If you don’t want a visa, then simply fill in the card & write “SINAI ONLY” on the back (anywhere). Please read on to see if you will need a visa:
Because Sharm as well as some other tourist resorts such as Taba and Dahab are on the Sinai Peninsula, a Visa is required in order to:
- a) Travel out of Sinai - to Cairo, Luxor, The Ras Mohammed trip by boat, quad (taking in the blue lagoon & BBQ lunch), car or bus.
b) to leave the immediate beach area and go further out to sea. The latter means that if you want to go to some dive sites - you will need a visa.
One can buy a single entry visa on arrival in Sinai or Egypt. It's valid for 30 days. One can obtain multi-entry visas from the Consulate in London, prior to travel. They are valid for 6m & allow a maximum single stay of 90 days. This is usually done by post (allow 7 days) or in person (allow 2 days)
Website: www.egyptianconsulate.co.uk Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9.30 am to 12.30 pm (lodging applications), 2.30 am to 4.00 pm (visa collection). Email: info@egyptianconsulate.co.uk Download a visa application form: http://www.theschengenoffice.com/form...You do not need a visa to visit Mt. Sinai, St. Catherine's Monastary, sunset quad biking, seascope boat trip, Tiran Island boat trip, jeep safari, Stargazing in the desert, Coloured Canyon, Dahab, Nuweiba or Petra in Jordan (further Jordanian visa required on landing there) or Jerusalem & Dead Sea. You will need to carry your passports for the usual road checks though.
One may stay in Sinai, without a visa for 15days (14 nights). Any longer and a visa is required, even if you are not venturing out of Sinai. The 15 day waiver dates back to the Camp David Treaty. Ras Mohammed National Park is the only exception to this (it's in Sinai but is not covered by the waiver) There are sometimes debates on the forum as to whether a visa is needed for the Ras Mohammed boat trip. Some poster have had thei visa checked; some have been turned away for not having one. Whilst the officials don't check for one very often, it would be a shame to be the one turned away for not having a visa: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopi... & http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopi... & http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-...
Tour reps may try and "bully" people into buying a visa when you arrive at the airport and will even direct you to the visa queue. Do not listen to them. If you know that you are not planning on any of the trips listed below, simply write "Sinai only" on the back of the landing card & proceed to passport control. If the staff at passport control mention anything about a visa just say Sharm or Sinai only.
Try to buy Visas from one of the booths on the immediate left or far right as you enter the airport. They have a large $25 on the front. As many people are now taking this advice, the queues have lessened at the tour op's desk, situated between the two. The visa itself is a silvery insert which clearly states $25 on it. If you hand over £15 sterling, you will possibly get a little change in local currency (depends on the exchange rate).
If you go to the rep's desk, they will charge more as they add a "handling fee". Usually, you will receive your passport with the visa inserted when you board your transfer bus.
If you don't buy one on arrival but decide that you want one during your stay, you can arrange for the rep to get it but they will charge their rep's price plus about £5 additional handling fee. It would be awkward to sort it one's self as it would involve taxi journeys & trying to get back into the military airport.
If you intend to travel to Jerusalem or Petra, in Jordan, you don't need a visa as you enter Sinai, will be staying in Sinai & not visiting any other parts of Egypt. Then you will leave Sinai for a day & re-enter Sinai again.....still with the intention of not leaving Sinai & staying less than 14 days in the Sinai region. Border fees & a Jordanian visa will be arranged on the trips.
Transit visa in Cairo / Luxor etc- No transit visa is required if you do not leave the international area at the airport, whilst you are waiting between two flights. However, if you do intend to leave the airport & enter Egypt on a stopover before catching your connecting flight, then you must have a tourist visa or a business visa depending on the purpose of your visit.
Please Also see: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for different countries
or this page for Egypt ... https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-adv...
