PassportSouth Africa

Trip checklist: Egypt

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Visa requirement

South Africans can get a visa on arrival in Egypt.

Permitted stay

You can stay up to 30 days per visit, and you can apply to extend.

Before you go

  • Purpose of visit

    Visa on arrival is for tourism only. The e-Visa covers tourism (single or multiple entry); the portal asks for a business letter or invitation where relevant. Business, work and study need a consular visa.

  • Passport validity

    At least 6 months from the arrival date (Egypt e-Visa portal). FCDO and The GSA add at least one blank page (GSA says two).

  • How to apply

    Route 1, visa on arrival: buy at the airport visa/bank counter before immigration. The standard fee for most nationalities rose from USD 25 to USD 30 on 1 March 2026 (cash). Egypt's embassy in South Africa told SA trade press in March 2026 that South African passport holders are EXEMPT from the visa-on-arrival fee (no tier 1 document found; confirm before travel). At Cairo airport, a digital visa on arrival (QR code, card payment, USD 30 + USD 6 issuance fee) has been piloted since 1 August 2026. Route 2, e-Visa: apply on the official Ministry of Interior portal https://www.visa2egypt.gov.eg at least 7 days before departure. Fees: USD 30 single entry and USD 65 multiple entry (tourism), card payment. Print the approval.

  • Where South Africans apply

    No application is needed for visa on arrival. For the e-Visa, apply online at visa2egypt.gov.eg. For consular visas: Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, 270 Bourke St, Muckleneuk, Pretoria (by appointment only; tel +27 12 343 1590/1).

  • Return or onward ticket

    The e-Visa portal tells applicants to present a travel itinerary on arrival.

  • Accommodation or invitation

    e-Visa holders should carry hotel bookings or travel plans (tourism), or a business letter or invitation.

  • Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

    EGYPT: yellow fever certificate needed only if arriving from a yellow fever transmission-risk country (including transit). Note: South Africans flying via Addis Ababa (Ethiopia is a risk country) on a long layover, or routing from another risk country, may be asked for a certificate. RETURN TO SOUTH AFRICA: Egypt is not on South Africa's yellow fever risk-country list, so no certificate is needed on return unless you transited a risk country (or a risk-country airport for more than 12 hours) on the way.

  • Arrival forms

    No general arrival card reported. Customs: maximum EGP 5,000 cash in or out; foreign currency over USD 10,000 must be declared; declare high-value electronics and recording equipment.

  • Transit

    Sinai stamp: travellers arriving by air at Sharm El-Sheikh (and per Wikipedia also Taba and St Catherine) who stay under 15 days only in the Sharm, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resorts can get a free entry permission stamp instead of a visa. FCDO states this for all nationalities it covers; Wikipedia lists nationality exceptions, and South Africa is not among them. If you leave those resorts you need a full visa. Airside transit without entering Egypt needs no visa.

  • Confirm with the embassy

    Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

Where to apply

Research sources

  1. 1. Ministry of Interior, Arab Republic of Egypt (official e-Visa portal) (Official, visa2egypt.gov.eg) https://www.visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/FAQ
  2. 2. Ministry of Interior, Arab Republic of Egypt (official e-Visa portal) (Official, visa2egypt.gov.eg) https://www.visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/Home
  3. 3. UK FCDO (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt/entry-requirements
  4. 4. National Department of Health, South Africa (Other government, health.gov.za) https://www.health.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Protocols-for-Travellers.pdf
  5. 5. DIRCO (South African High Commission, Canberra) (Other government, dirco.gov.za) https://dirco.gov.za/canberra/yellow-fever/
  6. 6. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Egypt
  7. 7. The GSA (South African visa agency) (Commercial, thegsa.co.za) https://www.thegsa.co.za/visa-and-country-info/2580-egypt-country-guide
  8. 8. IOL (News and guides, iol.co.za) https://iol.co.za/travel/africa/2022-04-07-dont-have-a-visa-not-to-worry-south-africans-to-get-visa-on-arrival-when-travelling-to-egypt/
  9. 9. Travel News (Tourism Update) (News and guides, travelnews.co.za) https://www.travelnews.co.za/article/south-africans-exempt-from-egypt-visa-fees
  10. 10. Travel And Tour World (News and guides, travelandtourworld.com) https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/south-african-travelers-rejoice-as-egypt-extends-visa-exemption-offering-uninterrupted-and-affordable-access-to-the-pyramids-temples-and-red-sea-resorts-for-south-african-tourists/
  11. 11. Travelers Today (News and guides, travelerstoday.com) https://www.travelerstoday.com/articles/60564/20260723/egypt-visa-arrival-goes-digital-cairo-airport-36-qr-code-no-more-paper.htm
  12. 12. On The Go Tours (ZA) (News and guides, onthegotours.com) https://www.onthegotours.com/za/Egypt/Guides/Visas

From doineedavisa.co.za/egypt. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.