Egypt - Apply For a Short Term Journalists Visa

ProcedureEdit

The procedure is divided into 3 stages:
Stage 1 (Before arrival in Egypt)

To apply for the short term journalist visa, the applicant needs to visit the nearest Egyptian Embassy. Nearly all applications are approved without any difficulties.
The embassy then requests for the “approval” of the visa from the Foreign Media Department in Cairo.
The Foreign Media Department then sends the approval to the embassy, together with the customs clearance (for the equipment to be brought into the country).
Once this is done, the applicant needs to re-visit the embassy to provide a list of all the equipment to be brought into Egypt.
The Consul may refuse the issue of Egyptian visa; shorten the number of entries and the period of its validation if required. In that case no explanations are supposed to be given; the consular fee received is not refunded.
Finally the embassy issues the visa stamp and the customs clearance for the equipment.
Making a trip with purposes different from the visa type, and different from purposes declared while requesting a visa is illegal in Egypt.

Stage 2 (After arrival in Egypt)

With the visa stamp in your passport the applicant can travel to Egypt.
After arrival in Egypt, the applicant’s first point of contact is the FMD (Foreign Media Department) in Cairo, to provide them with a full list of all the sites the applicant would like to visit or film.
Finally, the Foreign Media Department will issue the necessary paper work: ‘permission’ to film the listed sites, and an ‘ID’, which the applicant must carry with them at all times.

Stage 3 (Permits required to meet with government officials)

In order to process the permits required to film and meet with government officials, the applicant can submit the following information to the Egyptian Press Office in the Foreign Country:

A letter of introduction that explains who the applicant is, the news organization the applicant is working for, the purpose of the applicant’s trip to Egypt, and specific details about the nature of the applicant’s assignment there.
Any journalists, photographers, filmmakers, and all other members of a media delegation must provide the following information: name, passport number, a copy of the passport, date of travel to Egypt, as well as contact information while in Egypt.
Some foreign Media Press Office highly encourages the applicant to submit digital copies of passports, because faxed copies are often fuzzy and unusable.
A list of official meetings and/or interviews that the delegation or the journalists seek to conduct while in Egypt as well as the general topics that shall be discussed.
A list of all locations where the applicant wish to film as well as the purpose of the filming.
A specific list of all film equipment the delegation or the journalist will be taking with him/her to Egypt.
For underwater, aerial and safari filming, the applicant can submit a detailed map outlining the specific locations the applicant wish to film.
A copy of a letter of credit issued for the valued amount of all photography and film equipment being brought into the country. The original letter of credit should be taken with the applicant and presented at customs in the Cairo airport.

Note

If the applicant fails to follow the above mentioned requirements, their visa application will not be processed.
Visa processing starts only after all necessary documents are submitted.

Apply Online:

To apply online for a business visa in Egypt navigate to the link Link
Create an account on the Egypt e-Visa Portal via the registration page, fill in the details and click on the “Sign-Up” button.
Confirm your account registration and login to the Egypt Visa portal.
Click on “Apply Now” button. Type “email”, “password” and perform captcha verification. Click on “sign in” button.
Read the instructions and click on “create new application”.
Fill in the travel details and click on “next” button. Fill in the applicant’s details and attach the required documents. Click on “next” button. Fill in the host information and submit the details.
Once the application form is filled complete the payment using a MasterCard, Visa card, or other debit cards.
Wait for the approval via email and download it. Print the business e-visa from your account.
Present your printed e-Visa to the immigration officer at the port of entry.

Required DocumentsEdit

Scanned Valid National Passport (minimum period validity 6 months at the time of travel)or any acceptable Travel document;
Printed copy of a completed Online Visa Application Form(with one passport size photograph attached), and a copy of Payment Confirmed page;
A letter of invitation from local contact(s) in Egypt;
A letter of introduction from the organization(s) that journalists work for or represent;
A copy of itinerary while on duty in Egypt;
List of equipment accompanying applicant(s);
Scanned copy of your passport’s bio data page (the page with your photo).
Your profession.
Estimated date of arrival.
Payment Visa Fee (cash only)Paid in advance
Application form
A valid Passport.
Two recent passport photos.
Visa reference number (from Egypt).
Letter from employer.

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
ELECTRONIC VISA PORTAL
Contact link: Link

Ministry of Manpower and Immigration
Address 3 Youssief Abaas St Nasr City Cairo
Phone no. 22609366 – 22609368 – 22618019
Fax 22618019
E-mail [email protected]
Contact link: Link

EligibilityEdit

One must be a journalist visiting Egypt on the short term mission of not less than 6 weeks gathering news or capturing news or Filming sites in Egypt on behalf of the foreign organization.
Only Journalist accreditation is required. Visiting crew must pick up and sign for the accreditation in Cairo.

FeesEdit

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ValidityEdit

The visa is valid for 3 months.

Processing permits for filming specific locations in Egypt takes 10 to 14 days.
Getting approval for interviews with government officials requires 10 to 14 days.
Getting approval for underwater, safari or aerial filming takes three weeks.

Documents to UseEdit

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Processing TimeEdit

Processing time takes less than one month but because of the complexity it can exceed that time. Visas for journalists cannot be fast-tracked and may take longer than five (5) working days to process.

InstructionsEdit

If you intend to visit or film sites in Egypt, then you need to obtain a journalist Visa which include those sites in the list of the sites you intend to film.
If you secure permission from the Foreign Affairs Media Department for the whole list (as of the above procedure) then you can visit and film in all the sites approved in list.
It is therefore necessary to include all the sites you intend to visit in the list before you submit it to the Foreign Affairs media Department.
If you need business visas then a local sponsor company will need to apply for you.

Required InformationEdit

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e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or Country of Birth.

Need for the DocumentEdit

The Government Press Office in Cairo, which is a part of Egypt’s State Information Service, is the office responsible for all procedures related to the travel of media delegations to Egypt. Journalists on short-term visits for periods of not more than 6 weeks require NO work permits. However, they will only be accredited for the duration and purpose of their assignment in Egypt.

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