All visitors to Egypt must hold passports that are valid for at least six months beyond the proposed date of entry to the country. Almost all Europeans, plus all North Americans and Australians and New Zealanders, must also obtain tourist visas .
For visa applications in person, submit your passport and application in the morning and collect the visa the same afternoon (applications cannot be submitted then). An up-to-date list of Egyptian embassies can be found at www.embassyworld.com/egypt1.htmYou can travel without restriction through most areas of Egypt. However, special travel permits are required for the Red Sea Coast beyond Mersa Allam. For travel permits (or information), contact the Ministry of the Interior in Cairo; the process can take from five to fourteen days.
Overstaying your visa
Tourists who overstay their (regular) visa are allowed a fifteen-day period of grace in which to renew it. After this, they're fined £E60 unless they can present a letter of apology from their embassy (which may in itself cost £E25). One-month visa extensions are obtainable from the immigration office in Al Tur.
Depending on the whim of the official, you may have to produce exchange receipts proving that you've cashed US$180 during the last month. You'll have to supply one or two photos, and pay £E12-40. Procedures vary slightly from office to office, but shouldn't take longer than an hour. Visitors anticipating an extended stay may apply for a tourist residence visa , valid for up to six months at a time. Applications are made to the same offices as for