Do I Need A Visa For Diving In Sharm?

Do I Need A Visa For Diving In Sharm?

Do I Need a Visa For Diving In Sharm El Sheikh?

In general, no. All local dive sites* in Sharm el Sheikh, the Straits of Tiran, and Ras Mohammed National Park (by land or sea) are covered by the standard entry stamp, which everybody receives upon arrival in Sharm el Sheikh free of charge, allowing a 14-day stay.

(*Except SS Thistlegorm)

Do I Need A Visa For SS Thistlegorm?

Yes - “officially” you do need a visa to visit SS Thistlegorm. Check with the dive centre for latest updates.

Do I Need a Visa for Travel to Dahab?

No. The 90 km journey to Dahab doesn’t take you out of the Sinai Only zone of the standard arrival stamp, which covers Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, St Catherine's, and the road up to Taba.

(You are advised to travel with your passport in case you are stopped on the Sharm - Dahab road checkpoint and many private taxi drivers will need a copy of your passport the day before your planned trip.)

Do I Need A Visa to Dive in Dahab?

No. All the dive sites in Dahab, including the Blue Hole and Ras Abu Galum National Park, are covered by the standard arrival stamp. Again, the only dive trip we run from Dahab, which “officially” requires the $25 visa, is the SS Thistlegorm trip.

Do I Need A Visa For A Safari Boat?

YES, absolutely! It doesn’t matter where the boat is going but the rules are you must purchase a $25 visa.

Where Do I Need A Visa For Travel?

If you intend to travel past the Ras Mohammed checkpoint to Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor, etc (by plane, car, bus, or boat), you will need the $25 visa upon arrival.

The $25 Visa

Do I Need A Visa In Transit For Flying Via Cairo or Hurghada? 

Yes - the arrival stamp you receive at Sharm Airport is Sinai Only stamp.

Do I Need A Visa If I Am Over 60 Years Old?

Yes - there used to be an exemption (unwritten rule) for visitors over the age of 60 who would not be fined if leaving the country after the initial 14 days of a free entry stamp without a visa. It was never a visa exemption for travel or Thistlegorm trips.

Unfortunately, rules have recently changed (January 2025) and now everybody must have a visa if they intend to stay more than 14 days or travel beyond the South Sinai protectorate borders.

Do My Kids Need A Visa?

If the don’t intend to travel or stay more than 14 days then NO! But whether you are 6, 16 or 66 and enter Egypt with a valid passport you will need a visa to travel, stay more than 14 days or go to visit the SS Thistlegorm.

Can I Buy A Visa Later After Leaving The Airport?

Yes, but it can be difficult. If you think you are likely to need a visa, for a Thistlegorm trip or a day at the Pyramids in Cairo, buy it upon arrival. Afterwards you will need to go to the Misr Bank in Nabq to purchase a visa (with foreign currency only) then visit either the airport or the Visa office to get the visa sticker stamped. ( A complete pain which may take up a valuable day of your holidays).

Do Circle Divers Sell Visas?

No. It is the responsibility of the guests to ensure they meet the entry requirements of Egypt when diving with us and any further visas which may be required. We can advise and assist where possible but we cannot purchase visas for you.

How Do I Pay For The Visa At The AIrport?

Cold hard cash and preferably US dollars. Although they have been known to accept British pounds sterling or Euros at the banks in the airport this can change on a day to day basis. (You cannot pay in Egyptian local currency)

Card payments can also be difficult at the airport with the card terminals often not working or the bank teller just refusing payment by card.

US DOLLARS IS THE WAY - IT SAVES SO MANY ARGUEMENTS AFTER A 5 or 6 HOUR FLIGHT.

How Long Does the $25 Visa Last?

The $25 visa upon arrival is valid for 30 days from arrival. It will cover you for any travel within Egypt outside the Sinai including trips to SS Thistlegorm. If you intend to travel to Cairo, you will definitely be asked to produce a visa either at the airport or at the many checkpoints on the Sharm to Cairo road.

Is There A Grace Period of Overstay After The 30 Days Period?

Officially there is nothing in writing about a grace period, although many argue there is 14 days. Rules change all the time in Egypt and you could end up paying an expensive penalty at the airport should you overstay …..or even worse be denied boarding your plane.

Will I Be Deported If I Overstay My Visa?

No, its very rare the Egyptian authorities will deport anybody for overstaying. However you may face a hefty fine at the airport when leaving. Fines have recently been increased and at the time of writing, this could be approximately 7000 le or $150 - the equivalent to 6 month extended tourism visa. (For just one day or 60 days - BE WARNED).

As A Divemaster Will I Need A $25 Visa For Diving In Sharm El Sheikh?

Yes - your divemaster course will usually take a minimum of 3 - 4 weeks which will not be covered by the free entry stamp in your passport. You may even need to visit the Passport & Visas office Sharm El Sheikh to apply for a 6 month extended tourism visa should you wish to stay longer.

And of course, remember you can’t dive SS Thistlegorm without the $25 visa sticker!

PLEASE NOTE - ALL INFORMATION WAS CORRECT AT TIME OF WRITING (OCTOBER 2025) BUT RULES CAN CHANGE AT ANY TIME IN EGYPT. IF IN DOUBT AND TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE LATEST CORRECT INFO CHECK YOUR GOVERNMENT TRAVEL ADVICE PAGES.

ONLINE VISAS ARE AVAILABLE FROM NATIONAL EMBASSIES BUT THE PRICE, DURATION AND TERMS WILL BE DEPENDENT ON YOUR LOCATION. BEWARE OF MANY ONLINE SCAMS PROMISING E-VISAS FOR EGYPT (ONLY EVER BUY FROM AN OFFICIAL GOVT SOURCE)