Featuring a long history and vivid culture, Egypt is one of the most popular tourist destinations all over the world. A visa to the country is necessary for most international travelers, and Egypt is trying to facilitate the application process by introducing e-Visas. In this passage, we will find out whether visa to Egypt from Canada is needed.
Do Canadians Need a visa for Egypt
Yes. Canadian passport holders must obtain a visa to enter Egypt no matter what they are traveling for, but the form of visa and application process vary according to the duration of stay. Short-term visitors or tourists are allowed to obtain an electronic visa (e-Visa) online. Those who expect a long stay must obtain a consular visa in person at the Egypt embassy in Canada or the consulate general of Egypt in Montreal.
Egypt Visa Types for Canadians
There are different types of Egyptian visas according to the purpose of traveling or the number of entries.
- Egypt e-Visa
It is a popular short-term Egypt visa for Canadians, including single-entry and multiple-entry types. It is applied and issued completely online. In this case, applicants don’t need to step out of home and visit the embassy/consulate to collect a visa stamp. With an approved Egypt e-Visa, Canadians can stay in the country for up to 30 days for business, tourism, and family/friend visits.
- Transit Visa
It is issued to those who transfer at an Egyptian airport and fly to their destination. The visa is valid for 2-3 days during which the holders can tour around the airport and do shopping. However, they must not leave the airport and enter Egypt.
- Regular Visa
It includes all common visa types, including work visas, student visas, tourist visas, visitor visas, business visas, etc. It must be applied from an Egypt embassy or consulate in Canada. and it is valid from 30 days to 5 years.
Requirement for Canadians to Apply for Egypt visa
The visa requirements differ from type to type. Here are the generally required documents to apply for an Egypt visa in Canada.
- A duly accomplished Egypt visa application form for Canada.
- Canada Passport valid for at least 6 months upon arrival and with at least 2 blank pages.
- Proof of accommodation, such as hotel booking receipt, proof of address of your host, etc.
- Travel itinerary.
- Payment receipt for visa fees.
- 2 recent passport-style photos.
- Proof of travel Insurance.
- Round Trip Tickets or tickets for arriving and leaving Egypt.
- Financial statements for the previous 3 months, such as bank statements, pay slips, etc.
- Proof of identity of parents or legal guardians (required for minor and handicapped applicants).
- Extra documents depending on the visa type, such as employment contract, admission letter, medical report, etc.
How to Apply for Egypt Visa Online (e-Visa)
Canadians are no longer allowed to apply for a visa to Egypt from Canada online as of October 1, 2023. e-Visas issued previously will be valid until the expiry date. Online Egypt visa applications might recover in the future and can be done through the steps below.
- Visit the Egypt e-Visa Portal.
- Click on the “SIGN IN” button at the top right corner of the home page to log in. If you don’t have an account yet, click on “SIGN UP” to register.
- Click on “Apply Now” at the top menu to start an application.
- Choose a desired visa type according to the instructions.
- Fill out the online application form. Make sure all information you provide is authentic and complete.
- Pay the visa fees online with a Visa card, MasterCard, or other debit cards.
- Receive the eVisa in PDF by email once your application is approved.
- Download and print it out to show it while boarding the airplane or passing the port of entry checkpoint.
How to Apply for Egypt Visa on Arrival
Canadians used to be able to obtain a visa on arrival at the counter of the immigration office after landing at an Egyptian airport. It was designed for those who take connecting flights. A valid passport, onward tickets, proof of financial capabilities, and other necessary documents related to traveling purposes are needed. However, this visa option was no longer available along with the cancellation of the eVisas.
How to Apply for Egypt Visa at Embassy
As stated before, applying in person at the Egypt embassy or consulate is the only way to get a visa to Egypt from Canada no matter how long you will stay and why you are applying. There is an Embassy of Egypt in Ottawa and a General Consulate of Egypt in Montreal. Here is the address and contact information.
| Consular Office | Address | Contact |
| Embassy of Egypt in Ottawa, Canada | 454 Laurier Avenue, East Ottawa, Ontario K1N6R3 | Phone: (613)234-4931, (613)234-4Email: egyptemb@sympatico.ca |
| General Consulate of Egypt in Montreal, Canada | 1 Place Ville Marie, # 2617, QUE H3B 4S3 | Phone: (514) 866 84 55, 866 8456Email: egypt.consulate@videotron.ca |
Egypt Visa for Canadian in Person
- Contact the nearest consular office to make an appointment. Please note that the office hours are from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM from Monday to Friday except public holidays in Egypt and Canada.
- Prepare the required documents and bring them to the selected office as scheduled.
- Request an Egypt visa application form and fill it out.
- Submit the form along with the supporting documents.
- Pay the application fees.
- Collect the passport with the visa stamp in person or by mail.
Egypt Visa for Canadian by Mail
- Contact the nearest consular office to request an application form and fill it out.
- Prepare the required documents.
- Pay the visa fees by money order.
- Send the completed form along with the documents to the following address according to the residence with a certified envelope. A certified return envelope should be included.
| Applicants live in | Send to |
| Ontario (except Ottawa), Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador or Prince Edward Island | Consulate General of Egypt in Montreal |
| Ottawa, Gatineau, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba or Saskatchewan | Egypt Embassy in Ottawa |
Does Canadian PR Need Visa for Egypt?
Whether an Egypt visa for Canadian permanent resident is needed depends on the nationality. Canadian permanent residents with passports issued by Bahrain, Hong Kong, Macau, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are exempted from a visa and stay for up to 90 days while those with a Malaysian passport can enter without visas and stay for up to 14 days. Moreover, a long-term visa is needed when you are going to work or study in Egypt.
To learn what and how many countries Canadian PR can travel without visa, you can check out this guide: Which Countries Can Canadian Permanent Resident Travel without Visa. You will find if Egypt is visa-free for Canadian PR and learn allowed stay.
How Long does it Take to Get Egypt Visa
The processing time ranges from 10-30 business days according to the visa type, the workload of the consular office, and the completeness of your application. It might take longer when extra documents are needed or at peak seasons, so it is suggested to apply at least 2-3 weeks in advance.
Egypt Visa Fee for Canadian
The Egypt visa for Canadian cost is subject to the visa type and number of entries. Learning about the visa fees will help you manage your expenses and plan your trip. Here is the price list. Please note that it is advised to check the exact fee with the local embassy or consulate as it might change according to where you apply from and extra services.
| Visa type | Visa fee |
| Single-entry tourist visa | $30 |
| multiple-entry tourist visa | $40 |
| Single-entry business visa | $65 |
| multiple-entry business visa | $85 |
Bonus: Create photo for Egypt Visa Application
To gain approval on visa applications, qualified biometric photos are important. An Egypt visa photo should be 4x6cm in plain white background and comply with a set of requirements for positions, facial expressions, dress code, image quality, etc. If you decide to take pictures yourself, it is recommended to use AiPassportPhotos, a professional ID photo maker for passport/visa/driver’s license applications. All you need is to visit the 4×6 photo, take a picture according to the instructions, upload it, and receive a 100% compliant Egypt visa picture in a few seconds.
FAQ
Can Canadians get a visa on arrival for Egypt?
A: No. The VoA is currently not available for Canadian citizens.
Is Egypt safe to visit?
A: According to the Canadian government, you should exercise a high degree of caution to travel to Egypt. Due to the currently unpredictable security situation and terrorism, please avoid all travel to Northern Sinai, the Western Desert, and the Libyan border area. Avoid non-essential travel to the Northern part of the Governorate of South Sinai.
Why did Egypt change visa requirements for Canadians?
A: The change is based on the reciprocal measure as Canada is posting visa restrictions to Egyptians.
Is Canadian money accepted in Egypt?
A: No. Acceptable currencies in Egypt are Egyptian pounds and US dollars.
Conclusion
According to the newest entry requirements, an Egypt visa for Canadians is required and must be applied for at the Egypt embassy in Ottawa or the consulate general of Egypt in Montreal before setting out. eVisas and visas on arrival are currently unavailable. The requirements and length of stay differ from visa type to type. We hope this passage will help you get prepared and obtain the visa smoothly.
Erin Lo