Explore: Egypt - Formalities
Clearance
Full details of the procedures for transiting the Suez Canal, including the Canal Regulations and Fees charged, can be found at Suez Canal: Transit Information
In ports of entry, clearance must be done with Customs, Health and Immigration, and a cruising permit obtained from Customs. The length of the cruising permit is tied to the length of the visa issued on arrival. Be sure to read further details on cruising permits below in Documents, as this will affect your choice of clearance port.
The majority of yachts coming from the south check into Egypt at Port Ghalib Marina or Hurghada Port. Port Ghalib is the recommended port of entry as fees at Hurghada Port are very high.
Yachts coming from the north check in at Port Said.
It is advisable to contact the marina or the shipping agent before arrival in order to confirm the rates and the formalities, in case there are any changes.
The Coast Guard normally maintain a presence in all ports and anchorages, and usually visit the yacht, requesting details of the yacht and its crew.
It is highly likely you will need an agent at every major port as the authorities don’t usually speak English and will only deal with the agents they know. You have to let your agent know your whereabouts at all times so he can “smooth the way” with the authorities.
If sheltering from strong winds or making an overnight stop, yachts are normally allowed to stay in Egyptian waters before clearing in at an official port of entry. If coming from the Red Sea and intending to stop in Egypt before clearing in, it is advisable to have obtained a visa in advance. It is also advisable not to actually go ashore until officially cleared in.
If transiting the Suez Canal and not stopping anywhere else after the transit, the outward clearance can be obtained while doing the transit formalities. Yachts may then proceed to sea as soon as they have dropped the pilot.
Once outward clearance is obtained, yachts must leave within 24 hours, or obtain another clearance.
Noonsite does not recommend any particular agent but there is a list of Clearance agents here. It can be useful to look at reports from cruisers for their various experiences with agents adjacent.
Last updated: May 2018.
Immigration
Visa on Arrival
If arriving in Egypt by boat, most nationalities are still issued visas on arrival. The cost is US$25.
This Entry Visa Fee was due to be increased on 1 March 2017 to US$ 60, however this increase has now been postponed until July 2017.
Most visas are valid for three months from the date of issue, however, not all ports can issue visas for this length of time. Port Ghalib immigration office, for example, can only issue visas for 1 month.
An extension to a visa can be obtained from the police. Passports must be valid for six months beyond the visa period.
Visa in Advance:
An E Visa can be obtained from the Egyptian Government E Visa Website. It is valid for 30 days and expires 90 days from the date of issue.
Citizens of some countries are required to obtain a visa in advance. These currently are:-
Palestine, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan, Mauritania, Lebanon, China, Afghanistan, Iran, Israel, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda, Liberia, Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Mali, Chad.
In addition, female citizens of the Republic of Moldova aged 15-35 are required to have a visa in advance.
There are Egyptian embassies or consulates in most nearby countries, including Israel (Tel Aviv) and Djibouti.
You may have difficulties leaving Egypt if your visa has expired. You will not normally be allowed to leave if the visa is out of date by more than 14 days.
If planning to visit Israel and return to Egypt, it is possible to buy a re-entry permit, which expires one day before the original visa expires.
See Egyptian Embassy website for more details.
Visas are not needed by anyone traveling on a yacht transiting the Suez Canal and remaining in the port area.
Last updated: March 2019
Customs
Foreign flagged boats may stay up to one year from the date of arrival. After the one-year boats need to be bonded for four months or leave the country for the same period.
A list of firearms, with their type and details, must be handed to the authorities on arrival.
A list of electronic equipment may also be required.
Last updated April 2018.
Health
Boats arriving at a port in Egypt from Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Bangladesh and Brunei Dar Alsam must have a Health Certificate issued by that country. However, a health certificate is not required if the boat spends a minimum of seven days at sea after leaving any of these ports before arriving at a port in Egypt.
Typhoid, tetanus, polio and hepatitis vaccinations are recommended, as is malaria prophylaxis.
Quarantine officials will ask for vaccination certificates if coming from a known yellow fever infected area.
Last updated: April 2019
Documents
Documents required in Egypt:-
Port Clearance from your last Port of Call
Ships Registration Certificate
Ensure this looks genuine and is the original – yachts can be detained if their ship’s registration does not look “authentic” enough. Also make sure that the words (Pleasure Yacht/ Craft) are included.
VHF Radio License
Insurance Certificate
Crew List
Passport for everyone on board
Note: It is recommended that the Crew List and scanned passports be emailed to the Agent well before getting to Suez.
Documents to be Completed on arrival:-
Passport control office declaration arrival
Ministry of transport Declaration of arrival
Notification for temporary clearance of yacht
Undertaking
Navigation equipment list
Cruising Permits:-
A cruising permit can be obtained on arrival.
The problem with the cruising permit is that the authorities issue it according to the duration of the visa of the yacht captain. This means that in order to obtain a 6 month cruising permit for instance, the Captain must have a valid visa for 6 months.
Not all ports can issue visas for this length of time. Port Ghalib immigration office, for example, can only issue visas for 1 month, so Customs are forced to issue 1 month cruising permits only. Hurghada have an immigration office that can give longer visas, which makes it easy for the yacht captain to decide from the beginning whether to ask for a 1 month visa or more.
If required, a permit to cruise the Gulf of Aqaba must be requested at the same time.
If it is only possible to obtain a 1 month cruising permit, an extension would require a shipping agent to do the paperwork.
If a boat leaves the country for whatever period, then a new cruising permit is issued on re-entry.
Yachts coming from Sudan and making overnight stops without going ashore do not normally require a cruising permit.
River Nile:
A security permit has to be obtained from the Coast Guard as well as permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to navigate the river. The permit is difficult to obtain, although the Yacht Club of Egypt in Alexandria may be able to help. Navigation in the channels is restricted to daytime only. There are several bridges and locks, which open at certain times of the day or on request. Taking photographs of bridges, barrages and dams is strictly forbidden. The maximum draft must not exceed 5 ft (1.5 m). Navigation is only possible during winter, from October to May, when the level of water is higher. The river depth falls considerably during the summer months.
Last updated May 2018.
Fees
Immigration: A visa on arrival costs $25
If a visa is not required, there are no immigration fees due on arrival or departure.
Other Clearance Fees: In most ports approx. $40 – $60
Including pilotage, port authority fee, stamp duty, quarantine etc.
Clearance Fees in Specific Ports:
The clearance fees in Port Said increased dramatically in May 2018 for foreign-flagged yachts but were reduced by over 50% in August 2019.
New fees:
Yachts up to 20m $200
Yachts over 20m: $250
Note these fees don’t include the Suez Canal transit charge or Agent fees.
The clearance fees in Hurghada Port are very high. See the Hurghada page for details.
Some marinas – such as Port Ghalib Marina – charge a processing fee for clearance of 80 US$. The equivalent of an Agents Fee.
Cruising Permit:
All visiting yachts staying in Egypt for more than the permitted “transit” period of 10 days, must pay a monthly fee. These cruising permit fees, per month, are:
- 30 US$ for yachts less than 18 m
- 50 US$ for yachts more than 18 m
This fee is levied either for just one month or four months, the following four months then the final four months, after a total of 12 months the vessel must leave Egypt.
A form must be signed by the Owner/captain who undertakes that the yacht will leave the country upon the expiry of the temporary clearance period (maximum 12 months) granted by Customs, the period is granted based on the Owner/Captain’s request and subject to paying the clearance fees.
Notes:
- It is always better to contact the marina or the shipping agent before arrival in order to confirm the rates and the formalities in case there are any changes.
- Fees are payable only once per visit to Egypt at any licensed port of entry. The marina will issue a receipt which should be shown at subsequent ports or marinas so as not to have to pay additional fees for formalities.
- This applies to tourist marinas (such as Port Ghalib, Abu Tig Marina, Wadi Dome, Hurghada Marina). It does not apply to Sharm El Sheikh, where you will be liable for further fees.
- Overtime is charged after 1400 Saturday to Thursday, all day Friday and public holidays.
Suez Canal Fees:
See Transit Information for the Suez Canal for details of the fees charged.
Useful reading:
See this useful report January 2018 comparing Fees and Agents Fees for Egypt (covering Felix Agency and Prince of the Red Sea Agency).
Last updated: August 2019
Restrictions
Anchorages:
If you need to anchor in Egyptian waters prior to getting a cruising permit, this Arabic/English letter of introduction extracted from the Red Sea Pilot Book may be useful.
Anchorages are permitted around Abu Tig, but the general restrictions are not to land on the islands and to keep a distance of one nautical mile away from them and not to anchor beside corals or military areas, as per the chart.
Outside of the official ports of entry, in other ports and anchorages, one may not go ashore except with special permission from the local authorities. Most anchorages have an army post or military station, who usually ask for the yacht’s papers.
Other Restrictions:
- Spearfishing, the taking of reef fish, collecting of coral, shells and marine animals, are all forbidden in the Red Sea.
- Drones are banned in Egypt. If you are found with a drone on board by the Egyptian Intelligence Service, it will probably be taken away and it’s unlikely you will see it again.
- All military zones are prohibited areas.
Canal regulations:
Yachts must be capable of a consistent speed of 5 knots, which will be checked during the technical inspection. The speed limit in the canal is 9 knots. Yachts normally transit just after the morning convoy.
It is not permitted to sail in either in the canal or the Bitter Lakes.
If a yacht breaks down, you can only be towed by a Canal Authority boat (at a high fee!). However, it’s wise to contact your agent first who may be able to sort out a cheaper solution.
The Canal transit takes 2 days with a stop-over at Ismalia.
Canal Warning:
There have been reports of several yachts being run aground, and one severely damaged, due to the incompetence of the Egyptian pilot. It is therefore strongly recommended that at no time should the pilot be allowed to steer the boat, that the latest charts of the Canal are constantly referred to and that if it appears that the pilot is giving wrong instructions, such as advising the person at the helm to leave the main channel to cut a corner, the captain should use his or her common sense before accepting such advice.
Local Customs
It is necessary to accept that ‘Baksheesh’ is a way of life in Egypt and cannot be avoided.
The attitude to European women (even when modestly dressed) includes being stared, whistled, hooted and shouted at, and even some groping, and can make them feel very uncomfortable.
Clearance Agents
Pets
Standard International Veterinarian Health Certificate issued by Licenced Veterinarian not more than 14 days of travel showing pet is healthy, free of parasites and has been vaccinated for distemper,hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvirus, canine influenza and rabies (rabies vaccination should be given not less than 30 days before travel and not more than 11 months) You are required to keep pet in your custody for the first three months you are in Egypt.
