The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for a holiday destination that is immensely popular among British tourists. Government officials have released an alert detailing revised guidance on potential terrorism threats, along with updated protocols concerning entry from Israel and Sudan
The advice issued for travelling to Egypt reads: “If you cross the border from Israel into Egypt at Taba, you will have to pay a ‘Sinai Tax’ of 720 Egyptian pounds [approximately £11] per person (not applicable to children 24 months). This is payable at the Taba Border Crossing in Egyptian pounds, cash only. There is a bank and ATMs dispensing Egyptian pounds at the border.” Around half a million people from the UK travel to Egypt each year.
The Foreign Office added: “The ‘Sinai Tax’ exempts you from requiring an entry visa for Egypt for up to 15 days, as long as you stay within the Sinai Peninsula.
“If your stay in Sinai will exceed 15 days, or you are planning to leave the Sinai Peninsula, including to fly on from mainland airports, for example Cairo or Hurghada, you will need an entry visa.
“This costs 25 US dollars and can be purchased at the Taba Border Crossing on entry, or from the immigration office in Sharm el Sheikh.”
“The situation at the Egypt-Sudan border remains unclear. There are 2 main land border crossings – Qustul and Argeen. There is almost no infrastructure at these crossings, and it is no longer possible to obtain a visa on arrival at these locations.”
The Egyptian consulate is based in Wadi Halfa, 30km from the border. Applications for Egyptian visas can be made here, but visa approvals can take upwards of 6 months.
It continued: “The UK Government is no longer evacuating people from Sudan. The British Embassy in Cairo does not have staff at the border and our ability to provide assistance is very limited. Travel in and from Sudan is at your own risk.”
