Do I need a visa for transit through Cairo to Sharm el-Sheikh?

On a routing through Cairo to Sharm el-Sheikh, a visa is mandatory because Cairo falls outside the Sinai visa-free zone. Without a visa, you will not be allowed to board the connecting domestic flight.

Cairo does not offer a free visa or entry stamp like Sharm el-Sheikh does. Since you cross the international border in Cairo, there is no airside transit option — you must have a valid visa to proceed to a domestic connection.

Firsthand experience from two separate trips: both times, passengers without a visa were denied boarding the onward flight to Sharm el-Sheikh in Cairo. Appeals to staff did not help.

Since August 2025, purchasing a visa on arrival in Cairo is no longer available without conditions. Three options remain: apply at the embassy before departure, use a visa application center, or book a Cairo excursion through a tour operator and use their guarantee letter to buy a visa at the airport.

The Egyptian e-visa is not available to all nationalities. If you are ineligible, your options are the embassy, a visa application center, or a tour operator guarantee letter tied to a purchased Cairo excursion.

A visa is required for all travelers entering Egypt through Cairo. Without one, you will be denied boarding even for a domestic onward flight. Options: embassy in your home country, visa center, or a tour operator guarantee letter if you purchase a Cairo excursion.