Email received from British Embassy
Over the weekend there has been a flurry of press reporting about changes to local immigration rules. We have spoken to the Immigration Ministry today, who tell us that it is not correct that you can no longer buy visas on entry. They tell us that they have no new instructions and that nothing has changed.
We will let you know if we hear otherwise and please also let us know if any of you or your contacts experience any problems regarding visas on entry.
Best regards
Dawn Naughton
Her Majesty's Consul
Phone received from Ehab Gaddis British Honorary Consul in Luxor
There is no change, you can still get a visa on arrival. I have checked with immigration.
From my husband, it is on the news they have stopped it
Egypt halts decision requiring visas before travel | Al-Masry Al-Youm: Today's News from Egypt: Egypt's government has frozen a decision requiring tourists and other visitors to apply for visas before arrival in the country, an Egyptian tourism official said Sunday.
Deputy Tourism Minister Hesham Zazou said the Cabinet froze the decision, according to the official Middle East News Agency. He did not give a reason or say if it would be enforced later.
The measure would require tourists and other visitors to apply for visas in advance from an Egyptian embassy abroad instead of buying one upon arrival at Cairo airport. It would not apply to tourists traveling in groups.
The new rules would affect nationals from the United States, Europe, Australia, Gulf countries, Africa, Latin America and Asia.
Tourism is a pillar of Egypt's economy and has been badly hurt by the unrest that began in with the uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak in February.
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So whether they changed their mind, one department didn't talk to another or what, only they know. Please continue to follow my blog, Twitter and Facebook and I will endeavour to report any further information.
I did wonder what they were thinking about in a Country that needs tourists to return. I have always found it very easy to obtain the Visa, whether arriving in Cairo or Luxor. In fact I think this is the most efficient paperwork excersise the Egyptians do!! Why fix what ain't broken I say.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing. I hope this all turns out to be a misunderstanding and that things will be left as they were.
ReplyDeleteGood news. Luxor Airport has become a pleasure to fly to and from (apart from trying to get a taxi outside). This would have been a retrograde step.
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