Egypt visa for Hurghada: the 2026 guide
British travellers need a visa to enter Egypt through Hurghada airport. The simplest route is the visa on arrival, about US$30 paid in cash, valid for up to 30 days; the other is an e-visa bought in advance on the official portal, visa2egypt.gov.eg. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the date you arrive, with at least one blank page.
Do you need a visa for Hurghada?
Yes: UK nationals need a visa for Egypt, beach holiday in Hurghada included, and the tourist visa on arrival covers up to 30 days, plenty for a week or two on the Red Sea.
The visa itself takes minutes. What's worth preparing is your passport and your cash, both covered below. Rules can change, so read the GOV.UK Egypt page before you fly. Travelling on another passport? Check your own government's advice, the fee and conditions may differ.
Visa on arrival: how it works
After you leave the plane and before passport control, you stop at the visa sales booths, pay about US$30 in cash and get a sticker for your passport; then comes passport control, baggage reclaim and the exit.
A few tips to keep it quick:
- Have the notes ready in an easy pocket.
- Bring clean, undamaged small notes: change isn't always given, and worn notes are less welcome.
- Keep a pen handy for the arrival card.
- Head straight for the official booths: you can do it all yourself in a few minutes.
When a full flight lands at once, the queue can take a while. A good reason to be first off the plane.
Passport rules
Your passport must have an expiry date at least six months after the day you arrive in Egypt, and at least one blank page for the visa sticker (GOV.UK).
Do the maths before you book: arriving on 3 October 2026 means a passport valid until at least 3 April 2027. Close to the limit? Renew first, it's one less thing on your mind at the airport.
E-visa: worth it?
An e-visa exists on the Egyptian government's official portal, visa2egypt.gov.eg; for a Hurghada holiday, buying on arrival is the simplest, and if you prefer the e-visa, use that official ".gov.eg" address only.
Good habit: check the web address before paying. Other sites offer to "help" with the process for an extra fee, for the very same visa. Chose the e-visa? Print it and keep it with your passport, then walk straight past the booths.
Time difference
Egypt is two hours ahead of the UK for most of the year; in 2026 the UK falls back on 25 October and Egypt on the night of 29 to 30 October, so the gap is three hours for those few days, then two again.
Money, exchange and tipping
The currency is the Egyptian pound: you'll find cash machines and exchange offices in Hurghada, and cards work in many restaurants and shops, but keep cash for taxis, small purchases and tips, which are part of local custom.
About tips: in Egypt you leave something for boat crews, guides, drivers and the staff who carry your bags. Nothing fixed or compulsory, yet it's expected, and it's a real share of the income of the people looking after you. Keep small notes in pounds for it.
Compare before changing large sums at the airport, and tell your bank you're off to Egypt. A card that works from the first minute is one less thing to think about.
Dress code and alcohol
Swimwear is fine on the beach, on boats and at beach clubs; in town, in the markets and at the Bedouin village, cover shoulders and knees, and alcohol is drunk in the bars, restaurants and tourist venues that serve it, not in the street.
Egypt is a Muslim-majority country, and although Hurghada lives from tourism, the codes shift as soon as you leave the beach zone. A T-shirt with long shorts, or a light dress to the knee, covers most outings. A light scarf in your bag shields you from the sun and covers your shoulders in one move.
Sources: GOV.UK, "Egypt travel advice: entry requirements" (read 25/09/2026) · official e-visa portal visa2egypt.gov.eg · timeanddate.com (Egypt and UK clock changes 2026)