Do You Need a Visa for Sharm El Sheikh? Sinai Stamp Guide

Do you need a visa for Sharm El Sheikh? The short answer is: not necessarily. If you hold a passport from the UK, EU, US, Canada, Australia, or Scandinavia and plan to stay for 15 days or less within the Sinai coastal resort area, you do not need to buy a standard $25 Egyptian visa. Instead, you qualify for a free Sinai-Only entry stamp right at airport passport control. Having welcomed over 3 million guests to Sharm El Sheikh since 1990, we see firsthand that this free entry permit covers over 90% of holidaymakers visiting our shores.

What Is the Free Sinai-Only Stamp?

The Sinai-Only stamp (often called the Gulf of Aqaba stamp) is a free entry permit stamped directly into your passport upon landing at Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH). It grants entry for up to 15 days (14 nights) while restricting your travel area to the eastern coast of the Sinai Peninsula.

With this free stamp, you can freely travel within:

• Sharm El Sheikh (including Naama Bay, Nabq Bay, Ras Um Sid, and Hadaba)
• Ras Mohamed National Park
• The Straits of Tiran
• Dahab and the Blue Hole
• Nuweiba and Taba
• Mount Sinai and Saint Catherine’s Monastery

As long as you remain within these geographic boundaries and depart within 15 days, the stamp is completely free and requires no advance paperwork.

When Do You Need the Full $25 Egyptian Visa?

While the free stamp suits most traditional beach and desert holidays, there are specific situations where you must purchase the standard $25 USD Egyptian tourist visa:

• Stays longer than 15 days: If your holiday is 16 days or longer, you must get the full visa.
• Travel to Mainland Egypt: If you plan to fly or take a day trip to Cairo, Luxor, Giza, or Hurghada, you must hold the full visa.
• Certain Offshore Wreck Dives: If you are planning deep sea diving trips to remote sites outside local coastal waters (such as the SS Thistlegorm in the Gulf of Suez), maritime regulations mandate a full Egyptian entry visa.

If you land and realize you need the full visa, you can easily purchase it for $25 USD cash at the official bank kiosks inside the arrival terminal before heading through passport control.

How to Get Your Stamp at Sharm Airport

Navigating the arrival process at SSH is straightforward when you know what to expect:

1. Complete your Landing Card: You will receive a landing card on your flight or inside the arrival hall. Fill in your passport details and hotel address. 2. Bypass the Bank Kiosks: If you only need the free Sinai stamp, do not queue at the bank counters selling visa stickers. 3. Proceed to Passport Control: Present your passport and completed landing card to the border officer. You can write "SINAI ONLY" on the back of your card, though officers routinely grant it to guests staying within the 15-day limit. 4. Collect Your Bags: Walk through baggage claim to meet your transport outside.

Popular Excursions You Can Do on a Sinai Stamp

Many travelers worry that choosing the free stamp will limit their excursion choices. We can reassure you that almost all our signature day trips fall well within the Sinai stamp territory.

Here are three popular trips you can enjoy without buying a full visa:

1. VIP Ras Mohamed, White Island Snorkeling & Lunch (Sina Dream)

Ras Mohamed National Park sits at the southernmost tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Because it remains inside the Sinai zone, you do not need a full visa to join our boat trips here. Aboard our luxury sailing yacht, you will snorkel pristine coral reefs and step onto the soft sandbar of White Island. Note that while your visa stamp is free, environmental rules require a national park entrance fee of $5 per person, which directly supports local reef protection.

2. Colored Canyon Jeep Tour with Blue Hole & Dahab

Heading north along the coast toward Dahab and the rugged Sinai interior is fully covered by your Sinai-Only stamp. Our jeep tour takes you through the multi-colored rock faces of the canyon before stopping for lunch and snorkeling at the world-famous Blue Hole in Dahab. A standard $5 per person entrance fee applies at the protected Blue Hole marine zone.

3. Mount Moses Trekking, Sunrise & Monastery Visit

Located deep in the Sinai mountains, Mount Sinai and Saint Catherine's Monastery lie within the 15-day stamp boundary. On this overnight journey, you trek up the mountain under the stars to watch the sunrise over the Sinai range before taking a guided tour of the 6th-century monastery below.

Practical Tips for Local Travel

• Check Passport Validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date.
• Count Your Days Carefully: Day 1 is your arrival date. If you land on the 1st of the month, your 15-day stamp expires on the 15th. Overstaying without a full visa leads to delays and fines upon departure.
• Carry Small Cash Bills: When joining trips to protected reserves, keep small bills ready for the mandatory $5 per person national park entrance fee.

Whether you are snorkeling over vibrant reefs or trekking mountain trails, our team is always here to make sure your Sinai adventure runs smoothly.