational institution in Egypt, except for the preparatory departments of some universities. As well as students from schools with international or language status.
To obtain permission, you will need to submit an application from the management of the educational institution, which will indicate that the foreigner is guaranteed a place to study. If the student or pupil has not yet reached the age of majority, then one of the parents also has the right to obtain a visa for himself for the entire duration of the child’s studies or until he reaches adulthood. In addition to parents, an officially appointed guardian can receive such a visa.
Mansoura University in Egypt
Bride's visa. Marriage legislation in Egypt has a number of features. For example, there is not only a permanent, but also a temporary marriage contract. It aims to legalize what in Europe is called courtship and civil marriage: the joint pastime and residence of a man and a woman.
Despite the fact that such a temporary agreement, or ORFI-contract, does not create practically any rights and obligations regarding the participants of the couple, the procedure for its registration is official. Requires the assistance of a lawyer and witnesses: two men or four women.
But the main thing that such a contract gives is the opportunity to obtain a visa for a period of six months. During this time, it is believed that you can just have time to draw up an official permanent marriage contract. Or make sure that it is not worth entering into such a contract.
If, within the allotted time, a permanent marriage does take place, then the woman will receive a longer visa, a permanent residence permit in Egypt and the prospect of subsequently becoming a citizen of this state. Otherwise, you will have to leave the country and subsequently enter it on a tourist or other visa. For the bride, the permit is issued only once.
Resident visa without the right to work. In fact, such a permit is a residence permit, since it gives the right to a long, first two and then five years, stay in Egypt with an unlimited number of entries and exits. The cost of such a visa for Russians in 2021 will be about $50.
The following categories of citizens can obtain such a visa:
- owners of real estate, and of a certain value;
- wives and husbands of Egyptian citizens;
- pensioners with sufficient foreign income.
Moreover, it is mandatory for homeowners and spouses to draw up a formal contract. Which can be a rather lengthy procedure, because the Egyptian bureaucratic system, firstly, is quite confusing, and secondly, it works slowly. So the wait for ready documents can be quite lengthy.
Do you need a hotel reservation in Egypt?
Yes, a mandatory condition for staying in Egypt for the entire period must be a “hotel reservation”.
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Applying for a visa for a child
Tourists under 12 years of age are entitled to free entry into Egypt. To do this, the child must be included in the foreign passport of the parents or one of them.
Important note! Information about the little traveler must be indicated in the passport of the parent with whom he arrives in Egypt. Otherwise, the second parent must provide the first parent with a notarized permission to take the child out of the country.
Please keep in mind the following important requirements:
- When a child reaches 14 years of age, he or she must be issued a foreign passport and an individual visa;
- The parent's passport must contain a photograph of the child. The requirement is relevant for children over 5 years old.
Upon arrival
Upon arrival at Egyptian airports you will need to provide:
- International passport with visa;
- immigration card, which is filled out at the airport (in English);
- tourist voucher (if you are flying on a package tour) or hotel reservation;
- coronavirus test result;
- insurance with coverage against cases of COVID-19 infection.
Requirement for a visa
Different areas of the country are subject to different immigration rules. For example, when asked whether a visa is needed for Hurghada, Alexandria or Cairo, you can say that you do. For years there have been rumors about the abolition of the visa regime between the Russian Federation and Egypt, but the old rules are still in force, according to which every Russian citizen is given a visa stamp at the border control.
Holiday rules due to COVID-19 and restrictions in Egypt
Currently, public transport in Egypt operates only with a 50% passenger load, in compliance with safety measures (masks and antiseptic gels) and social distancing. Tour buses are also operating at 50% of normal capacity.
Hotels are open and ready to receive their guests, but also only at 50% capacity. Every hotel and inn must take measures to prevent coronavirus infection; for this, they must have protective equipment and a medical room with a doctor on duty, and devices for measuring human body temperature must be installed at the entrances. Luggage must be disinfected upon entry and exit from hotels.
Shopping centers and shops are open from 7:00 to 22:00. On weekends from 7:00 to 23:00. Entertainment establishments, bars and nightclubs are open only until two o'clock in the morning. At airports, cafes and shops are open 24 hours.
Prices for visiting the country's attractions have been halved for now, which is a pleasant moment for tourists.
Absolutely forbidden
export corals, animals and plants, as well as antiques from Egypt. But if you purchased one of these in a store and have a receipt in your hands confirming the purchase, then you will not face a fine. If you did not keep the receipts, the fine will be $1000, and in the worst case, you could be arrested.
Transport
You can travel between cities by plane, bus and train. There are also minibus taxis, where when boarding you need to discuss the fare price (bargain), it’s better to write it down. But on buses, prices and schedules are usually fixed.
According to reviews, the train is the most convenient way to travel around Egypt on your own. Take first class tickets, where there is air conditioning. Buy them in advance. Remember that trains are usually not punctual. Railway website.
There is a metro in Cairo. You can travel along the Nile by boat, and there is also a ferry between Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh.
Have you decided to rent a car? Be attentive and careful - the concepts of driving in Egypt are peculiar. The asphalt leaves much to be desired, and there are not warning signs everywhere. Find out all the nuances of renting a car abroad.
Transport prices in Egypt:
- minibuses in Hurghada - about 1 Egyptian pound;
- metro in Cairo - $0.11;
- bus from the airport to the center of Cairo - $0.22-0.34;
- 3 km taxi in Cairo - from $0.80 to $1.
Taxi drivers in Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh are arrogant: they don’t use the meter, and the prices are 2-3 times higher. To avoid being deceived, use trusted companies, for example, KiwiTaxi.
(Photo: Mondo79 / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY 2.0)
Rules for leaving Egypt for Russia
Before leaving Egypt
to Russia, you must fill out a form for those arriving in the Russian Federation on the State Services website, which indicates personal data and symptoms (cough, temperature, etc.). It must be filled out before boarding the plane and presented upon arrival at the control point.
Upon returning to Russia
after Egypt, you must do a PCR test for the presence of coronavirus infection COVID-19 within 3 days and upload the result to the State Services. An express test can be done at Moscow airports upon arrival or in any laboratory recommended by Rospotrebnadzor.
Egypt visa extension
To extend a visa received at the Embassy, you need to submit documents to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt (Cairo).
The permitted period of stay on Egyptian territory is directly related to the type of visa received: for workers - from six months to a year, for students - the period of stay depends on the period of study, resident - from 3 months to 5 years, fiancé visa - the period of stay is six months.
Extension of a tourist visa upon arrival is possible for up to 3 months. To do this, you need to collect and submit the following documents to the passport office:
- A copy of a foreign passport with personal data (4 copies);
- A copy of the visa stamp that was placed upon entry (2 copies);
- A copy of the paper indicating the availability of a place of residence in Egypt (2 copies);
- Color photograph (1 pc.);
- A completed application form (it will be issued on site at the time of application).
The need to renew a tourist visa does not apply to Russian citizens over 60 years of age.
They can stay in the country for up to 1 year without worrying about renewing the permit stamp in their passport, but they must officially confirm their source of income.
How to extend a visa?
Have you decided to stay in the Arab Republic longer than planned? Be sure to renew your visa! Otherwise you will have to pay a fine.
To extend the visa, we go to the local passport office - Gauzad. There are representative offices of Egyptian passport offices in Alexandria, Cairo and Hurghada. We choose the city closest to us and hit the road. We take the following documents with us:
- original foreign passport and a copy of this document;
- confirmation of extension of hotel stay or a copy of the rental agreement;
- color photos of 3x4 format, two pieces;
- money to pay state fees. Its size may vary. The average is 50-100 Egyptian pounds.
The procedure is extremely simple. We go to Gauzad, submit the above documents to a special window for tourists, wait for them to be checked by an authorized employee, and receive a new stamp in our passport.
Thus, Russians do not have to spend a lot of time or a lot of money on obtaining a visa to Egypt. To avoid unpleasant situations and difficulties, first do the following:
- we receive a new passport if the validity of the existing one expires in less than six months (we clarify this point separately in advance, since the established deadlines may change);
- We prepare all the necessary documents;
- We enter the children into the international passport and paste their photographs there.
We do all this not just before traveling to a Russian airport, but even before purchasing a tour or air tickets.
Follow these recommendations, and obtaining a visa will not cause you any difficulties.
Have a nice rest!
