Visa needed to Egypt!

[johnichka]

Hello,
My understanding is that a Ukrainian can visit Egypt and purchase a tourist visa at the point of entry.  Our plan is to fly her to Cairo and enter Egypt there. But I am hearing conflicting stories on the need for a pre-arrival visa or the ability to purchase a visa upon landing in Cairo.  She is a Ukrainian citizen and would be flying from Kiev through Milan to Cairo.  Needless to say, if she cannot purchase a visa at the point of entry, we wont be going as she will not be able to obtain a "regular" travel visa

Thanks in advance for assisting.

john

[thompsongunner06]

Russians and UKR's travel to Turkey and the areas like we US citizens go to the Bahamas for vacations. She should know how to travel and what is needed.I do not see us going to Egypt with the way things are today.

[Turboguy]

Unless things have changed in the past year she will not need a visa for Egypt.  13 months ago when we went there was a booth after baggage claim and just before the main terminal where FSU citizen had to go and pay $ 25.00 for an on the spot visa.   It did require a couple of passport photos and payment in the local currency but both a photo set up and money changing are right there.   I have heard that even that requirement was dropped but I could be wrong on that.

If you want a recommendation on a hotel we loved that was within walking distance of the sphinx and pyramids and last year was $ 99.00 a night you might check out the "Sofitel, La Sphinx".   You may wish to check out my Trip Report which I believe was titled "Turboguy and VWRW in the land of the Pharaohs" for more details. 

[johnichka]

Thanks Turbo for the response.
That is my understanding as well - You pay $20USD and a 30 day visa is granted. She is just skeptical as she was told by a friend that an acquaintance from Ukraine got turned away in Cairo last year....

I'm think the acquaintance could not prove true tourist intentions.....

I already read your thread - good stuff.

Thanks
John

[SANDRO43]

Maybe you should advise her to visit a travel agency in her location and ask there for the latest dope on visas for Egypt, that's bound to be more reliable than third-hand stories .

I'm think the acquaintance could not prove true tourist intentions...

That's just a tickbox on the disembarkation card, I've been to Egypt six times (last time 3 years ago), and nobody ever questioned my intentions when going through passport control (their officers may have a few words of English at most, any Russian is unlikely), maybe the acquaintance was on some 'undesirables' list .

[Turboguy]

I would not discount the likelyhood of anyone speaking Russian.   Russian seemed as common as English there and everyone in the shops we visited would start talking to VWRW in Russian.   The visa checkpoint is mostly for those from the FSU.   US and EU citizens don't have to go through it.  I am sure they would speak fluent Russian. 

Delta has a pretty good site for visa requirements and there is a link pegged here somewhere.

[Gator]

I'm think the acquaintance could not prove true tourist intentions...

For a young RW this is more than checking the correct tickbox on the disembarkation card. 

A young, attractive RW needs to have, if asked, tix for return flight, hotel vouchers, and adequate money for the duration of her visit.  I have taken many trips to Turkey (now referred to as the Russian Riviera) and Egypt, and saw only one episode of a young RW being pulled aside for questioning.  My Moscow woman said a RW on her flight was refused entry to Cyprus years ago when that country did not require a visa before departure.  It is rare but can happen.

[Jumper]

Visa regulations change quickly,
a good (preferably busy) local travel agent should be able to answer her questions with the most accurate and recent info.




my wife and I,  were in Sharm el shiek ,Egypt about 4 or 5 years ago..
(also Cairo , etc)

Egypt then , was a $20 visa bought after landing, by baggage claim--

and at that time  Sharm itself,being a very popular tourist location for FSU citizens,
 had its own a "special" visa  for the sharm "region"
that was even less restrictive .. (also bought after baggage claim)

As far as Sharm, most all the airport ,hotel , restuarant staff, or guides spoke  russian well enough to get by.

About 60% of the tourist where from the FSU is my best guess.
The rest generally from eastern Europe, a few German , Italians and English, ,
I think i was the lone Amerikanitz.

I really enjoyed the area
(*the gardens* have been dived out a bit by now,but it is still one of the best dive spots in the world.)