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.
Cost of obtaining long-term visas
The price of a visa permit will depend on the type of validity period:
- resident - 30-50 US dollars;
- working - from 150 US dollars;
- student - varies depending on the duration of study;
- upon marriage - from 100 pounds.
You can speed up the bureaucratic procedure when submitting papers to Egypt by paying a “tip” to the responsible persons.
This is important to know: In what cases do Russians need a visa to Morocco?
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”.
Get a discount on Booking
Let's share a life hack: When you go to Booking.com from our website, you can get special promotional prices and discounts on many hotels around the world. Instead of cashback - real discounts! Everything for your profitable travels! Genius discount for frequent travelers Go to
Can it be even cheaper?
We are sharing a life hack: We have created a search engine that compares hotels in several aggregators (Ostrovok, Agoda, etc.). Prices for the same hotel may vary, so you can compare several options at once! Book hotels at competitive prices! Compare hotel prices
Will Egypt be opened to Russians in July 2021?
The borders between Egypt and the Russian Federation are open on a reciprocal basis. But direct flights to Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada remain suspended. Today, you can only get to the popular resorts of the republic with a transfer in Cairo or Turkey. Further transfer is carried out by ground transport.
Today, flights from Russia to Egypt are served by Egypt Air, Turkish Airlines and Aeroflot. You can travel to Cairo from the following cities:
- Moscow;
- Saint Petersburg;
- Rostov-on-Don;
- Permian;
- Ufa;
- Krasnodar;
- Samara;
- Kazan;
- Ekaterinburg;
- Novosibirsk;
- Krasnoyarsk
According to representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, over the past few months the authorities of the two countries have been coordinating security issues in order to lift current restrictions in the near future and launch charter flights. Somewhat earlier, specialists from the Russian Federation flew to Egypt for this purpose for an inspection.
“After all the information that was obtained during the inspection is transferred to the operational headquarters, the headquarters will make a final decision on whether it is possible to resume direct flights with major resorts in Egypt,” the presidential press secretary said in a recent interview Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov.
Let us recall that air traffic with Egypt was suspended in 2015 after a terrorist attack, as a result of which an airliner crashed over the Sinai Peninsula. The plane crash killed 224 people that day. After the incident, the Egyptian authorities repeatedly proposed resuming charters, convincing the Russian government of the complete safety of local airports, but after checks, Moscow rejected this proposal.
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.
Answers to questions about obtaining a visa to Egypt
- Address of the Egyptian Embassy in Moscow
- How to Avoid the Sinai Stamp When Traveling to Egypt from Israel
- How to pay for crossing the Egyptian-Israeli border
- How to get a visa to Egypt for six months
- What visa is needed to travel to Egypt by private invitation?
- What is the validity period of a passport to travel to Egypt?
- Is it possible to enter Egypt if you have a UAE visa in your passport?
- Is it possible to enter Israel with a Sinai visa?
- Is it possible for a teenager to go to Egypt with a power of attorney from one of the parents?
- Do you need a power of attorney to travel to Egypt from the second parent?
- Do I need to apply for a visa at the Egyptian embassy when traveling to the country from Israel?
- Are unmarried women allowed to enter Alexandria?
Ask your question
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.
Visa refusal and resubmission of documents
As such, very few refusal cases are registered - the loyalty of border control to Russians is widely known. However, if something like this happened, then the probable reasons could be:
- Previously expired visa regime;
- Deceiving a border guard and attempting to carry out prohibited activities;
- Disrespectful attitude towards airport representatives;
- The passport does not meet the entry requirements.
If a foreign citizen has not committed a crime, then no penalties are applied to him. The most severe punishment is a U-turn at the border and a return ticket at your own expense. After fixing the problem, you can go on your trip again.
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.
According to the new rules, which come into force on July 7, 2021, upon arrival in Russia from any country in the world: • for vaccinated
during the year and citizens who have been ill for six months - PCR testing is cancelled;
• for unvaccinated
citizens - the re-take of the PCR test is canceled; the first and only test must be taken within 3 days upon arrival. Until the results of the study are received, self-isolation is required. The rule of taking a PCR test twice upon arrival from abroad, which was in force until 07/06/2021, has been cancelled.
Design of other types
If the trip is not related to tourism, but for another purpose, the foreigner must obtain an Egyptian visa in advance.
How to apply
You can obtain an entry document to visit Egypt through the consulate of this country or electronically by submitting an application form and documents online.
A citizen can also contact an intermediary company. But in this case, appropriate payment for the services of an intermediary will be required.
Common list
The application form to be filled out to obtain a visa to Egypt is accompanied by:
- an original and a copy of a foreign passport valid for at least six months from the end of the trip;
- photocopies of pages of the national passport with personal information and data on the place of permanent residence;
- two color photographs measuring 35 × 45 mm of the established standard;
- bank account statement;
- insurance policy.
For a child included in the parent's foreign passport, a birth certificate and notarized consent for the departure of a son or daughter from an absent mother or father is required.
Additionally
The set of additional documents justifying the purpose of the visit depends on the type of visa being issued:
- for a student visa permit, they provide an invitation from an Egyptian educational institution to enroll a foreigner;
- a resident visa is issued on the basis of documentary evidence of the presence of real estate in Egypt or family ties with a citizen of this country;
- the entry permit for the bride is confirmed by a temporary marriage contract;
- foreign workers additionally submit a document on education, an invitation from the employer, and a special medical insurance policy.
More detailed information about the required documents can be found at the Egyptian mission or on the official website of the consulate.
Filling out the form
The application form for a visa to Egypt (Visa application form) is a form in tabular form with the necessary information about the foreigner. The application is filled out in black or blue pen in English or Arabic, answering the questions asked.
Information is entered in large, easy to read characters. Mistakes and corrections must not be allowed. The data must correspond to information from official documents submitted by the applicant.
What is the price
The cost of a visa depends on the type of document and the permitted frequency of entry. The prices for visa documents are shown in the table.
| For which visas? | Price |
| Student | Determined by duration of training |
| workers | From 150 dollars |
| Groom (bride) | From 100 local pounds |
| Resident | From 30 to 50 dollars |
The cost of a multiple-entry visa is $80 or more, taking into account the purpose of the trip and the duration of the document.
Registration deadlines
The visa processing time is from one to three months (this is how long it takes for the documents submitted by the applicant to be checked).
Reasons for refusal
Refusal to issue a visa may be caused by:
- an erroneously completed application form;
- indicating false data;
- lack of necessary papers;
- a ban on entry due to previous visa violations;
- problems with the law at home.
A citizen can apply again after eliminating the inconsistencies or file an appeal documenting the need for the trip.
Useful links:
Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Arab Republic of Egypt
Recommendations from Rospotrebnadzor of the Russian Federation for tourists
In our service you can purchase any tour to Egypt from well-known tour operators without extra charges For our tourists - cashback 1.5% of the tour cost, payment without commissions with any bank card (including credit cards), receiving miles from travel bank cards (we recommend Tinkoff).
If the article turned out to be useful, you can support our editorial team in difficult days for tourism (the amount can be any).
Other visa categories
In addition to tourism purposes, you can go to Egypt for work, study, for your private/business purposes, as well as to visit your spouse. Do I need a visa to Egypt in 2021 for these purposes? Yes, an entry permit will be required, this is a prerequisite. It is issued by the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, which is located in Moscow. The required visa can also be obtained while already in Egypt .
- Working. This type of visa is given for cooperation with a specific employer and is canceled if the employee moves to another place of work.
- Student. This type of visa will be required for those individuals who want to study in Egypt. Even a child can be approved for the student category, provided that he is accompanied by a guardian/parent for whom a visa is also issued.
- Bride's visa. For girls who wish to marry an Egyptian citizen, there is a special bride visa to Egypt. It is issued on the basis of the document “ORFI”, which is a temporary marriage contract that requires further legalization. A girl staying in the state on the document of a bride must enter into marriage within a certain time, otherwise the visa is subject to cancellation.
- Residential. Such a visa to Egypt gives the right to long-term stay in the state, but does not give the right to work/commercial activity. It is received by two categories of Russians: property owners and wives/husbands of Egyptian citizens.
Egyptian authorities invited Russian television crews
Five people from a television “inspection” with the support of the Tourism Development Authority arrived at Cairo airport to get acquainted with the current “coronavirus safety” procedures and express their opinion on whether it is possible for Russia to open direct flights to Egyptian resorts. To this end, media representatives first visited Luxor and then went to Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh.
In a recent interview, Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov said that the issue of launching charters in the republic has already been practically resolved. At the moment, all that remains is “technical” coordination and preparation of a decree on the resumption of air traffic between Egypt and Russia, which will be signed by the heads of the two states. If everything goes according to plan, charters for Russian tourists will be launched in the coming weeks.
