At the beginning of August 2021, Russia lifted the ban on flights to Egypt, which had been in effect for 6 years. After the opening of direct flights between Moscow and Cairo amid the coronavirus pandemic, Russian tourists need to study the rules for entering Egypt in 2021 so as not to spoil their vacation.
Do Russians need a visa to Egypt in 2021
To enter the Republic of Egypt, you will need to obtain an electronic visa using a simplified procedure. Tourists are invited to issue several types of entry documents via the Internet:
- one-time entry for $ 25;
- multiple for $ 60.
To obtain a visa, you will need to fill out a form in which you need to indicate:
- FULL NAME.;
- purpose of the trip;
- length of stay in Egypt, etc.
The visa fee is paid simultaneously with the paperwork through a credit card. After submitting the completed form and paying the visa fee, the tourist receives a link to the website in his mail, where he can download an e-visa.
After receiving the permits, they must be printed on a printer and presented to the passport control officer. If you failed to pay the visa fee in Russia, payment can be made at the international airports of Egypt immediately after arrival.
Tourists who fly to Egyptian resorts on direct flights for a period of 15 days do not pay the visa fee. Those who fly direct flights to the following resorts are exempted from such payment:
- Sharm El Sheikh;
- Nuweiba;
- Taba;
- Dahab.
All tourists will need to purchase a COVID-19 insurance policy.
Are the borders of Egypt open today for Russians in 2021?
On August 9, 2021, the Russian authorities officially lifted the ban on direct flights to Egypt, which had been in effect since 2021. On August 12, charter flights from Russia to all Egyptian resorts resumed.
The flights are still operated 5 times a week from the airports of the Russian capital. Although the tourism business of Egypt has been waiting for the return of Russian tourists for a long time, it did not reduce the cost of rest in this country for Russians. At the end of summer 2021, a week-long tour to Egypt will cost Russian tourists more than 2 times more expensive than a vacation in Turkey.
Flights are also operated from different Russian cities by Russian and foreign air carriers. A total of 60 direct flights from Russia to Egypt have been agreed, half of which will be operated by Egyptian airlines.
Do I need to do a PCR test in Egypt in 2021
In Egypt, there is a regime of restrictions, so only those who have been vaccinated against coronavirus or have passed a PCR test and received a negative result are allowed into the country. To confirm the vaccination data or the negative test result, you will need to provide medical documents that have a QR or barcode. Otherwise, the document will not be accepted at the airport by the control services, and the Russian tourist will simply not be allowed into the country. Electronic types of certificates of a suitable sample are also accepted.
Vaccinated
For tourists wishing to relax in Egypt, Rosturizm regularly publishes the latest news of 2021 about the rules for entering this country. Entry is allowed for everyone who has been vaccinated against COVID-19. Of several Russian vaccines, the Egyptian authorities officially recognize only Sputnik V, and the list of officially registered Western vaccines is also on the list. After being vaccinated with the last Sputnik V vaccination, at least two weeks must elapse.
You can issue a certificate with a QR code or a barcode in Russia at the "Invitro" or "Gemotest" branches. The certificate must be in English.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt Khaled al-Anani: “In Egypt, vaccinations have recently been completed at the resorts. To protect vacationers, the authorities are closely monitoring the epidemic situation in different countries. "
Unvaccinated
If a person coming to Egypt from Russia on vacation has not been vaccinated, he will need to undergo a PCR test. This can be done before departure, but not earlier than 72 hours before entering Egypt. The certificate of the test results must be issued in English.
Validity of test results extends from the time you board the plane until you arrive at the airport in Egypt.
The certificate should contain:
- exact time of testing;
- PCR research method;
- original seal of the laboratory that carried out the test.
The certificate must be original, copies are not accepted.
Children under 6 years of age do not need a coronavirus test.
Also, Russian tourists will be able to undergo a PCR test upon arrival at the Egyptian airport, but they will have to pay for it. In addition, there is a risk of standing in line, and then spending all the money on self-isolation in a hotel or hospital, if you need to go through quarantine. So, answering the question whether it is necessary to take a PCR test before traveling to Egypt, doctors advise to get tested in Russia in order to save time and money.
New rules for entering Egypt in 2021 due to COVID-19
Due to the restriction regime in the country since 2021, the Egyptian authorities are quite strict to ensure that foreign tourists arriving on vacation are either vaccinated or undergo a PCR test for coronavirus. By making it easier to obtain travel documents, the Egyptian authorities were forced to tighten controls over potentially infected foreign tourists.
To do this, each vacationer entering the country must present either a certificate of vaccination or a certificate of a negative test result, the validity of which has not expired. In order not to get problems when entering Egypt, all medical documents should be filled out correctly.
Rules for the return of Russian tourists to Russia from Egypt in 2021
According to the new entry rules for Russians returning from an overseas trip, and for foreign guests operating since the beginning of this summer, there is no need to do two coronavirus tests. For a health check, you will need to go through only one analysis, the results of which, as before, will be uploaded to the citizen's personal page on the Gosulug portal.
The current rules for entering Russia from Egypt in 2021 meet all the requirements introduced at the beginning of this summer for those who enter the Russian Federation from abroad.
Those who have already been vaccinated or have recently had a coronavirus infection and can confirm the level of antibodies in the blood are exempted from taking the test. In order not to officially pass the test, you need to fill out a form on the State Services portal in your account, indicating the number and series of your vaccination certificate. For those who have recently had a coronavirus infection, you need to indicate the data of the certificate and the time of illness indicated in it.
By observing the current rules for entering Egypt and then returning to Russia, you can avoid unpleasant problems that will spoil the whole impression of your vacation.
