As of November 1, 2026, Egypt has changed its entry rules for citizens of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. According to an official document issued by the Chamber of Tourism Companies and Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, citizens of these countries can no longer obtain a visa on arrival at airports, including those in Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh.
Cash Deposits, Age Limits and Confiscated Passports
Travelers must now obtain an entry visa in advance from a diplomatic mission and receive clearance from Egypt's security services. New requirements have also been introduced.
Every tourist traveling alone must carry at least $3,000 in cash. For a family, the minimum is $5,000. The host party will record the serial numbers of the banknotes.
Citizens between the ages of 16 and 40 may not enter the country on their own, only when accompanied by parents, spouses or children.
On arrival, Egyptian tour operators are required to collect tourists' passports and keep them in safes for the duration of the trip. The documents will be returned at the airport on the day of departure. If any member of a group fails to show up for the return transfer, the agency must immediately report the person missing.
The restrictions were reportedly also meant to apply to citizens of Uzbekistan, but for them the measure has been postponed until March 1, 2027. Citizens of Kazakhstan might also have been affected, but they were spared thanks to negotiations by the Foreign Ministry in Cairo.
Why the Rules Changed
Official statements from the Chamber of Tourism Companies say the new measures are intended to "ensure the regularity and transparency of tourist flows." Local security and migration experts, speaking on condition of anonymity, point to other reasons.
One is the fight against illegal labor migration. In recent years, Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh and Cairo have seen a growing number of Central Asian nationals who arrived as tourists but stayed on to work without official permits. They took jobs as guides, entertainers, spa staff and salespeople, to the displeasure of Egypt's Ministry of Labor. The requirement to hold passports is meant to put an end to this practice.
The second reason concerns national security. According to Egyptian analysts, the security services have recorded cases in which the country's territory, particularly the Sinai Peninsula, was used to cross borders illegally or to make contact with radical organizations. The financial requirement of $3,000 to $5,000 and the age restriction for people between 16 and 40 are seen as a filter to screen out potential illegal migrants and other undesirable individuals.
What This Means for Russian Tourists
Nothing has changed for Russian citizens. They can still obtain a visa on arrival in Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh. The requirements regarding cash deposits, age restrictions and passport confiscation do not apply to them.
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