Egypt’s Travel Restrictions

If you are planning to visit Egypt in 2021, you’ll want to keep reading to learn more about the current travel situation in the country. Egypt allowed international flights to resume last July, however, you’ll need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to your departure to the country. If you are traveling to some of the coastal resorts, the restrictions may be a little more relaxed, but you’ll want to ensure you double-check these before heading to Egypt. You’ll also need to have valid health insurance and be prepared to show proof of this upon your arrival to the country. Having your Egypt eVisa is also important. At the current time, any nationality is welcome in Egypt, providing that they show proof of negative test results.

What to Do Upon Arrival in Egypt

Upon your arrival in Egypt, everyone will need to show proof of their negative PCR test which should have been taken within 72 hours of your departure. This rule also extends to citizens as well. If you are traveling from certain parts of the world, including North America, Japan, and China, you’ll have these restrictions increased to 96 hours to obtain the COVID-19 test. You’ll need to ensure your test certificate is written in England and Arabic, and it should have a stamp from an accredited lab. You’ll complete a personal monitoring card to enter the country and have to show proof of the health insurance you have.

If you are traveling to South Sinai, Marsa Matrouh, or the Red Sea, you can avoid taking the test beforehand and instead complete this upon your arrival. However, you’ll need to isolate while you are waiting for your results, and the test will set you back $30. Of course, this comes with the huge risk of testing positive at this time, and you’ll have to isolate in a specific location for 14 days if you do test positive. On top of this, when planning a trip to Egypt, most visitors need to obtain an e-visa beforehand, which you’ll want to apply for in advance of your trip. 

Egypt’s Pandemic Numbers

Since the start of the pandemic, Egypt has experienced 262,650 COVID-19 cases and over 15,000 deaths as of June 2021. The numbers did reduce slightly towards the fall of 2020, but they increased once again in 2021. The vacation process has already started in the country, but it’s not been as extensive as elsewhere in the world. The focus so far has been on the Red Sea resorts, which a huge number of tourists usually visit each year, but hopefully, the vaccination rollout will continue across the county.

Some Guidelines When Visiting Egypt

When you are visiting Egypt, you’ll need to ensure you follow the guidelines in the country. Masks must be worn while you are taking any form of public transportation or a taxi, and they are also required inside enclosed public places. You could be fined if you are not wearing a mask in the right location, so ensure you are keeping an eye out for signage regarding this. There are very strict rules regarding the number of people who can gather at one time, and this may impact your trip and the activities you can take part in.

Hotels and restaurants across the country have much lower capacity than ever before. You’ll also find they have much stricter health and safety guidelines than you may have seen on a previous visit. There was a curfew in place here, but visitors to the country will be relieved to know this is likely not to be in place during their upcoming trip to Egypt.