Visa fees

[crewmeal]

I see that for UK citizens the visitor’s visa has gone up from £20 to £28. If you hand over £30 would you get change?

https://egyptconsulate.co.uk/visas/

[HEPZIBAH]

I've only given the link you gave a quick glance, but isn't that for a visa purchased in advance from the consulate? I thought it said they don't accept cash.
Surely Visa purchased on arrival in Egypt is still USD25 and the £ equivalent is usually given on the days exchange rate. Assuming you can still pay cash at the airport, and should change be due you should get it back in LE.
Disclaimer: I've not travelled to Egypt for a few years, so no idea if and/or how things might have changed.

[crewmeal]

I’ll be in Luxor next month and I’ll report back.

[Chris]

I arrived in Luxor on Monday after a holiday in UK
The tourist visa in Luxor is still $25
If you are flying with Egyptair direct from LHR visitors are visa free until 31 October. It is NOT visa free for other airlines

[BBLUX]

Oh deep joy! We arrive via Egyptair on the evening of the 31st October flying in from Paris. What is the visa situation for flights in from France?

[John Landon]

Looks like I will be paying the $25 each in December.?
Any discounts for OAP's.?

[Chris]

BBLUX - this is the information which I received from Travco in Luxor:

"yes it is applies to direct Egypt air or air Cairo flights from France and any international direct flight to Luxor or Aswan."

[BBLUX]

Thanks Chris. We have saved dollars for the visas from our last trip.

[A-Four]

I recently noticed that Egypt is not alone with regards to tourist visa price increases. As of next month (October) many countries are reviewing price, U.S.A. goes to $40 + admin. Many others, even those that dislike the $ has raised prices quite aggressively, but still accept that currency only from Western tourists.

[John Landon]

I recently noticed that Egypt is not alone with regards to tourist visa price increases. As of next month (October) many countries are reviewing price, U.S.A. goes to $40 + admin. Many others, even those that dislike the $ has raised prices quite aggressively, but still accept that currency only from Western tourists.

Should I pay in USD, or do you think I should pay in GB £?

If so, how much will they charge at the airport in GB £.?

TIA.

[A-Four]

In the old days I would arrive in Egypt at Cairo, few days there then take the train up to Luxor. The flight on average was around £320, plus a very cheap and enjoyable night train, those prices have long gone.

These days I usually fly directly to Luxor, maybe twice a year for a couple of weeks flights being no more than £250 return out of Gatwick at a reasonable price, at a reasonable time, but certainly not sweezie-jet.

I always carryy U.S $'s in 5, 10 and 20's. Never buy a Visa from the man who stands near the arrivals door, he accepts sterling, but at a price. I always pay for my Visa in $ at the bank directly at the back of the hall, this is also where I buy my Egyptian currency, and they are quite good at giving sufficient 50's and 100 notes

I pay a taxi driver $10 to Luxor, no hassle even on route, which is what you want after a long day. I pay 50LE to go anywhere in central Luxor, and 100LE for somewhere like Karnack village. If I want a taxi from town back to my hotel, the price is the same, I never get a problem. For hotel out of the main town prices can be very different, I will agree, but I have never stayed at such, since I gave up my home on the WB.

Having said all this, these are the prices that I pay NOW are good, as some of us know that price is good today, inflation in Egypt can rise dramatically in a short time, and so will taxi prices.

[Teddyboy]

"If so, how much will they charge at the airport in GB £.?"

The equivalent of $25! But you may have to actually ask for your change, which would be in EGP.

[crewmeal]

Go to the bank and pay £20

[HEPZIBAH]

I've always objected to changing currency too many times so, when travelling to Egypt, I have normally checked the £ <>$ rate in advance to estimate what I would need to hand over in £ for my visa. I also check the £<>LE rate , in advance to give me an idea for budgeting, but also on the arrival day to know how much LE I want to buy at the airport. Overall, I've not found the airport exchange rate bad, although there are (were?) a couple of currency exchange places in town that were better.
Wherever I've travelled, I've found Coinmill a fairly accurate tool to use when checking rates.

[crewmeal]

I arrived in Luxor last night and can confirm there is no fee for tourist visas. All they do is rubber stamp your passport.

[Chris]

For clarification Crewmail, for those who have not been following this thread, that only applied to passengers arriving into Luxor on the direct flight with Egyptair from UK and the 'no fee' concession ceases on 31 October

[crewmeal]

For clarification Crewmail, for those who have not been following this thread, that only applied to passengers arriving into Luxor on the direct flight with Egyptair from UK and the 'no fee' concession ceases on 31 October

Yes that is correct. No visa labels are issued only a rubber stamp in the passport. I can’t confirm when the ‘offer’ finishes.

[FABlux]

We came in Oct 31st via Cairo & fee was 25$ there. We had $s & everybody else had €s & they were all milling around it was chaos trying to sort them out. He saw me hold up $s & instant service & lots of smiles, $s good, thank you!

[BENNU]

He saw me hold up $s & instant service & lots of smiles, $s good, thank you!

The same thing happened to me, FABlux. A man from the bank next to the one where I was waiting, saw that I had $25 in my hand, so he came out with a visa for me. It took a second.

[Who2]

Renewing my Visa was great fun.
If one has to go to the 'Dark-Side, have fun.

Stan and I used to renew our visa's together, our 'little nazi, behind the counter always a charmer, we felt sure she thought
we were a couple to our amusement before crossing the road to spend happy hours supping expensive beers.
Upon returning, letting her keep the change, giving her a flash pen a smile then popping in to say 'hello to the General, before dropping a 'bit o' baksheesh to the door copper then back across 'de Nile to 'da bright side for another blue sky stella.

These days I don't bother to renew, no fun. Happy to believe in all those old rumours about not having to after 65....

Ps: I bumped into her once in KierZamam, we laughed her Son now does her job..'funny old World.