“Absolutely thrilled”: Egypt cancels pre-entry visa requirements for Canadians, tour ops rejoice

This story was updated on Wednesday, October 16 at 10:42 a.m. EST.

Egypt will cancel its pre-entry visa requirement for Canadian citizens, effective Dec. 1, 2024, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry revealed in a statement on Monday (Oct. 14).

Canadian travellers will once again have the option of obtaining a visa upon arrival at Egyptian airports of entry, or an electronic visa (e-visa), which will be reactivated, the statement added.

The procedures are scheduled to take effect on Dec. 1, 2024 for all Canadian citizens arriving in Egyptian territories, starting from that date.

The decision follows a recent meeting between Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs, and Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, held during the United Nations General Assembly session in New York.

The decision to waive the pre-entry visas stems from a “common desire” to facilitate and ease the flow of trade and tourism while facilitating mobility and visas for both countries’ nationals.

This appears to align with President El-Sisi’s directives to prioritize the interests of Egyptian nationals abroad and remove any obstacles they may face.

Sigh of relief

The update brings a sense of order back to Egypt’s visa requirement, which has been complicated for Canadian tourists for more than year now – ever since the options of obtaining a visa online, or upon arrival, were suspended.

Since October 2023, gaining entry to Egypt has been a cumbersome and costly process. Canadians have had to pay $150 and mail in an application form, their passport and itinerary to get a visa approved.

Applications either had to be done in person at the embassy in Ottawa or at the Egyptian consulate in Montreal, or by mail.

“Absolutely thrilled”

Either way, the update is good news for Canadians heading to Egypt this winter – and for the tour operators that plan on taking them there.

Speaking with PAX via video link Wednesday morning, Moira Smith, Goway's VP for Africa, said she is “absolutely thrilled” about the news.

“It now makes it so much easier for Canadians to actually get a visa [for Egypt],” Smith said.

It’s also a timely update as Goway begins to see more travellers return to Egypt, despite the ongoing war in nearby Israel.

“We’re certainly seeing an increase in leads,” Smith said.

The introduction of a complicated visa process deterred a lot of travellers from visiting Egypt over the past year, Smith said. “Morocco actually picked up some of the business that potentially would have gone to Egypt,” she said.

Resilient Egypt

Returning to the old visa system wasn’t the only news out of Egypt on Monday – that same day saw the partial opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, which houses the world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts.

“We've been waiting for that to open for the last four to five years,” Smith said, noting that 75 per cent of the museum is now open to visitors.

Qaitbay Citadel, a 15th-century defensive fortress in Alexandria, has also launched its first-ever sound and light show.

Despite Egypt’s visa hurdles, Canadians were still travelling to the country this year, but at a lower volume, Smith told PAX.

“Of all the Middle East countries, Egypt, I think, has probably been the most resilient,” she said. “I think Canadian travellers have a good understanding of the fact that Egypt is a safe place to go.”

One Egypt-related trend  Goway is tracking includes the desire to stay longer in destination. Travellers aren’t just going for a Nile cruise and to see Cairo, Smith said, but extending their holiday with a beach vacation.

Others are also opting to combine their Egypt adventure with another Middle Eastern destination, like Jordan, Smith said.

Travel advisors will have an opportunity to engage with Goway's Egyptian partners in person at the company's upcoming Africa and Middle East industry event on October 24 in Toronto. 

Steve Born, chief marketing officer for the Globus family of brands, echoed a similar sentiment about Egypt restoring its visa process for Canadians. 

“We’re all about simplicity in travel, and Egypt’s decision to waive the pre-arrival visa process for our Canadian travellers fits right in,” Born wrote in an email to PAX early Wednesday. “Egypt has been a dream destination for Globus guests for decades, and we know its appeal will remain, hopefully bolstered by this move to ease entry.”

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