Basic Travel Requirements for Gambians visiting
Egypt
Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to
apply for a Egyptian Visa.
- A Gambian passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date and must have 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
- Duly completed and signed visa application form.
- If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
- Passport-size photographs (2′ x 2′) taken in white background.
- Proof of financial support.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Copy of return flight ticket.
- Documentation showing applicant’s ties to home country.
- Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
- Copy of travel itinerary.
Egypt Visa for Gambians
Facts about Egypt
Egypt is a country which is very rich in history and culture. Egypt is known to have a lot of pyramids with most of them being tombs for the Egyptian pharaohs. The pyramids found at Giza are considered to be the most popular pyramids in Egypt. The largest pyramid is the ‘Pyramid of Khufu’ at Giza, it is the only one of the seven wonders of the world which still exists. Tourists in the country can visit museums to see ancient Egyptian antiquities or take a ride through the safari on a camel’s back or a jeep. Whatever you want to do during your time in Egypt, it definitely is great fun.
The tourism industry in Egypt is a leading aspect to the economic growth in Egypt. In 2010, Egypt played host to 14.7 million tourists and contributed more than 11%of the country’s GDP. From then on, the number of tourist visits in the country has been on the rise and it is expected to keep rising for the foreseeable future.
Travelers into Egypt are not allowed to enter or leave Egypt with more than $10,000 or its equivalent in any currency. People caught in any homosexual act are subject to 10 years imprisonment. Avoid drinking alcohol in public places, you could be arrested if seen doing so. The Egyptian government is not against the practice of Christianity but trying to convert someone to the Christian faith is illegal.
Types of Egypt Visa
| Types of Visa | Processing Time | Duration of Stay |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist visa | 10 working days | 90 days |
| Student visa | 10 working days | 1 year |
| Work visa | 10 working days | 1 year |
General Requirements for Egypt Visa
- A Gambian passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date and must have 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
- Duly completed and signed visa application form.
- If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
- Passport-size photographs (2′ x 2′) taken in white background.
- Proof of financial support.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Copy of return flight ticket.
- Documentation showing applicant’s ties to home country.
- Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
- Copy of travel itinerary.
Egypt Tourist Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- The Egyptian tourist visa allows Gambians to stay in the country for up to three months, and there are no restrictions when used for visiting the popular Red Sea resort areas of Taba and Sharm-el-Sheik.
- Tourist visas are only valid for a single entry. That is to say, if you leave Egypt to visit another country and then return, you will have to purchase a new entry visa.
- Gambians traveling to Egypt for tourism purposes should register with a tour operating company. Most Egypt tour packages include a personal guide and driver.
- A support letter from your travel agency must be provided. This can also be obtained from travel agents at the border, their fees for providing this service vary.
- Proof of vaccination of yellow fever must be provided.
- Egypt’s borders are under military control; the movement of non-military persons and vehicles is substantially restricted, and in some cases prohibited, within these areas. Foreigners should not travel in these border zones.
- Travelers must obtain permission and a travel route from the Egyptian Military Intelligence and the Tourist Police Headquarters via a local or overseas travel agency to access Egypt’s frontiers.
- Entering or exiting Egypt with more than $10,000 is prohibited. Attempting to enter or depart Egypt with any instruments of currency in the sum of more than $10,000 could result in the confiscation of the money over $10,000 and other penalties.
- US dollar, pound sterling, and euro are accepted mainly in tourist areas and major cities. So generally you are expected to pay in Egyptian pounds, especially for trinkets or tipping, or in remote areas. The Egyptian pound is the official currency in Egypt and is commonly abbreviated as EGP, LE or E£. It is divided into 100 piastres or 1,000 millimes.
- The cash allowed to be carried in or out of Egypt is limited to EGP 5,000 and USD 10,000 or its equivalent in other currencies. Any cash beyond the amount must be declared.
- All these three currencies can be exchanged easily into EGP at the official exchange rate at any Egyptian bank, bank desk in airports, foreign exchange counter in most upper hotels, and even at the same place where you buy your entry visa upon arrival in Egypt. Some credit cards or cash cards also can be used to withdraw Egyptian pound at any ATM in Egypt. Please check with your local banks before departure.
- Egyptian police and security forces are allowed to stop, question, and detain individuals.
- Failure to carry proper identification, such as a passport, may result in detention and questioning.
- Generally, Egypt has a desert climate, but the Mediterranean coastal areas enjoy a moderate temperature thanks to the prevailing wind. The climate features a hot season from May to October and a cool season from October to May.
- In the hot season, it is dry and hot in most parts of the country, and humid in the Nile Delta and Mediterranean coastal areas. So sun protection is the most important consideration for this season, especially for the fair-skinned. Pure cotton clothes and sunhats are essential. In the cool season, the weather is mild with some rain; it is bright and sunny in most days but usually cold in nights.
- The most humid area lies along the Mediterranean coast. The precipitation declines sharply from north to south. It may rain once in a few years in many desert areas.
- The following rules are set down and must be adhered:
- Normal contact is quite acceptable, but intimate actions in the public such as kissing and fondling may irritate most Muslims.
- Most mosques require visitors to remove their shoes before entering.
- Use your right hand to eat and give gifts.
- It is inappropriate to discuss religions with Egyptians from an atheistic or similar perspective.
- It is inapt to take photos of soldiers, tanks or any other military property.
Egypt Student Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- The Egyptian student visa is for Gambians intending to travel to Egypt for educational purposes.
- This visa is usually valid for six months, but it is extendable to a year.
- You can only get the Egypt Student visa after you have arrived in Egypt.
- Egyptian immigration authorities have only established a tourist visa. Hence, you would travel to Egypt with the Tourist Visa then upgrade to a student visa upon your arrival.
- The biggest, overall educational system in Africa is presumably in Egypt. And it has been growing rapidly since the early 1990s.
- Most universities provide their students with some form of student housing. This may or may not appeal to you, depending on your social habits. But the apartments are fairly conducive male and female hostels located far away from each other.
- Alcohol is strictly forbidden in dorm complexes but the legal drinking age is 18.
- Learning institutions in Egypt require foreign students to do an HIV test before arrival into the country.
- Financial evidence or bank statement that shows you can support yourself while studying in Egypt must be provided. You can also submit a sponsor’s bank statement with a sworn affiliate of support.
- Students are required to have 29.316 or 23.523 EGP per month to cover their monthly expenses in Egypt.
- Applicants are required to provide police clearance certificate/report attesting that they do not have criminal records.
Egypt Work Visa Eligibility &
Requirements
- Gambians looking to travel to Egypt for job-seeking purposes can apply for an Egyptian work permit.
- Unlike most countries, Egypt does not have a separate work visa category. Applicants who intend to work in Egypt must simply apply for a work permit.
- Applicants are required to provide copies of their employer’s incorporation contract.
- Applicants are required to provide two copies of their tax ID.
- Copies off your academic qualifications which could be university degrees, professional certificates or letter of reference from past employers are necessary for the work permit application.
- Applicants are also required to provide a copy of the commercial register of their employer.
- Your employer must present a representative that guarantees to take care of sponsoring your work permit. Your employer is expected to seek approval from the authority related to your profession in Egypt.
- Because work permit applications require the participation of the foreigner’s employer, you must have been offered a job from an employer in Egypt before starting your application.
- Your employer will need to submit a memorandum explaining why it is necessary to hire you (a foreigner) rather than a qualified Egyptian citizen.
- A copy of the test showing you are free of HIV/AIDs is required.
- An approval letter from Egypt’s State Security Service showing that you are not a threat to national security or public safety. This can be obtained through a division at the Ministry of Manpower and Training office.
Egypt Visa Fees
Tourist visa
90.00 (USD)
Student visa
90.00 (USD)
Work visa
90.00 (USD)
Egypt Visa Application Centres & Embassies in
Gambia
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Egypt currently does not maintain an embassy in Gambia. Citizens of Gambia are advised to use embassies/consulates in their neighboring countries for their applications.
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