Egypt Cancels Visa on Arrival for Foreigners

According to Ahram Online, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs announced last Monday that the visa on arrival option for travelers wishing to enter Egypt will no longer be available.

Any traveler should apply for a visa prior to coming to Egypt or else they will not be permitted to enter the country, starting from May 15, 2015. Organized tourist groups will be the only exception.

It’s said that this decision was made to protect Egypt’s borders, especially with ISIS troops scattered in neighboring areas. Entry will no longer be so easily accessible; every individual looking to visit Egypt will be looked into and granted or denied access according to an investigation.

We’re not sure that this is such a smart move given that for the past few years Egyptian tourism has declined immensely. And not having an embassy or consulate in every city will mean that travelers would have to send their passports by post to their nearest embassy or consulate and that would mean they wouldn’t have access to their passport for a while.

However, with terrorist organizations swarming around countries so close to Egyptian borders, it is a means of protection from anyone wishing to harm our beloved Egypt or our follow Egyptians.

WE SAID THIS: Let’s just hope this decision doesn’t affect tourism too much!