How to extend a visa in Hurghada Egypt — Gawazat office, deadlines and overstay fines

The overstay fine is separate from charter flight rules — they are two distinct issues. The fine for illegal stay in Egypt can be paid at the Gawazat office or at the airport on departure. Separately, charter carriers may deny boarding if charter conditions are violated: the arrival and departure city must be the same, the stay must not exceed 28 days, and the original arrival must have been on a charter flight.

The Egypt entry visa costs $30 for all nationalities and is valid for 30 days. Russian citizens can extend their stay by 60 days for free by visiting the Hurghada Gawazat (passport office) before the 30-day visa expires. The extension is not automatic — you must go in person and get the stamp.

According to the head of the Hurghada Gawazat office, extension documents must be submitted before the visa or stamp expires. Applying within 14 days after expiry is a grey area — some travelers get the stamp without issues, others are refused and fined. It's best not to risk it and apply before expiry.

Technically there is a 14-day grace period after visa expiry to submit extension documents. However, in practice this is inconsistently enforced — the Gawazat has in some cases still demanded a fine even when documents were submitted within those 14 days. Do not rely on this grace period as a guaranteed safety net.