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In Saudi I know you can pay someone to hook you up with a work permit/residancy permit but I have no idea if you can do the same thing in Egypt? That may be the easiset option?
Posts: 10 | Registered: Jan 2004
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Good Morning again Mr. English Moslem.. I believe we don't have that system like in Saudi Arabia (Slavery is the word/system). You will have to settle with a tourist visa and renew it now and then.
Posts: 477 | From: Egypt | Registered: Jan 2004
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Thanks, but do you know if I can keep renewing it for that length of time? I think I remember someone telling me that you can apply for a 6 month extended toursit visa....anyone know about this?
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You go along to the local passport office. In Luxor there was a special window that was labled in English, tourist visa's. You fill in this simple form address name and reason for visit. Didn't ask any financial details. Photocopies of your passport details page and arrival visa and passport photos. Easy peasy
------------------ UK Co-owner of www.toursinluxor.co.uk Accommodation and Tours in Luxor
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Congratulations! And that lets you stay in the country for all the 12 months not simply that you can come in and out x amount of times within the 12 months?
Posts: 68 | Registered: Feb 2004
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EM - Are you in Luxor? or going to be in Luxor? If not, don't think you have to go all the way to Luxor to do this. The main office in Egypt is in Cairo. It is at the Moghamma building in Tahrir Square, downtown Cairo...same area as the Museum, Nile Hilton and American University. Sadat Station if you take the underground Metro for transport.
Once there, go inside, take the steps to your right up one level and go through the door. Keep following hallways to your right. Look for other foreigners. At the end you will find the area. It's not brain surgery...but it will require some patience. And yes, one year is common and easy to get for Americans and Brits.
Meant to ask you again that the 12 month visa lets you stay in the country for all the 12 months not simply that you can come in and out x amount of times within the 12 months?
I think the 3 month visa you can get(before you arrive I think) still only allows you a months stay but you can come in and out during the 3 months...or something like that?
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"Tourist visas Regular tourist visas are available from Egyptian consulates abroad, or on the spot at Cairo, Luxor and Hurghada airports. The process is generally painless and cheaper than getting one through a consulate, but bear in mind that visas issued at the airport are only valid for one month. From an embassy or consulate the single-visit and multiple-entry types of visa entitle you to stay in Egypt for three months; the latter allows you to go in and out of the country three times within this period. Don't be misled by statements on the application form that it is "valid for six months"; this simply means that it must be used within that period (validated from the day of issue)." that's from yahoo travel.
Most people opt for a single entry as it's extremely easy and simply renew it 3-6 months, if they travel in/out of the country a lot. then next time you come back, you get yet another single entry at the airport, and after a month, you renew it again.
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in that case, get a single entry visa at the airport, then about a week before it expires go to the mogamma (armed with a smile and a passport photo but no cameras as it's a govt bldg and security will insist to hold it for you at the door).
i think lonely planet or one of those "living in egypt" guides has exact instructions on what to do, down to the 2nd floor, walk to window XX then window XX, etc. helpful, as there are barely any signs or directories and lots of stuff is in arabic. (picture the way they showed old communism bureaucracy in the movies to get a visual).
i don't know the max amount, but i do know that they were going to renew mine for 3 yrs (misunderstanding when I asked for 3 months). i saw a lot of frustrated & grumpy foreigners when i went there, so remember to walk in with a friendly and polite attitude...and you'll find the staff will find your behavior a nice change and be helpful in return.
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Sorry Expat, but my advise is to not believe any of the Lonely Planet instructions or any other guide book instructions. Whatever they say is what the layout was the day their author was here and it may have changed the next week, it no doubt has changed some since printing of the book. You know that. LOL This is Egypt, and more, this is government work.
Once you get to the area where the process takes place (first floor-down that corridor) I suggest you either go to the end of the corridor and ask at the information desk where to start (you won't get a perfect answer, but you'll get one that will get you started), or my favorite is to stop at the window that says STAMPS on it. I shouldn't give away this secret, but the people behind that window, for some reason, are the nicest people in that whole building and they have pretty good English skills. They always are willing to help and give me useful information. Personally, I take a handful of pens to give to people there that are helpful as government workers in this country are required to supply their own office supplies and a decent pen is a treasure to them. I save them up when I go to hotels that provide them in the rooms. These free pens work very well for backsheesh in this building.
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P.S. In the spot on the form where they ask why you want to stay, just write "tourism". No one is goig to evaluate your answer and decide if it is good enough to let you stay or not. Don't worry about that. "Tourism" is the word they are looking for.
Posts: 3246 | From: Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt | Registered: Mar 2001
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