Egypt is a popular destination for Norwegians. There have been frequent security incidents in northern Sinai where a security operation is underway. There have also been violent attacks in border areas against Libya and in the major cities of Cairo and Alexandria. The attacks have mainly been directed at security forces, churches and mosques.
Safety
Visitors to Egypt should generally be careful and keep up to date via local media and register at reiseregistrering.no. According to countryaah, Egypt is one of countries starting with letter E.
There is state of emergency throughout the country. Valid passport/ID document (s) should always be brought.
On September 20 and 21, demonstrations were held in Cairo and several other cities. Several demonstrations have been announced.
The last serious security incident in Cairo occurred on the night of August 5 when a car bomb exploded in the city center. Over 20 people were killed and several were injured.
In the northern parts of the Sinai Peninsula, an extensive military operation is under way against armed groups, and the security situation is unpredictable. People who cross the border from Egypt to Gaza run the risk of staying in Gaza for a long time because the border is kept closed for long periods of time. The embassy has very limited opportunities to assist Norwegians who wish to return from Gaza to Egypt or vice versa.
The penalties for offenses in Egypt are often higher than in Norway, even for incidents that under Norwegian law are considered wrongdoing.
Egypt has a strict law on statements that are perceived to damage Egyptian culture and national security. There have been cases in the past year where people have been sentenced to prison sentences for criticizing Egyptian society, culture or government on social media.
Traffic accidents are a common cause of accidents. The traffic picture can be perceived as confusing and not all taxis have seat belts. In the big cities, the infrastructure is little adapted to pedestrians.
Crime such as theft and robbery is relatively uncommon, but occurrences and precautions should be taken.
Verbal sexual harassment often occurs.
Homosexuality is not illegal, but is nevertheless taboo. Arrest and imprisonment of persons accused of belonging to the LBHTI environment have been reported.
The possession and use of drugs is illegal and the sentencing includes life sentence and death sentence.
The general risk of natural disasters in Egypt is low. There is a small risk of earthquakes. The last major earthquake in Egypt was in 1992.
Norwegian citizens are encouraged to have valid travel insurance.
Local emergency numbers: Police 122, Ambulance 123, Tourist Police 126.
Local numbers for tourist police:
| Cairo: | (02) 236 88281 |
| Giza: | (02) 33881802 |
| Alexandria: | (03) 547 5025 |
| Sharm el Sheikh: | (069) 366 0311 |
| Hurghada: | (065) 354 3365 |
| Aswan: | (097) 244 0442 |
| Luxor: | (095) 228 4597 |
For consular emergencies, the embassy is open all working hours Sunday to Thursday 08:30 – 15:30. In emergencies outside of working hours, the telephone is transferred to the Foreign Ministry’s 24-hour operational center in Oslo, Norway.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ 24-hour operating center can also be contacted by phone +47 23 95 00 00 or by e-mail: UDops@mfa.no. NB: This is only applicable in emergencies and should not be used for visa issues.
Norwegian citizens staying in or planning to travel to Egypt are encouraged to keep up to date via the websites of the Norwegian Embassy in Cairo and are recommended to register their journey at http://www.reiseregistrering.no/.
Entry
Please note that entry regulations may change. The Foreign Service is not responsible if the following information on entry regulations or visa requirements is changed at short notice. It is the responsibility of the traveler to ensure that travel documents are valid for entry and to familiarize themselves with the current entry rules for each country.
Norwegian citizens need a visa to stay in Egypt. The passport must be valid for at least six months from departure.
Visas can be applied for in advance from the Egyptian Embassy or Consulate, or purchased on arrival for $ 25. The sum can most easily be paid in euros or US dollars. Persons with a diplomatic passport cannot obtain a visa upon arrival. They must apply for a visa before arriving in Egypt. Visa from the Egyptian Embassy in Oslo is valid for one month after entry, while what you buy on arrival is valid for two weeks.
Egyptian authorities have created a web portal for applications for visas to Egypt (e-visa). The website should be accessible to citizens of 46 countries, including Norway.
The website will initially be used by tourists who wish to travel to Egypt by regular passport. If you are unsure whether you can use the scheme or have other questions, contact the Egypt Embassy in Oslo. The application fee is stated to be $ 25 for a single entry and $ 60 for multiple travel visa applications. The fee will not be refundable if the application is rejected.
Applications for visa renewals must be submitted to Egyptian immigration authorities. You can have trouble leaving the country if you overstay your visa. It will not be possible to leave the country without paying a fine if the visa is denied for more than 14 days.
For the latest updated information on entry regulations to Egypt, as well as additional information regarding other types of residence permits in Egypt, travelers are encouraged to investigate with Egypt’s embassy in Oslo.
Embassy of Egypt
Drammensveien 90A
0244 Oslo
Phone: (+47) 23 08 42 01 – 23 08 42 02
Fax: (+47) 23 08 42 08
E-mail: embassy.oslo@mfa.gov.eg
Passport is for Norwegian citizens is the only internationally valid identification paper.
Passports must be machine-readable for entry into Egypt. That is, handwritten emergency passports are not valid for entry into Egypt.
Upon entry/transit to Egypt, the following valid document is also accepted:
- refugee travel document (green travel document)
- travel document for people staying on humanitarian grounds (blue travel document)
However, reservations are made that the entry rules may be changed at short notice. It is therefore recommended that the relevant country’s authorities be contacted when planning a trip.
Travelers with a travel certificate for refugees/foreigners passports and others with special passports cannot obtain a visa at the airport and must therefore apply for a visa at the Egyptian Embassy in Oslo in advance.
It is not allowed to import or withdraw more than 5,000 Egyptian pounds from Egypt. There are no restrictions on import and export of foreign currency, but sums over a value of USD 10,000 must be declared on arrival.
Certain items such as electronic equipment, camcorders etc. must be declared on arrival and departure. Further information on customs and other rules can be obtained from the Egyptian Embassy in Oslo. You can bring pets if you have a veterinary certificate.
If you have dual citizenship, that is, Norwegian and Egyptian, and you travel to your other home country, you can risk the Egyptian authorities disregarding Norwegian citizenship. In such cases, the Norwegian authorities will find it difficult to provide assistance.
The embassy emphasizes that it is the traveler’s responsibility to ensure that travel documents, visas or residence permits are valid.
Health
Coronavirus (covid-19): Infectious cases have been detected in Egypt. The authorities, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), have implemented several measures to limit the risk of infection, including testing of people arriving from countries with infection. A separate telephone number “105” has been set up to be used in case of suspected infection. It is also possible to call the general emergency line “123”.
Norwegian travelers should keep abreast of the development of the corona virus. Follow local authorities’ advice, guidance and instructions on how to deal with the situation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not create travel advice because of the risk of infection. It is the Public Health Institute that provides health professional travel advice. You can find more information and guidance from Norwegian health authorities on the website of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
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Make sure you have travel insurance and available funds that can cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad if needed.
Reference is made to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s websites for official health professional travel advice and guidance to Norwegians when traveling abroad.
Also consult your doctor or the National Institute of Public Health in good time before leaving for any vaccines. See here for vaccines recommended for travel to Egypt. It is recommended that you be vaccinated against hepatitis A since you have seen an increase in hepatitis A infection in travelers to Egypt. Additional vaccines and revaccination can usually be obtained from a health center in Cairo.
Hospitals and medical services outside Cairo and the tourist towns are often of a low standard. Low hygienic standards at clinics and hospitals can make the postoperative phase risky. At public hospitals, however, hygiene can be poor. Some hospitals require cash payment (not credit card).
The Egyptian emergency number for ambulance services is 123. The public ambulance service has limited capacity. In case of emergency, it is recommended to call one of the larger hospitals that have their own ambulance services. Contact the Embassy for a list of hospitals in Egypt and dentists in Cairo. The embassy does not accept responsibility for the quality of the services of the hospitals and dentists.
Also note that Egypt is covered by quarantine provisions for infectious diseases. If you seek Norwegian health care upon returning to Norway, you must state that you have been to a dentist or hospital in Egypt.
Poor hygiene standards can cause tourist diarrhea, hepatitis and typhoid fever. Bilharzia (parasitic disease through water snail in stagnant fresh water) is also a growing problem. The large air pollution, especially in the big cities, also makes chronic respiratory diseases very widespread.
Air pollution is a problem in cities. Soot, smoke, exhaust and dust can cause long-term health problems, especially for people with respiratory disorders.
The pharmacies in Egypt carry many types of medicines, both locally manufactured, licensed and imported, which are sold without special restrictions at reasonable prices. However, it is recommended that people in need of special medical treatment take the necessary medication away from home as the supply situation in pharmacies may be changing.
Practical information
Modern buildings have basically the same type of electrical outlets as in Norway, 220 volts. According to allcitycodes, area code from Norway to Egypt is +20.
There are four nationwide GSM networks: Orange, Vodafone, Etisalat and We.
Norwegian phones can be used.
Internet domain:.eg
Coin value: Egyptian Pounds (EGP/LE)
Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Maestro and Diners are accepted in most cities and major tourist destinations and can be used to withdraw local currency from ATMs. Cash is the only means of payment in many taxis and small shops.
Opening hours for shops, banks and public offices: The Egyptian working week is Sunday to Thursday. Most shops are also open on weekends.
Arabic is an official language, but many speak English and some speak French.
Time difference to Norway: + 1 hour at winter time.
Egypt has a number of national holidays; for details see overview here. The timing of religious holidays such as Coptic Christmas, Easter and Ramadan varies from year to year.
Identity checks can occur mainly from the police; Therefore always bring a valid passport/ID.
Photography at or near military installations and buildings of security significance, as well as by security personnel (including police) is strictly prohibited. Some public buildings, embassies, airports and bridges should also be avoided. Similarly, it should not be photographed during demonstrations and/ or actions by the security authorities.
Food & beverage: Alcohol can be enjoyed in selected restaurants, bars and in the large hotels. Drinking alcohol on the street or outside a restaurant or licensed bar is prohibited and may result in arrest. There is no alcohol serving during religious holidays like Ramadan, with a few exceptions.
Egyptian legislation is unlike the Norwegian one. This applies, for example, to marriage and family law, including the right of inheritance and the right of care for common children.
Customs and rules: Egypt is a Muslim country. Laws and customs are influenced by it. This is especially true during the fasting month of Ramadan. Showing devotion in public should be avoided.
Dress code: There is no mandatory dress code in Egypt, but in churches and mosques, visitors are asked to cover only the shoulders and knees. The tourist towns on the Red Sea and around Sharm el-Sheik are most liberal.
Ramadan: During the fasting month of Ramadan, non-Muslims are expected to show respect to the fasting. It is common for one to be discreet with eating, drinking and smoking in public between sunrise and sunset and choosing clothes that cover the shoulders and knees. Opening hours for restaurants and shops often change during Ramadan.