How to get a visa on arrival at Hurghada Airport (Egypt): process and cost

On Egyptian charter flights, immigration cards are usually distributed on board. If not, they're available at the airport near the BANK windows before passport control, where the visa is also paid — $32 in cash. Sometimes cashiers can't break a $100 bill, so smaller denominations help. After getting the visa, insert the immigration card into your passport next to the visa sticker to speed up customs. Avoid staff who try to steer you toward a specific company near the hall entrance — go only to the official BANK windows.

Paying for the e-visa online is easy if you have an internationally accepted bank card. Without one, travelers usually end up paying extra to have the tour operator arrange the visa on their behalf.

Customs and passport/border control are often confused. Customs checks (baggage inspection) are random, and most tourists don't go through them. The sticker confirming payment of the $30 tourism fee is applied at border control. If this fee is included via a tour operator, they typically add about $3 per person as a service charge for not having to queue at the bank yourself.