Visa scam in Egypt

[diverinstructor]

I have just come back from Egypt where I found out that if you are travelling to Sharm and stay in the Sinei and do not leave the area then you are not obliged to buy the £10 tourist visa when you arrive at the airport. As divers then we would have to pay if we wanted to visit Ras Mohammed as this is outside Sinei, but if you were going out as a group and learning to dive from the shore and only using local sites such as the Coral Bay area then you don't need this visa. I just thought of all the plane loads of people who don't leave the beach area, and all are told they need to buy one. I think we should spread the word.
Some planes announce it but ours didn't say anything - but then it was Air Malta! Anyone any comments!

[Rod Bateman]

I thought that everyone knew that about the Visas already, obviously not !

Most divers do go to Ras Mo during their holiday so need the Visa.

[MSutcliffe]

for the Sake of ten quid, i rather have the choice.

You cannot return to the airport half way through your holiday and change your mind - if you go Sinai only, your stuck with it!

[Mike Halligan]

I have just come back from Egypt where I found out that if you are travelling to Sharm and stay in the Sinei and do not leave the area then you are not obliged to buy the £10 tourist visa when you arrive at the airport. As divers then we would have to pay if we wanted to visit Ras Mohammed as this is outside Sinei, but if you were going out as a group and learning to dive from the shore and only using local sites such as the Coral Bay area then you don't need this visa. I just thought of all the plane loads of people who don't leave the beach area, and all are told they need to buy one. I think we should spread the word.
Some planes announce it but ours didn't say anything - but then it was Air Malta! Anyone any comments!

This information is available on the Egyptian government web-site and it was very clear when last I looked. :cool:

As for Air Malta, I tend to buy flights from airlines, not visas. Sorry, no sympathy from this quarter. :o

[Dave]

Um, where is the scam and who is the one telling people that they have to buy a visa?

Dave

[Christopher Bullion]

When I last went to Sharm, the authorities made it absolutely clear that if you had no intention to leave Sinai, then you didn't need the visa. If you wanted to explore, or dive in Ras Mohammed, etc. then you would need one. :cool:
No scam as far as I'm concerned, sorry.

[stu wall]

Hi Guys,
For your information travelling outside the Sinai peninsula not only means that you need a visa to go to Ras Mohamed but you also need one for trips to the likes of Thistlegorm, Dunraven, as well as the Rossie M & Abhu Nuhas that can now be visted by some day boats such as wind K / Sky K.
Most divers visiting Sharm tend to do the likes of Ras Mo,Dunraven & Thistlegorm anyway and in the whole scheme of things over a week what's a tenner.
I agree that the holiday companys can be miss leading, As a resident holding a residential visa i recently used a charter flight from a regional UK airport to escort a group of divers out there.
The que's for different Tour operators were charging different prices, a sign that the major operators have moved in to target the tourist industry.
Prices varied between UK £8 - £15

Hope this helps

Stu Wall

[simonm]

Ive got one both times, first time I didnt leave sharm. My small worry if we had some form of emergency and had to leave Sinai by land for whatever reason. Worth a tenner.