How to go through passport control at Hurghada airport: visa and arrival card process explained

If you weren't given an arrival card on the plane, you can pick one up for free right in the passport control hall — cards are available on a table there. Fill it out on the spot, then head right to the windows labeled 'bank' to buy your visa.

The visa costs $30 (euros accepted too, with change given). Buy it at the official glass booth labeled 'Viza' or 'Bank' — it's on the right when facing passport control. Hand your passport and cash through the window; they'll affix the visa and give change.

Tour operator desks before passport control also issue the arrival card (if you didn't get one on the plane) and sell visas, but at a markup — up to $35. It's better to buy the visa at the official booth first, then visit the tour operator desk only if needed.

Alternative: arrange the visa in advance at the Egyptian embassy in your home country. It's a trade-off between saving money (airport visa is cheaper) versus saving time and hassle on arrival.

Passport control has two stages: at the first checkpoint your arrival card is collected, at the second they check the visa in your passport and let you through. Keep your passport with the visa and arrival card ready in hand to speed things up.

Fill out the arrival card on the plane if distributed. On arrival, if you already have a visa, go directly to passport control — skip the tour operator desk. Collect your baggage and board the transfer bus.

The correct sequence: purchase your visa at the airport if not pre-arranged, then proceed to passport control with your passport, the affixed visa, and your completed arrival card.