|
** Source
UK
Foreign office - Egypt Travel Advice
GENERAL
Insurance
You are strongly recommended to obtain
comprehensive travel and medical insurance
before travelling. Make sure it covers the
cost of local hospitalisation and medical
repatriation to your country of residence.
You should check any exclusions, and that
your policy covers you for all the
activities you want to undertake. You should
contact your insurer if you have had a
previous health condition, including mental
illness, as this may not be covered if it
recurs.
Purchase of Property
British nationals have purchased land in
many parts of Egypt. Some have encountered
problems. If you intend to purchase a
property in Egypt we strongly advise you to
engage a local lawyer. A list of English
speaking lawyers is available on the British
Embassy, Cairo website at: http://www.britishembassy.org.eg.
You should deal only with established and
reputable lawyers and estate agents or with
other contacts whom they know to be reliable
and genuine, and you should make all
payments within bank premises and/or through
banking channels and not in cash.
In parts of Egypt and increasingly, in the
area of the West Bank in Luxor your land
tenure rights can be severely curtailed by
local legislation. It is important that your
lawyer obtains an extract from the local
land registry to satisfy you that the
property or land in question is formally
registered. You should again seek legal
advice before entering into any contract.
Don't sign anything that you do not
understand. A list of translators is
available on the British Embassy, Cairo
website (see above). You should ensure that
your personal details and the full purchase
price of the property are reflected on the
deeds.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Visas
British visitors need a visa. These can be
obtained from an Egyptian Consulate outside
Egypt or on arrival by payment in Sterling
or USD, for stays of up to a month.
Applications for visa extensions should be
made at Egyptian Passport and Immigration
Offices.
You may have difficulties leaving Egypt with
an out of date visa. You will not normally
be allowed to leave if the visa is out of
date by more than 14 days. For visas and
further information on entry requirements,
check with the Egyptian Embassy in your
country of residence. (Egyptian
Representation in the UK.)
Passport validity
Your passport should be valid for at least
six months.
Work permits
Evidence of an AIDS test is required if you
are applying for a work permit.
Customs regulations
5,000 Egyptian pounds is the maximum amount
of local currency you are allowed to bring
in or take out of Egypt. There is no limit
to the amount of hard currency that you may
bring in, but sums that exceed USD 10,000
should be declared on arrival. Egyptian
currency should not be sent through the
post.
Certain valuables such as electrical
equipment, video camera etc must be declared
on arrival. Electrical items noted in
passports must be produced on exit from the
country. Failure to do so will result in
payment of high rates of customs duty. It is
advisable to contact the Egyptian embassy in
your country of residence for specific
information regarding customs requirements.
HEALTH
Medical facilities outside Cairo can be
basic and in case of emergency you are
advised to seek treatment in Cairo. You
should ensure that your medical insurance
covers the cost of local hospitalisation and
medical repatriation to your country of
residence.
Come prepared for the heat. Use a high
factor sun block and drink plenty of water
to guard against exposure and dehydration,
which can result in serious health problems.
In general tap water is not safe to drink.
Bottled water is cheap and readily
available.
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
Local laws reflect the fact that Egypt is
predominantly a Muslim country. You should
respect local customs and sensitivities at
all times, especially during the holy month
of Ramadan which started on 13 September
2007 or if you intend to visit religious
areas. For more general information see
Travelling During Ramadan
The government does not interfere with the
practice of Christianity but encouraging
conversion to the Christian faith is
illegal.
Egypt is also a conservative society. You
should dress modestly, especially when
visiting traditional areas like mosques and
souqs (markets). Women's clothes should
cover their legs and upper arms. Public
displays of affection are frowned upon.
Possession, use or trafficking in illegal
drugs is a serious offence and can, even for
possession of small amounts, lead to lengthy
prison sentences (25 years), life
imprisonment or the death penalty. A recent
decision means that those convicted to life
imprisonment on drugs charges will spend the
rest of their life in prison with no
possibility of parole or pardon.
Photography of or near military official
installations is strictly prohibited. Don’t
photograph officials without their consent.
Although homosexuality is not in itself
illegal under Egyptian law, homosexual acts
in public are illegal and homosexuals have
been convicted for breaching laws on public
decency.
Women are advised to take extra caution when
travelling alone as there have been cases of
harassment and sexual assault, including
rape.
Egyptian family law is very different from
UK law and particular caution is needed
when, for example, child custody becomes an
issue |
