Staying in Egypt past your visa expiration date is a violation of immigration laws and can have serious consequences. It’s essential that you renew or extend your visa before its validity runs out.
In this post, we explain what happens if your visa expires, and how long validity periods are for the most common tourist visas for Egypt. You’ll also find out how to renew your visa, or apply for an extension.
Can I Extend My Visa in Egypt?
To prolong your trip without leaving Egypt, you must apply for an extension in person. Otherwise, you’ll need to leave the country to apply for a new visa.
Apply for a new e-Visa from abroad
If your visa is due to expire, one option is to leave Egypt, apply for a new one, and return once it’s granted. The e-Visa is the quickest entry permission to obtain.
You can make your application quickly and easily with Egypt Visas Pro. Apply for your e-Visa today and get assistance from our dedicated Customer Support team. We speak more than 15 languages, including German.
Most e-Visas are approved within a day or two, although you should allow up to 7 days — perfect for those who’d enjoy exploring neighboring areas.
There is no limit to the number of e-Visas you can apply for, as long as you meet the e-Visa requirements and terms and conditions.
Extend a visa while in Egypt
There’s also the option of renewing your visa in person while remaining in Egypt. It’s not possible to renew your visa online.
Applications for visa renewals are submitted to the Ministry of the Interior at the Egyptian Passports, Immigration, and Nationality Administration office in Abbasiya, Cairo. The office is open between 8 am - 5 pm every day except Friday (Saturday is for pickups only).
Here are the documents required to obtain a visa extension in person:
- A valid, eligible passport
- Your original e-Visa which you used to enter the country
- The extension fees in cash
- The address where you’re staying in Egypt
- Passport-size photo
Most applicants need to visit the office twice. The first time, you’ll fill out the application and security forms, have your photo and fingerprints taken, and submit all the relevant documents. At this stage, you’ll also pay the first application fee.
On your second visit, you’ll pay further fees and receive your visa extension.
Visa extension: Important details for applicants
The total cost to renew your visa is around EUR 60, but fees are frequently updated. Immigration officials will advise you of the current cost on your visit.
The visa will grant you 3 further months in Egypt (no other options are available). The visa extension is officially called Foreign Residence Card and is issued as a plastic ID card.
How Long Is the Egypt Visa Valid For?
The duration of your visa for Egypt depends on the specific type you apply for.
If you’re planning to remain within Egyptian borders during your trip, get a single-entry electronic visa. It’s valid for 3 months following the date of issue, and allows you to stay for a maximum of 30 days.
To combine your time in Egypt with visits to neighboring countries, the multiple-entry Egyptian e-Visa permits you to enter the country more than once during your trip.
You’ll be able to leave and re-enter Egypt as many times as you like during its 6-month validity period. However, you must make sure not stay for more than 30 days at a time.
To stay in Egypt for more than 30 days, you’ll need to either leave temporarily and return with a new e-Visa or file the paperwork to extend your visa in the country.
What Happens If I Overstay My Visa in Egypt?
The consequences of overstaying your visa in Egypt can be serious. Visa expiration penalties include a fine. It’s also possible that you’ll be prevented from obtaining an Egyptian travel permit in the future.
In all cases, it’s best to renew your Egypt visa, or get an extension before the expiry date.
If your visa has already expired, get in touch with the Egyptian authorities as soon as possible.
How do immigration authorities know if I’ve overstayed my Egypt visa?
All foreign travelers arriving in Egypt receive a stamp in their passport to mark the date of their arrival in the country. This is the case whether you arrive by land, air, or sea.
The next time you cross the border, authorities will examine your passport and will be able to calculate whether you have overstayed your visa.
Penalties for overstaying a visa in Egypt
Depending on how long you’ve been in Egypt since your visa expired, the fine imposed will vary.
Official data frequently changes, but generally an overstay of 13 days is overlooked by authorities. However, this is not always honored by immigration officials, and you should not rely on leniency being given.
If you have to pay a fine, officials in immigration will inform you of the amount. Up to USD 100 may be charged for an overstay of 90 days or less. Any overstay for longer than 3 months will incur a fine that increases by the day.
How to pay a fine for staying in Egypt past your visa expiration
All fines must be paid at the airport on your day of departure from Egypt. This process is often time-consuming due to queues.
You should arrive early to pass through immigration control and pay your fine so that you can clear customs and board your flight in time.
