Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula is home to a number of beach resort towns along the Red Sea that are popular tourist destinations. These include Dahab, Nuweiba, Taba, and Sharm El Sheikh. The majority of foreign nationals need a visa or entry stamp for entering the Sinai resorts.
There are several different visa options available for travelers who wish to obtain a tourist visa for Sinai. Some nationalities have the option to obtain a Sinai only visa on arrival.
This page explains the Egypt visa requirements for visitors going to Sinai resorts.
Do I need a visa for Sinai?
Most foreign travellers need official permission to stay in the Sinai Peninsula's resorts.
Citizens of all European Union countries, the United States, and Israel do not need to obtain a visa in advance. They may instead obtain a visa on arrival for Egypt valid for Sinai and a Sinai entry permission stamp at select border points.
However, this Special Sinai Resort Permission Stamp is only valid for use within the resort areas (Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba). Israelis may only obtain this stamp at Taba Border Crossing and will need a visa to enter Sanai at any other point of entry.
The majority of other foreign nationals must have an Egypt visa to enter Sinai. This may be obtained from an embassy in advance or through the simplified online visa application.
How long can I stay in Sinai?
The amount of time the traveler can stay in Sinai depends on the type of entry document they possess. For example, holders of a Sinai only visa stamp can only stay for a maximum of 15 days. They must also remain within the resort area.
Holders of an approved e-Visa for Egypt can stay longer in Sinai.They can also visit other parts of Egypt during the validity of the document, including other popular destinations such as Cairo and Hurghada.
An approved Egypt visa online allows the holder a total stay of 30 days in Sinai and the rest of the country with each entry. It is available as either a single entry visa (valid for a total of 90 days) or as a multiple-entry e-visa.
Applying for a visa stamp for entry into Sinai resorts
To obtain the Sinai entry permission stamp, it is necessary to:
- Wait in line to complete the form
- Present a passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival
- Have at least 1 blank page in the passport
- Pay the visa on arrival fee in cash (USD)
Those considering applying for a Sinai only visa on arrival should consider the following:
- As of 2022, a Sinai visa stamp is only available at Sharm El Sheikh, Saint Catherine or Taba airports for most nationalities. An approved visa will be needed to enter the peninsula through any other border crossing
- It may be necessary to wait in long visa on arrival queues to receive the stamp
- Credit or debit card payments and most cash currencies are not accepted. The fee must be paid in cash and is only accepted in US dollars
- The visa does not allow the holder to travel outside the Sinai resorts. They will require a visa for Egypt for this purpose.
For the reasons stated above, many travelers who require a stamp to enter the peninsula chose to submit a Sinai tourist visa application online.
