Several flights to countries in Africa and the Middle East have a layover in Egypt. Cairo Internation Airport (CAI) serves transit passengers from across the globe.
Other international airports in Egypt are located in Luxor, Hurghada, and Sharm el-Sheikh.
Transit visa requirements depend on how long you have between flights and whether you intend to leave the airport.
This article explains who needs a visa to transit and how to apply for an Egyptian visa online.
Who needs a transit visa for Egypt?
Citizens of visa-free countries are not required to apply for a transit visa. Only 9 countries are visa-exempt — most being nations in the Gulf and the Middle East.
Other visitors only need a visa to transit through Egypt if the layover exceeds 6 hours.
Iranian citizens, however, need to apply for a transit visa regardless of how long they will spend in Egypt between flights. Iranians need to apply for a transit visa for Egypt through an embassy or consulate.
How long can you stay in Egypt without a transit visa?
Travelers can spend a limited time in Egypt visa-free between flights. Foreigners do not need a transit visa to stay for up to 6 hours.
Transit passengers at Cairo airport can take advantage of facilities including restaurants, shops, banks, and business facilities.
Can you leave the airport without a transit visa for Egypt?
Passengers with fewer than 6 hours until their departing flight must stay in the airport. Most travelers can, however, leave the transit area. This does not apply to nationals of Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine, and the Philippines who must stay in the airport transit area.
Visa to transit in Egypt
Travelers with longer than 6 hours to wait until their onward flight need to apply for a visa for Egypt.
The Egyptian eVisa is the most convenient option, applying takes just a few minutes and visas are processed in 1-3 days.
Tourists with an Egyptian eVisa can leave the airport and spend time in the country between flights. The next flight must be within 30 days.
Single entry and multiple entry Egypt visas are available. Passengers whose return flight also stops in Egypt should select the multiple-entry visa if they wish to enter the country for more than 6 hours on both occasions.
Similarly, tourists with more than one long layover in Egypt within 6 months can apply for a multiple-entry visa for transit.
Egypt transit visa requirements and application
Transit passengers must meet all the entry and visa requirements.
To apply, travelers need a valid passport from an eligible country. The passport should be valid for at least 6 months.
Electronic visa applicants need to fill out the online form with basic personal information, passport data, and travel details such as the intended arrival date.
Visit Cairo during a Layover in Egypt
Travelers with a few hours or days between flights can make the most of their time to visit the area close to the airport. There are regular buses leaving from Cairo Terminal 1 to take tourists into the city, as well as taxis.
Transit passengers in Cairo can visit tourist attractions during the layover, including the following popular sights:
- The Pyramids of Giza
- The Egyptian Museum
- Old Cairo, the historic center
- The Egyptian Bazaar
Visitors with an Egyptian eVisa may spend longer exploring the capital city. Passengers transiting Egypt without a visa must return to the airport to catch a departing flight within 48 hours.
Transit passengers must allow plenty of time to travel between the airport and the city center.
