If you love to travel, then Egypt must be on your travel bucket list. If you are concerned about COVID-19, there is a possibility that traveling might not sound safe right now. For that reason, countries, like Egypt, have restricted travel unless it’s for specific reasons. They also have health requirements in place. So, if you are planning to travel to Egypt anytime soon with a visa for Egypt from Canada, you must be aware of the requirements and restrictions related to the country’s guidelines.
COVID-Related Travel Restrictions
Based on the last update of travel restrictions in Egypt, which was on June 24th, 2021, international tourism and commercial flights have started again for the first time since July 1st, 2020. All passengers from abroad, even if they are citizens of Egypt, to any area of the country are required to show a negative RT-PCR test certificate upon arrival. The test should be taken within 72 hours of departure from their last flight to Egypt directly. Individuals that are under 6 years old are not included in this requirement. As of June 24th, 2021, the Egyptian Ministry of Health stated that fully vaccinated people are not required to take the test, except for those from nations that are at high risk of COVID-19.
Individuals that are travelling from Frankfurt, Paris, London Heathrow, Canada, North America, South America, Thailand, China and Japan should have their PCR test performed no more than 96 hours before the departure of their flight. The medical certificate must be stamped, issued by a laboratory that is accredited and demonstrate the kind of sample taken. It must be written in either English or Arabic. Further, travellers must have paper copies of their test results. Online copies of the test results are not accepted. Visitors from foreign countries who arrive at airports in MarsaMatrouh, South Sinai (Sharm El Sheikh), and Red Sea (Hurghada) without a clear test result will have to go through testing upon arrival at their own expense. They will be quarantined until the results of the test are obtained.
Based on the update on June 24th, individuals who are fully vaccinated are not required to take the PCR test as long as they have an officially issued certificate with a QR-code to demonstrate that they have been vaccinated using one of the 6 vaccines approved by the WHO and EDA. These include Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac, Sinopharm, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, and Sputnik. Also, the traveller must have received their second dose over 14 days prior to travelling.
People who come from nations that are at high-risk, including Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Latin America, India, Brazil, Bhutan and Bangladesh must have a certificate of vaccination. They must also take an ID NOW COVID-19 test upon their arrival. If the results turn out to be positive, they must take a PCR test. Arriving passengers must have their temperatures checked. Any passenger who tests positive for the coronavirus during their stay in the country have to be quarantined for 2 weeks. Each passenger must fill a declaration of health form to confirm their symptoms and health. Individuals travelling from abroad are required to have copies of a valid health insurance policy. Finally, most foreign nationals have to obtain a visa prior to their arrival.
Local Measures in Egypt
It is crucial to maintain the restrictions in Egypt to reduce the spread of the virus. Egypt has guidelines in place for that very reason. For example, it is compulsory for all everyone to wear masks in enclosed public spaces. This includes taxis, as well as on all public transit. You may be denied entry if you are not wearing a mask that covers your mouth and nose. People who do not abide by measures like wearing masks indoors, will be subject to prosecution or an immediate fine. Hotels are reopening, but they must follow the basic health guidelines as well. These include hygiene standards and capacity limits. Finally, there are restrictions in place for public gatherings.
The Bottom Line
Egypt is a wonderful place to visit, because of its history, culture and beauty. Due to the coronavirus, the country had to take certain measures into consideration to ensure the safety of both Egyptian citizens and tourists.
