Egypt Visa Requirements For Iceland Citizens

From the Land of Fire and Ice to the Land of the Pharaohs—for many Icelanders, Egypt represents the ultimate escape from the long, dark winters of the North Atlantic. Whether you are chasing the sun in Sharm El Sheikh or exploring the ancient wonders of Luxor, the contrast between Reykjavik and Cairo could not be more striking.

However, before you swap the Northern Lights for the Pyramids of Giza, you must navigate the entry requirements. If you hold an Icelandic passport, do you need a visa? Can you get it on arrival? What about the “Sinai Only” stamp?

This comprehensive guide answers every question about the Egypt eVisa for Iceland citizens, ensuring your journey from Keflavik is smooth, stress-free, and fully compliant with 2025 regulations.

Do Icelandic Citizens Need a Visa for Egypt?

Yes, citizens of Iceland require a valid visa to enter Egypt. Unlike travel within the Schengen Area, Egypt has its own border control policies that apply to Icelandic nationals.

However, the days of mailing your passport to an embassy in Oslo or London are largely over. Iceland is on the list of eligible countries for the Egypt Electronic Visa (eVisa), allowing you to handle the entire process online from your home in Reykjavik or Akureyri.

Visa on Arrival vs. eVisa: Which is Best for Icelanders?

Icelandic passport holders are eligible for both the Visa on Arrival (VoA) and the eVisa. Choosing the right one depends on your travel style.

Option 1: Visa on Arrival

• The Process: You land in Egypt, queue at a bank kiosk in the arrival hall, pay the fee in cash (USD or EUR), and get a sticker.
• The Risk: You must have cash on hand. While Icelandic cards (Landsbankinn, Arion, etc.) work in ATMs, the kiosk often prefers hard currency. Additionally, if there is an issue with your passport data at the border, you have no prior approval to rely on.
• Wait Times: Queues can be long, especially if a charter flight from Europe lands at the same time.

Option 2: The eVisa (Recommended)

• The Process: You apply online 7 days before your trip.
• The Benefit: You pay securely online. You arrive with pre-approval. You can often use faster immigration lanes.
• Verdict: For peace of mind, we strongly recommend the eVisa. It eliminates uncertainty and gets you to your hotel faster.

Is there a free visa for Sinai only?

If you are flying directly from Keflavik (or via a connection) to Sharm El Sheikh and staying only in your resort, you might not need to pay for a visa.

Icelandic citizens are eligible for a free “Sinai Only” entry stamp (valid for 14 days) if:

1. You arrive at Sharm El Sheikh, Taba, or St. Catherine airports.
2. You stay strictly within the South Sinai Red Sea resorts.
3. Your trip is shorter than 15 days.

Crucial Warning: This stamp does not allow you to travel to Cairo to see the Pyramids or take a ferry to Hurghada. If you plan any excursions outside the Sinai peninsula, you must buy the full visa.

Is it better to use a travel agent for the visa or to just do it on your own?

Applying for a visa shouldn’t be a gamble. While the government portal offers a basic self-service platform, evisa-to-egypt.info provides a premium, full-service experience designed to secure your approval.

Here is the stark difference between applying alone and applying with experts:

1. Will My Application Get Rejected?

Government Portal: High Risk

• Unforgiving Automation: The official system is a machine. It accepts whatever you type—even mistakes. If you enter a wrong passport number or upload a blurry photo, it won’t tell you. It will simply process the fee and then reject your visa days later.
• Zero Feedback: You get no warning if your documents don’t meet the strict government standards.

evisa-to-egypt.info: 99.8% Success Rate

• Human Safety Net: Our visa specialists manually review every line of your form and every pixel of your documents.
• Pre-Submission Fixes: If we spot an issue (like a shadow on your passport photo), we pause and help you fix it before submission. We don’t just process your application; we protect it.

2. Who Will Help Me If I Get Stuck?

Government Portal: You Are On Your Own

• No Support Desk: There is no 24/7 live chat. If you’re confused by a question or the site crashes, there is no one to call.
• Language Barriers: Government terminology can be confusing, leading to guessing and errors.

evisa-to-egypt.info: We Are Always Here

• 24/7 Live Assistance: Chat with a real person anytime via WhatsApp, Live Chat, or Email.
• Clear Guidance: We speak your language. We explain complex requirements in simple terms so you can apply with total confidence.

3. Is My Money Safe If Something Goes Wrong?

Government Portal: No Refunds

• One Shot Only: Government fees are non-refundable. If you make a tiny mistake and get rejected, your money is gone. You have to pay the full fee again to reapply.

evisa-to-egypt.info: Financial Security

• Refund Guarantee: If you cancel before we submit your application, you get a full refund of our service fee.
• Investment in Approval: You aren’t just paying for a form; you’re paying to ensure you don’t lose your money to a rejection.

4. What If the Website Crashes?

Government Portal: Technical Headaches

• System Failures: The official site often struggles with downtime, slow loading times, and payment errors.
• Manual Tracking: You have to keep logging in to check your status, never knowing when the update will come.

evisa-to-egypt.info: Smooth Sailing

• Fail-Safe System: If the government site is down, we hold your application in a secure queue and submit it the second the system is back up.
• Instant Alerts: Stop refreshing your browser. We monitor your status 24/7 and send a notification to your phone the moment your visa is approved.

5. Can I Fix Mistakes After Submitting?

Government Portal: No Going Back

• Locked Submission: Once you hit “Pay,” your application is locked. You cannot correct a typo or update a travel date.

evisa-to-egypt.info: Flexible Correction

• Review Window: Since we review your data first, we can catch errors and allow you to make changes before the final submission to the government.
• Document Recovery: Lost your visa email? We keep a secure backup and can resend your approved visa instantly, even months later.

Egypt eVisa Requirements for Icelandic Passport Holders

To apply online, you must meet these standard Egypt eVisa requirements:

1. Passport: Must be an ordinary Icelandic passport (Vegabréf). Diplomatic or emergency passports may require different procedures.
2. Validity: Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your intended date of arrival in Egypt.
3. Email: A valid email address to receive the visa PDF.
4. Payment: A credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard) to pay the fee.

Handling Icelandic Characters (Ð, Þ, Æ, Ö) in the Application

This is a genuine problem many Icelandic users face. The Egyptian visa system generally uses the English/Latin alphabet and may not accept special Icelandic characters.

How to solve it: Look at the bottom of your passport photo page. There are two lines of code (the Machine Readable Zone). Transliterate your name exactly as it appears there.

• Þ usually becomes TH
• Ð usually becomes D or DH
• Æ usually becomes AE
• Ö usually becomes OE

Rule of thumb: If the online form rejects your Icelandic name, use the spelling found in the machine-readable zone at the bottom of your passport.

Specific Photo Requirements for the Egypt eVisa

One of the most searched queries involves photo uploads. Your passport scan must meet these criteria:

• File Format: JPG or PNG.
• File Size: Typically under 500KB.
• Clarity: The photo must be in color. Ensure there is no glare from the flash covering your face or the text numbers.
• Crop: The image should include the entire bio page, including the two lines of code at the bottom.

How to fill out an Egypt visa application from Iceland?

1. Fill the Form: Enter your travel dates and personal details.
2. Upload Documents: Upload a clear, color scan of your passport’s bio page. (Format: JPG/PNG, usually <500KB).
3. Pay the Fee: processing fees are in USD or EUR. Your Icelandic bank will handle the currency conversion from ISK.
4. Wait for Email: Processing usually takes a few days.

Egypt Visa Application Processing Time for Icelandic Applicants

• Standard Processing: 5–7 business days.
• Urgent Options: Some third-party services offer 48-hour turnover for a higher fee.
• Recommendation: Apply at least 7 days before your flight to be safe.

Can I Pay for a Visa on Arrival with Icelandic Krona (ISK)?

No. Egyptian immigration does not accept Icelandic Krona (ISK).

• If you choose Visa on Arrival, you must pay in US Dollars (USD) or Euros (EUR).
• Credit cards are often not accepted at the bank kiosks in the arrival hall, so cash is king. This is a major reason why the pre-paid eVisa is safer.

Do I Need to Print the eVisa?

Yes. Do not rely on showing the visa on your phone.

• Rule: Print at least two copies of your eVisa PDF.
• Why: Border officials often retain one paper copy. You might also need to show it to your airline at Keflavik airport before boarding.

Transit Visas: Do I Need a Visa for a Layover in Cairo?

If you are flying from Iceland to Asia or Africa via Cairo:

• Short Layover (<48 hours): If you stay in the airport transit area, you generally do not need a visa.
• Leaving the Airport: If you have a long layover and want to see the Pyramids, you must buy a visa (eVisa or on Arrival) to exit the airport.

Egypt Visa – Icelandic Travelers Face

Here are specific issues users from Iceland often encounter:

1. Passport Expiry: Icelanders often travel on short notice. Ensure your passport doesn’t expire within 6 months of your trip. If it does, you will be denied boarding at Keflavik.
2. Blurry Scans: The glare on the glossy page of Icelandic passports can ruin the scan. Take the photo in natural light without flash to ensure the MRZ code is readable.
3. Name Mismatch: As mentioned, confusion over “Þ” and “Д causes rejections. Always match the machine-readable zone.

What Happens if I Overstay My Visa in Egypt?

Overstaying is taken seriously in Egypt.

• Grace Period: There is typically a 14-day grace period, but relying on this is risky.
• Fine: You will be fined at the airport upon departure (approx. 1,500+ EGP).
• Process: You cannot pay the fine at the gate; you may miss your flight while sorting paperwork. Always renew your visa at the Passport Office (Mogamma) if you plan to stay longer than 30 days.

Can I Work in Egypt with this Visa?

No. The eVisa is strictly for tourism and family visits. You cannot take up employment in Egypt. Digital nomads working remotely for Icelandic companies are generally in a grey area but should stick to tourist rules and not seek local employment.

Traveling with Children

Every traveler needs a visa.

• If your child has their own passport, apply for a separate visa.
• If the child is registered on your passport (rare for modern passports), include them in your application.

Health & Safety for Icelanders in Egypt

• Temperature Shock: Moving from -5°C to +30°C can be a shock to the system. Stay hydrated.
• Water: Never drink tap water in Egypt. Stick to bottled water to avoid stomach bugs.
• Vaccines: No specific vaccines are mandatory for travel from Iceland, but Tetanus and Hepatitis A are recommended.

Conclusion

The Egypt eVisa for Iceland citizens is the modern key to unlocking the wonders of the ancient world. By choosing the eVisa over the Visa on Arrival, you avoid the hassle of cash payments and queues, letting you start your holiday the moment you land.

Whether you are diving in the Red Sea or cruising the Nile, a little preparation goes a long way. Check your passport validity, watch out for those Icelandic characters, and apply today!