Egypt entry requirements · France passport

Good to know in Egypt

• Sinai-only stamp

  A free stamp for up to 15 days, valid in Sharm El-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba only, is confirmed for UK, EU and US passports flying into Sharm El-Sheikh. Other passports should check with the Egyptian embassy; Cairo, Luxor and the desert need a full visa.

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• Drones

  Leave yours at home. Bringing or flying one needs prior permission from Egypt's Ministry of Defence, Canada's advice calls drones strictly prohibited, and penalties can include prison.

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• Western Desert permits

  Bahariya, Farafra and the White and Black Deserts need permits arranged in advance and an official guide. Official sources give no standard lead time; your operator normally arranges it.

  On our Western Desert trips we arrange this for you →

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• Using your phone

  Your own phone works with a foreign SIM or roaming at no charge. An Egyptian SIM for visitors carries a 90-day fee exemption each visit; if you get a network alert, check the phone in the official Telephony app.

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• Medicines

  Carry medicines in their original packaging with the prescription or a GP letter, and no more than 3 months' supply. If you take opioid painkillers, codeine, sleeping pills or ADHD stimulants, ask the Egyptian embassy before you travel.

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• Egyptian pounds

  You can bring in or take out at most EGP 5,000 in banknotes, so get pounds from an ATM in Egypt. Foreign currency over US$10,000 must be declared on arrival.

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• Equipment and souvenirs

  Satellite phones and radios are likely to be confiscated without prior clearance, and binoculars or large video cameras may be questioned. Declare high-value electronics, get a permit for professional photography gear, don't photograph military sites, and don't export antiquities without a licence.

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