Do South Africans need a visa for Egypt?

e-Visafor South African passports

South Africans need a visa for Egypt, but it’s quick: apply online for an e-Visa (US$30).

StayUp to 30 days per visit

Single-entry e-VisaUS$30, about R500

Difficulty 2 of 5

Last checkedChecked17 Oct 2026

What you need

Tick these off as you go. Your ticks are saved on this device.

Passport valid at least 6 months from your arrival date
Printed e-Visa approval
Travel plan and hotel bookings
US dollars in cash as a backup

How to do it

Apply on visa2egypt.gov.eg and pay by card.
Print the approval and keep a copy on your phone.
Show it with your passport at immigration.

Official site:

Egypt e-Visa Portal (the only official site)

Airlines decide whether you can board using a database called Timatic. Before you fly, check your route on the IATA Travel Centre.

What it costs in rand

Item	Cost
Single-entry e-Visa	US$30, about R500
Multiple-entry e-Visa	US$65, about R1,070

Rand amounts use the exchange rate on 9 October 2026 (R16.53 to the US dollar, R18.50 to the euro, R21.87 to the pound) and are rounded. Work out your whole trip in the budget calculator.

Common problems and fixes

You paid a copycat e-Visa site

Agent sites charge double. The government site ends in .gov.eg.

Long queues at the visa desk

Tour companies report that South Africans can also buy a visa on arrival at Cairo airport in US dollar cash, but the e-Visa lets you skip that queue.

Pressure from touts and drivers

Agree every price before a ride or tour. Use Uber in Cairo.

Plan your trip

Best timeOctober to April

MoneyEgyptian pound (EGP)

Return flight from Johannesburg (rough guide)R9,000–R14,000

Daily budget per person (rough guide)R600–R1,200

Three trip ideas

Cairo and Giza

The pyramids, Saqqara and the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Luxor

The Valley of the Kings and Karnak temple.

Aswan and the Nile

A felucca at sunset or a Nile cruise to Luxor.

Good to know

Dress modestly away from the beach resorts.
Spring can bring dust storms.

Book

Flights Places to stay Tours and activities

Sources and checks

Checked17 Oct 2026

Checked on 17 Oct 2026 against the official government or embassy page, plus at least one independent source.

officialEgypt e-Visa Portal: FAQ and eligible nationalities · Government of Egypt · no date shown
secondaryEgypt visa information for South Africans · On The Go Tours · no date shown

How we check: our method and every source we use.

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