How To Apply For An Egypt Tourist Visa in the Philippines
By DAN FORTEZA
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Visiting the Great Pyramids in Egypt is definitely one of my travel goals this year. That’s why as early as January, I have already been researching on how to get the Egypt tourist visa for Filipinos. And I successfully managed to get one at the Egyptian Embassy in Manila, Philippines!
Read also: my budget itinerary (with cost breakdown) and travel guide in Cairo, Egypt.
In this blog post, I’ll be giving you the step-by-step guide, a list of the requirements, my experience throughout the whole application process, and other tips to help you get your Egypt tourist visa!
But again, just like in other visa application blogs I’ve written, no one can give you the guarantee of your Egyptian tourist visa’s approval – not me, not even a lawyer or a travel agent. If anyone does, is most likely a scammer!
As a travel blogger, what I can offer you here is just a guide with helpful tips to increase your chances of getting that Egypt tourist visa.
Anyway, enough of that and let’s get started!
REQUIREMENTS FOR EGYPT TOURIST VISA
1. Duly filled-up Visa Application Form;
You can download the application form here.
2. Two (2) pieces 2×2 size recent colored picture (with white background);
I actually used only one (1) 2×2 photo which was pasted on my application form. But it wouldn’t hurt if you bring an extra photo.
3. Valid Passport which must have remaining validity of more than six months;
You might not be required to submit your passport on the day of your first visit to the Embassy. Most of the time, the Embassy will take and review your requirements without your passport. The review might take up to 15 days and the Embassy will let you know its decision via phone call.
4. Bank Certificate, preferred to be one-week-old;
5. Employment Certificate with compensation / Business Registration if applicable;
I’ll be honest. I actually did not exactly provide this because I quit my job to travel long term. Thus, I provided an Employment certificate from the previous company I worked for.
6. Travel Tour Itinerary;
I can provide you a copy of mine if you like. It is a one-week long tour itinerary. Just leave a reply on the comment section below.
7. Copy of Philippine residency/ visa / Immigration ID Card (for foreign national applicants only).
8. Marriage Certificate / Birth Certificate, if traveling with family members.
9. Add a cover letter stating the purpose of your trip even if it’s not a requirement
I think this should be a must especially if you have a case like mine that one requirement is not fully met. Thus, I prepared myself a visa cover letter personally explaining my situation, my capacities, and my hunger to travel.
I can provide you a copy of mine if you like. Just leave a reply on the comment section below.
10. Plane Tickets. This is NOT required but I submitted this anyway because I already have this.
I had a plane ticket from Manila to Dubai and I intend to book my next flight from Dubai to Cairo (in Egypt) if my visa is approved.
I suggest you check Kayak (use the widget below) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.
WHEN AND WHERE TO APPLY
WHEN: Application should be made at least one month prior to your intended departure. Please note that there is a waiting time (up to 15 days) in case the embassy needs to fully review the requirements you submitted.
WHERE: Visa application must be submitted personally to the Embassy during consular working hours from Monday – Wednesday from 9:00 A.M. till 12:00 P.M. except holidays. Please take note of the Egyptian holidays, too.
Egyptian Embassy – Manila
7th-floor G.C. Corporate Plaza, 150 Legaspi St., Legaspi Village, Makati
Tel: 843-9220/9232
Fax: 556-5731
Email: egyptmanila@gmail.com
For more information, please contact the above.
GET YOUR EGYPT TOURIST VISA IN 4 EASY STEPS
STEP 1: PREPARE & SUBMIT THE REQUIREMENTS
Prepare ALL the abovementioned requirements. Proceed to the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in the Philippines at 7th Floor, G.C Corporate Plaza Bldg., 150 Legaspi St., Legaspi Village, Makati City to submit these documents.
STEP 2: WAIT FOR THE EMBASSY'S CALL
Once submitted, wait for the call with the Embassy’s decision. If your visa is approved, then they will contact you to submit your passport (for the visa sticker) and payment.
You can also do a follow up by calling their contact number I indicated above. No worries, the Filipino Secretary (I think her name is Marian) is very accommodating and friendly.
STEP 3. SUBMIT YOUR PASSPORT & PAY THE VISA FEE
What I like about this Embassy is they do not charge the visa processing fee unless and until your visa is approved. Yes, you heard it right! There is absolutely no risk in getting this visa! If your visa is approved, submit your passport and pay the visa fee.
The Egypt tourist visa fee costs 1,500 PHP. Then, the Secretary will give your receipt with date of when to claim your passport with visa.
STEP 4. CLAIM YOUR PASSPORT WITH VISA STICKER
Finally, pick up your passport with visa sticker and congratulations on successfully getting your Egypt tourist visa!
VISA SUMMARY
- Type: Tourist Visa
- Visa Validity: 6 months from the day of approval
- Maximum Stay: 30 days within validity
- No. of Entry: Single Entry
- Visa Fee: 1,500 PHP (30 USD)
MY EXPERIENCE
When I arrived at the Embassy at around 10:00 AM, there were already 6 to 8 people in the waiting room. Some of them are still filling up the visa application form.
From that, I can tell that the Egyptian Embassy is informal and chill. You just need to turn off your mobile phone before entering the office.
Remember: Prior to entering the building, your bags will be checked and will require you to leave one government valid ID at the lobby, so bring one!
The Secretary then collected our documents and left the room. She probably handed it over to the Egyptian Consul (in another room) to review the documents.
She went back to the waiting room and announced those people who can now pay the visa fee. Please note that if you pay the visa fee, it means your visa is approved.
I was lucky that steps 1-3 all happened in one day! So I submitted my passport and paid the visa fee, all in 30 minutes! I saved one Makati trip. I met other applicants in the room who has to go and wait up to 15 days for approval and went back to the Embassy 3 times.
They did not tell me the reason why my visa was approved instantly, but I have a strong feeling it has to do with my travel history, capacity to travel, and my very personalized cover letter. I even mentioned in my cover letter about quitting my day job just to travel long term. As they say, honesty is the best policy =)
NOTE that I applied Monday and claimed my passport (with visa) Friday of the same week. So it only took four (days)! I was just so happy to save the step where you have to wait up to 15 days for the Embassy’s decision.
RECOMMENDED PACKAGE TOURS
In case you’re also looking for package tours to justify your tourism activity in Egypt for visa purposes, I highly recommend booking tours through Viator which is perfect for your Egypt itinerary. See tours and packages I personally handpicked for you:
- 8-Hour Private Tour of the Pyramids, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum and Bazaar including Camel Ride and Lunch from Cairo
- Private Half-Day Trip to Giza Pyramids with Camel-Riding
- Private Guided Full-Day Tour to Alexandria from Cairo
- 4-Days 3-Nights Cruise From Aswan To Luxor including Abu Simbel&Hot Air Balloon
- 4 Days Nile Cruise Luxor, Aswan, Abu simbel with Train Tickets from Cairo
(you may choose one or more tours that suit your travel needs)
BOOKING ESSENTIALS
- Hotel / Hostel
- Booking.com. I usually book my hostel accommodation at booking.com. Thus, I recommend you guys trying it as well. Room accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to luxury hotels. Book hostels through booking.com as they have free cancellation or pay-at-the-hotel option.
- Airbnb. Try Airbnb in finding comfy and cozy rooms! I have used Airbnb on some of my other trips and I loved it!
Have you tried Airbnb? Sign up with my link and you will get up to 42 USD (2,200 Php) off your first stay. Click this link to get that discount.
- Flights
- KAYAK. All of my flight bookings are all from KAYAK. Kayak is one of the world’s leading travel search engines and searches hundreds of travel sites.
I suggest you check Kayak (click HERE) as they usually offer cheap fare rates compared to other booking sites.
Awesome post! Can you also send the itinerary to me?
Sure! Kindly check your inbox.
Hi, Daniel. I am a fellow frequent traveler. Just wanna ask sana about your Egypt visa application. I read your blog kasi online. Just wanna ask if hindi talaga required mag submit ng flight itinerary and hotel booking? And one more thing pala, just plain bank certificate talaga not the bank statement? Thank you so much and hoping for your reply. ??
Hi JC,
1. It is not required to submit a flight itinerary and hotel booking. In my case, I already have my flight booking Manila-Dubai so I thought might as well submit it.
2. Bank certificate is enough (bank statement not needed).
PS: Please note that on the visa application form, you will need to indicate the place where you’ll be staying in Egypt. In my case, I booked a hostel via Agoda (link here) (I can cancel it at any time if I want.)
Hope this helps=)
Hi, Daniel. I went to the embassy kanina. Ang galing, lahat ng sinabi mo sa blog mo ganon talaga nangyari. I paid the visa fee na and pinaiwan na yung passport ko for release on Friday. Pinag send lang nila ako via email ng hotel booking kasi wala akong na submit na hotel booking kasi hindi naman required diba? But I guess it is a case to case basis na. But, at least sabi mo nga once na pinaiwan na don ang passport and pinagbayad na, approved na yon. Thanks for posting online. It was really a big help to me.
Hi JC,
So happy you’re approved! Yes, once they let you leave your passport, it means you’re approved.
In my case, the hostel booking wasn’t at all required. But as mentioned in the previous comment, I booked it anyway so there is an address I can indicate on my visa application form.
Glad it helped.
Regards,
Daniel
Hi, Dan! Thank you for this informative page. If you be so kind, may I ask for a sample copy of your itinerary? thank you so much! 🙂
Hi King,
I just sent it to you. Kindly check your email. Sorry for my late response. It’s been crazy these days!
Hugs from Thailand,
Daniel
Hello Dan ,
I appreciate you so much! Your blog is very helpful and educational. The contents are easy to understand and remember. Stay safe and keep protected. Would you be so kind to share your itinerary and cover letter? Thank your for your awesomeness!
Hi Nash, thank you for reading this article.
I just sent those files you requested to your email. Kindly check your inbox. Stay safe! =)
Hi Dan,
May I request for a copy of your cover letter please. I have the same situation right now actually, I quit my job last year, now I can’t provide employment documents. Your blog got me back on track of my travel plans, I was already loosing hope.
Thank you so much.
Hi Rachel,
It’s a pleasure to help other Filipino travelers in any way I could. I wish you all the best in your travel endeavors and hope you’ll get the Egypt tourist visa in no time!
PS: I have just sent the document you requested. Kindly check your email inbox.
Warm Regards,
Dan
Hi dan thanks for this information very helpful can i request also the cover letter and itinery please! And how about the bank statement i dont have mine instead my bf will provide everything there for me also where ill stay hes egyptian .. hope can hear from you tnx alot
Hi Irish,
I just sent you those files you requested. Kindly check your email.
With regards to your bank statement, I am not entirely sure. You should have at least your own pocket money since you’ll be traveling.
Regards,
Dan