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Egypt Visa for South African Passport Holders

Tourist Visa
ℹ Visa on Arrival — Apply at the border or airport
n/a Rejection Rate Not Published
1/5 Difficulty
0–0d Processing
ZAR 480 Total (~$30)

Quick Facts

Requirement Visa on Arrival
Visa Fee ZAR 480 (~$30)
VOA Fee ZAR 480 (~$30)
Processing Time 0–0 working days
Appointment Wait ~ weeks
Stay Duration Up to 30 days
E-Visa Available online

Egypt is one of the most popular holiday destinations for South Africans — the Red Sea resorts of Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, plus Cairo, Luxor, and the Nile. The visa process is among the easiest in the world: $25 e-visa online or $30 on arrival. The e-visa is recommended to save money and skip airport queues.

Key Warnings

  • The VOA fee increased to $30 USD effective 1 March 2026 (up from $25). Bring exact USD cash — the airport counters prefer it. The e-visa at visa2egypt.gov.eg remains $25.
  • Avoid third-party Egypt e-visa websites that charge $60–80 for the same $25 government service. Only use visa2egypt.gov.eg.
  • Egypt has strict laws on LGBTQ+ relationships and photography of government buildings, military installations, and airports. Research local laws before travel.

Insider Tips

  • Hurghada (HRG) and Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH) are direct flight destinations from Johannesburg — popular charter packages. Cairo is a connecting stop for those doing a Nile Valley itinerary.
  • The Red Sea is one of the world's top diving destinations — and very affordable for South Africans. Dive packages from Hurghada resorts include equipment and boat dives.
  • Book an all-inclusive resort in Hurghada for maximum value — everything from ZAR 4,000–8,000 per person for a 7-night package including flights from Johannesburg.

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Choose: e-Visa (recommended) or VOA

    The e-visa ($25) is cheaper than VOA ($30) and lets you skip the airport visa queue. If you've already booked a flight and haven't applied, you can still get VOA at the airport — but arrive early.

  2. Apply for e-visa at visa2egypt.gov.eg

    Go to visa2egypt.gov.eg. Select South Africa as nationality. Fill in travel details and upload passport scan and photo.

  3. Pay $25 by card

    Pay the single-entry e-visa fee ($25 USD) by credit/debit card. You will receive a confirmation number.

  4. Receive e-visa in 3–5 days

    Your e-visa is emailed within 3–5 business days. Print it or save to your phone and present at Egyptian immigration.

  5. Alternatively: Visa on Arrival at airport

    If using VOA: join the visa-on-arrival queue at Cairo (CAI), Hurghada (HRG), Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH), or other international airports. Pay $30 USD in cash at the counter and proceed to immigration.

Required Documents

  • Valid South African passport Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond entry date.
  • USD 30 cash (for VOA option) Visa on arrival counter prefers exact USD. Some counters accept EUR but USD is recommended.
  • Return or onward flight ticket May be requested at immigration.
  • Hotel booking confirmation Egyptian immigration may ask for accommodation details.

No published rejection rate. Egypt publishes no visa refusal statistics by applicant nationality. Checked August 2026.

Latest Updates

2026-03

Egypt raised the visa-on-arrival fee from $25 to $30

Egypt increased the single-entry visa-on-arrival fee from USD 25 to USD 30 with effect from 1 March 2026. The 30-day validity and the single-entry condition are unchanged.

2026-08

Cairo airport switched to a digital visa on arrival on 1 August 2026

From 1 August 2026 Cairo International Airport issues the visa on arrival as a QR code instead of a paper sticker. The total is USD 36 — the USD 30 visa plus a USD 6 issuance charge — paid by credit or debit card through the official portal, the mobile app, or a self-service kiosk in the arrivals hall. The QR code expires 48 hours after you generate it, so create it close to departure. Bank teller windows still sell paper stickers during the pilot, and Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Luxor are unchanged for now.

2022-04

South Africans added to Egypt VOA eligible list

South Africa was added to Egypt's visa on arrival eligible nationalities in April 2022, significantly simplifying access for South African travellers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can South Africans get a visa on arrival in Egypt?
Yes. South African passport holders can get a visa on arrival at all major Egyptian airports — Cairo (CAI), Hurghada (HRG), Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH), Luxor, and Marsa Alam. The fee is $30 USD (ZAR 490, as of March 2026 — increased from $25). Bring exact USD cash. Alternatively, the online e-visa is $25 and lets you skip the queue.
Should South Africans use the e-visa or visa on arrival for Egypt?
The e-visa ($25 at visa2egypt.gov.eg) is recommended: it's $5 cheaper than VOA ($30), and you skip the airport visa queue. Apply 5+ days before travel. If you've left it too late, VOA is perfectly fine — just bring $30 USD in cash.
Is Hurghada a good holiday destination for South Africans?
Yes — Hurghada is one of the most popular package holiday destinations for South Africans. The Red Sea offers world-class snorkelling and diving, all-inclusive resorts are very affordable (from ZAR 4,000/person for 7 nights including flights), and the flight time from Johannesburg is approximately 9 hours.

Data Sources & Verification

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