From October 1, 2023Canadian nationals wishing to travel to Egypt will now need to obtain a Egyptian visa before their departure, announced the Canadian governmentinformation confirmed by the Visamundi teams.
Previously, Canadians could obtain a visa on arrival in Egypt, or request an electronic document from the government's official e-visa website. Now, to obtain a visa, Canadians must go in person to the Egyptian Embassy in Ottawa or at the Consulate General in Montreal, or by mail.
How to obtain an Egyptian visa
According to information published by the Egyptian authorities, Canadian nationals will need to complete a visa application form available from the Egyptian embassy or consulate. The application must include the following documents:
- A signed and completed visa application form
- A valid Canadian passport for at least six months from the date of entry into Egypt
- Two recent passport photos
- Proof of reservation of a package tour or theprojected itinerary of stay
- THE visa fees to be paid by credit card, certified cheque or money order.
Once the complete file has been received, the Egyptian Embassy will send the visa to the applicant by post. Canadians are therefore advised to apply for their visas well in advance to avoid any postal delays.
The Egyptian Embassy in Ottawa is located at 454 Laurier Avenue East, Ottawa. The embassy's jurisdiction includes : Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ottawa only.
The Egyptian consulate in Montreal is located at 1800 McGill College Avenue, Suite 900, Montréal. The jurisdiction of the consulate includes : Ontario except Ottawa, Quebec, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick.
Reasons for the change in Egyptian visa policy
According to sources close to the Egyptian government, this decision is part of an ongoing enhanced security measures and the fight against illegal immigration to Europe via Egypt. In addition, this change is also aimed at promoting supervised and organized tourist visits to ensure the safety of the tourist trade. protection of foreign visitors and limit the risks associated with dangerous or prohibited areas in Egypt. As a reminder, several Western countries, including Canada, regularly warn their nationals about the unstable security situation in Egypt and advise them to avoid certain areas of the country.
Mixed reactions from Canadian tour operators and future visitors
Canadian tour operators regret this measure, deeming it disproportionate and For many travelers, this new system complicates the preparation of their trip and imposes additional administrative formalities, requiring a trip to the Egyptian embassy. Some are also concerned about potential delays in visa processing and dispatch. These changes could have an impact on travel bookings to Egypt, a country highly prized by tourists from all over the world for its exceptional archaeological and historical sites.
Continuation of measures to ease formalities for international tourists from other countries
Despite this new requirement for Canadian nationals, Egypt is continuing its efforts to facilitate access for international tourists from other exempted countries with the introduction of the e-visa.
On the other hand, it is worth noting that citizens of member countries of the African Union still benefit from a visa on arrival in Egypt, as do those of certain other non-African countries such as the United States and Russia, under bilateral agreements between these nations and the Egyptian government.
The Egyptian authorities are also seeking to develop medical tourism by setting up specific procedures for granting visas to foreign patients wishing to undergo treatment in Egypt.
Fill in a file from e-Visa Egypt
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