It’s about to become much easier for Canadians to visit one of the world’s most historic destinations.
Beginning 01DEC, 2024, Canadian citizens will no longer need a pre-entry visa to travel to Egypt. Instead, they will once again be able to obtain a visa upon arrival at Egyptian airports, or apply for an e-visa in advance.
In October of last year Egypt implemented a rule requiring Canadian passport holders without Egyptian origins to secure a visa in advance from an Egyptian embassy or overseas consulate.
In Canada’s case, that meant applying in person at the Egyptian Embassy in Ottawa or at the Egyptian consulate in Montreal, or applying by mail.
The visa process was a cumbersome and time-consuming procedure that made it difficult for Canadians interested in exploring Cairo or the Great Pyramids, or those opting for a Nile River cruise.
“We want Egypt to be as accessible as possible to Canadian travellers, so this is such welcome news,” said Moira Smith, Goway Travel’s VP, Africa “Now is a fantastic time to visit Egypt with developments like the brand new Grand Egyptian Museum.
“We’re excited to make it easier than ever for Goway’s clients to travel to this captivating country.”
The good news of the cancellation of the pre-entry visa requirement coincides with Egypt and Canada’s celebration of the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, cairoscene.com reports.
The decision follows a recent meeting between Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs, and Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, held during the United Nations General Assembly session in New York, said egypttoday.com.
“The decision to cancel pre-entry visas reflects a shared commitment to enhancing cooperation and supporting the connection of Egyptian-Canadian citizens with their homeland,” the publication stated.