Updated Covid-19 Entry Requirements for Egypt and Cairo Airport

Note: this post was originally published on August 18, 2021, updated on October 1, 2021, updated on December 17, 2021, and updated again on January 27, 2022. It will continue to be updated with the latest requirements.

In January, 2022, Egypt’s Ministry of Health announced 3 major updates to their Covid-19 entry requirements. Let’s talk about how you can enter Egypt in the time of Covid-19.

First, check out this video going over my recent trip to Cairo, where I entered with just a vaccine card and QR code. If you want to watch further, check out this older video (made in September of 2021), documenting the Egyptologist Nicholas Brown’s journey to Cairo using just a vaccination card and QR code.

Quick note: there is now no need to buy any type of insurance in order to enter Egypt. See this blog post for more information on insurance. I still recommend travelers carry a copy of their health insurance card from their home country just in case, and to fill in the policy number on the health declaration form that is given en route to Cairo.

Egypt currently allows travelers to enter two ways:

1. With QR-coded proof of vaccination

2. With a negative Covid-19 PCR or Rapid Antigen test (children under 12 exempt).

PCR or Rapid Antigen Test

Here are the requirements for entry regarding testing, straight from the Egyptian Ministry of Health (this was published in January, 2022). Scroll below for a translation.

The Ministry of Health will update the requirements for entering Egyptian territory through airports, ports and land ports, starting next Saturday
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and acting Minister of Health and Population, announced the update of the requirements and controls for entering Egyptian territory through quarantine departments at airports, seaports, and land crossings.
This comes in light of the developments in the epidemiological situation of the Corona virus globally, which contributes to facilitating procedures for citizens and expatriates, while preserving the gains of the Egyptian state in the face of the pandemic.

Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Health and Population, explained that the application of the new procedures will start from Saturday, January 22, indicating that these procedures stipulated that those coming to the country, whether Egyptians or non-Egyptians, obtain any of the anti-Coronavirus vaccines, approved by the Ministry of Health. The World Health Organization or the Egyptian Medicines Authority.

Abdel Ghaffar added that 14 days must pass since vaccination with the second dose, for two-dose vaccines, or at least 14 days from vaccination with the vaccines scheduled for a single dose, before reaching Egyptian territory, and in the absence of a certificate stating receiving the vaccine, it must be Those coming to the country holding a certificate stating that they are negative for the Corona virus, through any of the tests approved by the Ministry of Health and Population (PCR - Antigen Rapid Test - ID NOW) within 72 hours before arriving at the Egyptian ports of entry, with the exception of children under 12 years old.

"Abdul Ghaffar" stated that work has been suspended by conducting the ID NOW COVID-19 test for people coming from (South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Swatini).
For his part, Dr. Amr Kandil, Head of the Preventive Medicine Sector at the Ministry of Health and Population, indicated that in the event that the vaccination certificate or the examination certificate carried by the passenger does not conform to the established controls, the Antigen Rapid Test is conducted to detect the Corona virus, and in the case of a positive examination for non-Egyptians , laboratory examination is confirmed with the ID NOW test.

Dr. Amr Kandil added that for those arriving through the tourist airports (Sharm El-Sheikh, Taba, Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Luxor, and Aswan), the arrival is required to have a certificate of vaccination against the Corona virus - according to the conditions set in this regard - and in the absence of a certificate stating Receiving the vaccine is required to have a certificate stating that the test is negative for the Corona virus in any of the tests approved by the Ministry of Health and Population, according to the conditions set in this regard.

“Kandil” added that in the event that the vaccination certificate or the examination certificate held by the passenger does not conform to the established controls, the Antigen Rapid Test is conducted to detect the Corona virus, explaining that in the case of a positive examination, the arrivals are allowed to self-isolate for five days in the residence hotel, with an examination performed.
PCR on the sixth day, and in the event that there are no symptoms of the disease, and the result of the PCR is negative, they are allowed to end the isolation, but if the result is positive, the isolation continues for another five days, then the isolation is ended without the need for another examination.

My anecdotal evidence using a PCR test

Here is the paperwork I used to enter Egypt in March of 2021. I printed this out in black and white.

In October of 2020, and March of 2021, both I and the client traveling with me got our PCR tests in Minnesota from a a free, government-run testing facility. Here is what my test results looked like in March of 2021. Note that there is no QR code, no time that the sample was taken, no note of the type of sample that was take, and no stamp (but there is a printed signature). So it appears that travelers do not need to worry about fulfilling all of the requirements by the letter, but should make sure to get a PCR Covid-19 test that has at least the date on it. The Egyptian authorities who looked at my test made sure to check the date and circled it in pen, calculating verbally to make sure it was within 72 hours of my flight departure time from the United States (the Egyptian government claims that travelers coming from the USA have 96 hours prior to departure for their Covid-19 test, but I would recommend sticking to the 72 hour window, and even getting another test within 48 hours before departure if possible).

QR-coded vaccine proof for entry

In July, the Egyptian Government announced that “QR-coded proof of vaccination” against Covid-19 was acceptable to enter the country in lieu of a negative PCR test. There are some places that provide QR codes that are verifiable, like the states of New York and California. There are also other avenues to generate a QR-code, like the app called “Clear”, or the website VaxYes.

There have been overwhelming examples of travelers being able to enter Egypt using just their proof of vaccination (CDC card) along with a QR code. The trick is to show both to the Egyptian authorities at the same time. With the Omicron variant, though, and just to be safe, it is never a bad idea to have a PCR test or a rapid antigen test as a backup! Egyptian authorities are notorious for not following rules and regulations to the letter and relying on habit and previous experience to dictate entry, so having the PCR/antigen test is a good backup in case travelers run into issues at the Cairo Airport. It will also be an easy way to prove to any airline employees in the USA or at any connecting airports that travelers are ready to enter Egypt.

This blog post will be updated again as any new information becomes available.