Egypt travel guide for Canadians

Yes, Canadians need a visa for Egypt. You can buy a tourist visa on arrival at Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh and other major airports, or apply online for an e-visa before you fly. Both allow a stay of up to 30 days. The on-arrival visa costs about US$25 (check). Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date. Entry rules can change, so confirm with the Egyptian embassy or your airline before booking.

Canadians need a visa for tourism. The simplest option is a single-entry tourist visa on arrival at the airport, which you pay for in US dollars, euros or pounds sterling at the bank kiosk before immigration. Alternatively, apply for an e-visa through the official Egyptian visa portal before you travel; this can save time at the airport and is valid for tourism or business. The e-visa is usually processed within a few days (check).

Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of entry. You should also have proof of onward travel and enough funds for your stay, though these are rarely checked for tourists. The visa allows a stay of up to 30 days; for longer stays or work, contact the Egyptian embassy in Ottawa.

The Embassy of Canada to Egypt is in Cairo, in the Garden City district. It provides consular services for Canadians, including passport renewals and emergency assistance. For visa questions, contact the Egyptian embassy in Ottawa or the Egyptian consulate in Montreal, as Canadian authorities do not handle Egyptian visas.

If you run into trouble in Egypt, the Canadian embassy can help with lost passports, arrest or medical emergencies. Save the emergency contact number for the Embassy of Canada in Cairo (check) and the 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

Egypt is generally affordable for Canadians. A mid-range trip – hotels, meals, transport and entry fees – might cost around CAD 100–150 per person per day (check). Budget travellers can do less, while cruises and Red Sea resorts push the cost up. The Egyptian pound has weakened against the Canadian dollar, so your money goes further than a few years ago.

The visa costs about US$25 (roughly CAD 35). Internal flights between Cairo, Luxor and Aswan are inexpensive, and the sleeper train is a budget-friendly way to cover the Nile Valley. Entry fees to major sites like the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum are a few hundred EGP each (check).

There are no direct flights from Canada to Egypt. Most routes connect through Europe – London, Paris, Frankfurt or Istanbul – with a total travel time of about 12–15 hours from Toronto or Montreal, plus the connection. From Vancouver, add a few more hours. Airlines like Air Canada, EgyptAir and European carriers operate these routes (check).

Cairo International Airport (CAI) is the main gateway. Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh also have international airports, useful if you are heading straight to the Red Sea. Book early for the best prices, especially in winter (peak season).

Egypt uses plugs of types C and F, the same two-pin round plugs used across Europe. The voltage is 220 V with a frequency of 50 Hz. Canadian devices (120 V) will need a plug adapter and, for anything without a universal power supply, a voltage converter. Most phone and laptop chargers are dual-voltage, so a simple adapter is enough for them.

Tipping – baksheesh – is part of daily life in Egypt. Expect to tip for almost any service: hotel staff, guides, drivers, and even someone who helps you take a photo. Small tips of EGP 20–50 (about CAD 0.50–1.50) are common for minor services. In restaurants, 10–15% is standard, and many bills include a service charge, so check before adding more.

Carry small change in Egyptian pounds for tips. Guides on tours usually expect a larger tip, often EGP 100–200 per day (check). It is customary to tip bathroom attendants and parking helpers as well.

In an emergency in Egypt, dial 122 for police, 123 for an ambulance, 126 for the tourist police and 180 for fire. The tourist police are present at major sites and can be helpful if you have a problem. For consular help, contact the Embassy of Canada in Cairo or the 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa (check).

Answers to the most common questions Canadians ask about visiting Egypt.

This page is based on the official travel advice from the Government of Canada and the Egyptian authorities. Always check the latest entry requirements before you book.