Free to Egypt on a Sinai visa

Travel to Egypt continues to be popular with our compatriots, gaining momentum from year to year. The resorts of the Mediterranean and Red Seas attract vacationers from all over the world. The question of canceling the visa regime between Russia and Egypt has been raised more than once, but so far this has remained in theory. Therefore, an entry permit is still needed. It is issued upon arrival at the local airport. Its cost when entering Egypt for Russians from May 1, 2015 is $ 25. But if a tourist plans to vacation in Sharm El Sheikh, there is an opportunity not to pay this fee. This happens if a Sinai free visa is issued.

Understanding whether it is worth applying for such a permit must be compared with the goals of your trip. Sinai visa in 2019 has a number of restrictions and features:

1. The document is issued for up to fifteen days.
2. Traffic in the country is limited, visiting attractions are allowed only within the southern part of the Sinai Peninsula.
3. For divers, it does not provide an opportunity to go out to the main dive site - the sunken ship Thiselgorm.
4. Departure to the cities, which are usually visited by tourists, such as Cairo, Luxor, Hurghada, is also impossible.

If any of these points are not suitable for a traveler entering the state, they will have to pay for an ordinary permit. The Egyptian border services are very strict, and it will not be possible to agree with them on any indulgence. The list of places that can be visited according to this document includes such settlements as the resort town of Taba, the city for divers and surfers of Dahabe and the coastal resort of Nuweibu.

You can also go to the Monastery of St. Catherine, located at the foot of Mount Sinai, better known as Mount Moses. It is listed as a World Heritage Site. Sinai Visa in Sharm El Sheikh 2019 now allows you to take an excursion to the beautiful Ras Mohammed Nature Reserve. This was previously prohibited.

The Sinai Peninsula borders Israel on the map, so you can visit the ancient city of Bethlehem. The appearance of this document is connected precisely with Israel, with which the Egyptian authorities concluded an amicable agreement in 1978. Thus, the war of these two states was over, and the peace treaty signed in the city of Camp David returned the Sinai Peninsula to the country and touched the tourist destination. The Sinai visa was created for free movement, first between the residents of these countries, and later other tourists who felt infringement of their rights in comparison with the Israelis.

If the fifteen-day period has already expired, and the tourist has not yet left the country, he will be paid a fine of $ 30. This is in the event that a violation of the time limit was discovered at the airport before departure. If the violator is stopped on the territory of the state, then the case will not end with one fine. He faces imprisonment for three days and subsequent deportation with all the ensuing consequences and costs. You won't be able to take off on a charter, you will have to leave on a specialized flight. Subsequently, it will be difficult to get here for a long period of time.

Registration procedure

Before flying to this state on vacation, travelers will learn in advance how to fill out a visa in Egypt so that there will be no confusion and disagreement on the spot. A free permit is issued in the same way as a paid one - a migration card is taken from your tour operator. 2019 sample is provided at the airport. It is filled in in English letters, and a sample of its filling can be viewed in advance on the Internet.

Not much information needs to be entered, so this process is usually straightforward. It is necessary to enter: last name, first name, date of birth, nationality, and address - this will be the name of the hotel in which the accommodation is booked. On the reverse side of the card, be sure to write the phrase "Sinay only", which will make it clear to the customs officers that a free permit is being issued. This is followed by a migration card to Egypt, a sample of filling which can also be provided by a travel agency, together with a passport are transferred to border guards, in contrast to a paid entry - there documents are transferred to the customs window. Border guards must say the same phrase as on the back of the card: “Sinay only, please”. After the check is carried out, a Sinai stamp is affixed to the citizen's foreign passport.

In general, there should be no problems with registration. This applies to tourists of any nationality and race. Some travelers write reviews that Egyptian officials are preventing this document from being obtained.

Indeed, until recently, some border guards looked for any excuses so as not to put a stamp. The fact is that for them it is a loss of money that tourism brings to the treasury.

Of course, $ 25 is an insignificant fee, but if a company of four or more people comes to rest, the savings of a hundred dollars are already significant. Currently, the situation at the customs office is settled, the border guards do not pose any obstacles.

If, nevertheless, there is any hitch or an unpleasant situation at the airport, you need to challenge your rights. In this case, you need to refer to the current law, which was issued after the conclusion of the amicable agreement. You can also request to invite a superior manager to resolve the dispute.

For both Russian citizens and Ukrainians, the Sinai permit is drawn up and issued absolutely free of charge.

Of course, issuing such a right to enter is meaningless if the traveler wished, upon arriving in Sharm El Sheikh, to relax in Cairo or Hurghada - in 2019 the same restrictions apply as in previous years. In this case, you can apply for an ordinary visa at any time during your stay on the Sinai Peninsula.

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