Visa Matters

Prior to Your Departure

• International students can get a visa application from an Egyptian consulate from their home country for 90 days, do not wait until the last minute to apply. Allow several weeks if you are getting the visa by email
• North American and European citizens, Australians can get a tourist visa upon their arrival at Cairo International Airport valid for one month for $25. Yet it is advisable to apply for an entry visa from your home country
• You must have a valid passport for six months beyond your arrival date. If not, then you need to renew your passport at least three months before your departure date to avoid any unforeseen delays
• Citizens from the following countries have to obtain a visa prior to their arrival: Afghanistan, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chechnya, Croatia, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldavia, Montenegro, Morocco, Pakistan, Palestine, The Philippines, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Tadzhikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and all African countries
• Before coming to Egypt, it is important to check with the Egyptian consulate or embassy in your country about changing visa regulations
• After your arrival in Egypt, The American University in Cairo (AUC) will work with the Ministry of Higher Education to obtain your student residency
• Your student visa will be issued only after your registration, payment of fees and enrollment verification
• A minimum of 12 credit hours (nine credit hours for graduate students) is required for eligibility

Steps After Arrival in Egypt

• Citizens from the following countries have to register their passports at the Office of Business Support: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Burundi, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), Libya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Honduras, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Liberia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, The Philippines, Rwanda, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Trinidad-Tobago, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen.
• Citizens from the following countries cannot extend their tourist visas. If their security approval is delayed the student will take a letter from the Business Support office confirming his enrollment at AUC and that his/her visa is under processing in this case his status in the country will be legal.

Required Procedures for all International Students

1. Fill out the Business Support form
2. Business support will send an email with the exact details for your appointment and process
3. If the governmental security approval hasn't been received, students that are eligible (according to government regulations) will extend their visa temporarily for one semester
4. If the students are from the above-mentioned nationalities the university will not be able to extend their tourist visa, but will issue for them letters proving their enrollment and that the University is in the process of finalizing their residency, this is to make sure that the students are legally present in the country

Residency Visa Fees

All visa costs are against official governmental receipt.

1. Renewal of tourist visa for 3-6 months costs EGP 1,710
2. Residency visa for six months costs EGP 1,712
3. Syrian nationalities only costs EGP 640
4. Expedite visa request costs EGP 220
5. Fine for late application costs EGP 1,670
6. In case the student didn't have his/her approval and couldn't extend his/her residency as per nationality, he/she will be requested to pay the approximate amount of EGP 1,504 upon departure at Cairo International Airport

Residency Visa Fees Payment

For the payment link, click here.

Tips for Returning Students

1. Upon arrival, they are required to register their stay in Egypt to avoid late fees by submitting the passport at the Office of Business Support.
2. The student will receive a portal message with the details of student visa renewal.
3.  After receiving this message, the student must submit his/her passport to the business support office to avoid dropping of courses by the registrar.
4. Students should start the renewal procedures for their residency visa one week before the previous one expires.

Important Information

• National security approvals are valid for four years
• Renewal of residency must be done every semester
• It is the student's responsibility to show up at the Office of Business Support to start this process
• If the student has any queries he/she can contact the business support Office through by email to business.support@aucegypt.edu
• Link to RSVP for an appointment with the business support office working hours Sunday to Thursday; 9 am - 3 pm
• If you are not a UK, USA, Canadian, Australian or an European Union citizen and your governmental security approval hasn’t been received yet, the business support can’t apply for your visa extension
• If your entry visa expired and we haven’t received your security approval to process your student visa, the business support office will provide you with an official stamped letter to keep with you as a legal document stating that your residency visa process is under procedure through our office
• If you are waiting for your residency visa processing, you are not illegal in the country
• If you applied for a temporary visa extension until your governmental paperwork is finalized, you will need to apply for a re-entry visa a week before any travel plans outside Egypt in order not to lose your extended visa
• It is advisable to be accompanied by our staff at the office to guide and help you through the process to avoid any problems or misunderstandings
• Each student has his own file and status with respect to the residency visa application

For Arabic Language Instruction Students

• An accepted student must have a valid passport and obtain a tourist visa from the nearest Egyptian consulate in his/her home country for entry into Egypt
• On arrival to Egypt, you are usually given a one-month tourist visa at Cairo International Airport plus a grace period of 14 days. The Department of Arabic Language Instruction, through the University’s Office of Business Support, can extend your visa within the month and the 14 day-grace period without late fees
• On arrival to Egypt, if you are an EU, USA, Canadian or Australian citizen, you can buy a $25 one-month tourist visa (and a 14 day grace period) upon arrival at Cairo airport
• Other nationalities must apply for a 90-day-tourist entry visa at the nearest Egyptian consulate before arrival to Egypt
• The Department of Arabic Language Instruction, through the University’s Office of Business Support can support and help with all visa issues
• As soon as you arrive, check with the business support office for visa status advice and issues