Sinai to Cairo Legally 2026: Upgrading Your Entry Stamp

📌 Last checked: May 2026 — upgrading from South Sinai to mainland Egypt is crucial for a smooth journey.

If you're in Sharm and planning a trip to Cairo, make sure to arrange an eVisa or a visa upgrade before booking a train or bus. And if you're flying out of Cairo, compare return flights on Vocafly for the best deals.

Why a Sinai stamp is not enough for Cairo

The Sinai-only stamp (Sinai Only) is meant for tourists staying in South Sinai—cities like Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, and Taba—for a limited period (usually up to 15 days). However, if you're heading to Cairo, Luxor, or Hurghada, located on mainland Egypt, a full tourist visa is necessary.

At checkpoints like the Ahmed Hamdi tunnel, Cairo domestic terminal, or desert road checkpoints, officers will check for a visa sticker or valid eVisa. A “Sinai only” stamp won't suffice, and you could be stopped, turned back, or even fined, leading to hours of delay.

On the ground, the biggest financial hits often come from having to cancel plans like a prepaid train ticket or a Cairo hotel booking due to not having a visa. The savings from skipping the $5 eVisa fee can quickly evaporate with these unexpected expenses.

What are your legal options?

1. eVisa before you move (recommended)

Apply on visa2egypt.gov.eg for $25; you'll receive approval as a PDF. Presenting a full visa at checkpoints ensures the smoothest travel experience.

2. Upgrade in Sharm or Dahab

Licensed passport or tourism offices can add a visa sticker or process your upgrade—generally costing around $30 plus waiting time. Make sure to ask your hotel for the latest address as office locations often change.

3. Pay at the crossing point

It's sometimes possible at the tunnel or airport for $30 cash. However, do not count on this option without confirming its availability on your travel day, as the desk might be closed or the queue long.

Option	When	Approx. price
eVisa	Before travel	$25
Sharm upgrade	Before the bus	~$30
At tunnel	Travel day	$30 (speed not guaranteed)

Practical steps: Dahab to Cairo

1. Before booking: Get your eVisa or check with an upgrade office in Sharm.
2. Book a bus or car through a reputable agent, and ensure you have a full visa ready to show.
3. Travel day: Carry your passport, eVisa PDF, and arrival card.
4. At the tunnel/checkpoint: Show your passport and wait for the stamp.
5. Upon arriving in Cairo: Keep a copy of your visa for the duration of your stay.

Duration: The journey from Sharm to Cairo takes 6–7 hours by bus; it will be longer if you're traveling from Dahab.

Steps: domestic flight SSH → CAI

Do not buy a ticket without an eVisa or upgrade, as the airline might deny boarding in Sharm. Upon arriving in Cairo, immigration procedures are routine.

2026 prices (indicative)

Item	Cost
eVisa	$25 + card fee
Upgrade / airport	$30
Sharm–Cairo bus	300–600 EGP
Fine / delay without visa	Unpredictable — avoid

Timeline: when to sort the visa

Your plan	Action
7 days Sharm then 3 Cairo	Get an eVisa before arriving in Sharm
“Maybe I’ll extend”	Start with an eVisa
Sharm only	Sinai stamp — no Cairo

Known checkpoints (conceptually)

• Ahmed Hamdi tunnel (under the Suez Canal) — the busiest link between Sinai and the mainland.
• Airports — CAI, HRG when entering the mainland.
• Desert roads — random checkpoints — always carry a full visa.

Real scenarios (2026)

A) Diver in Dahab 12 days then Pyramids: A Sinai stamp won't cover Cairo—secure an eVisa before day 10 or upgrade in Sharm.

B) Family in SSH, one week Naama Bay only: Sinai stamp — no bus to Cairo.

C) “I’ll fix the visa in Cairo”: This leads to a risk of detention—do not do this.

D) Booked SSH–CAI flight: Without an eVisa, there's a possibility of denied boarding in Sharm.

What to ask an upgrade office in Sharm

• Confirm the final price in dollars or pounds.
• Check the duration (30 days from the upgrade date?).
• Ensure you receive an official receipt or sticker in your passport.
• Clarify whether Luxor is allowed or if the visa is for Cairo only—ask directly.

After you enter Cairo

Choose a hotel that accepts your passport—while it's rare to face refusal, registration requires ID. At museums, a separate visa isn't necessary—your passport suffices.

Field tips

• Photograph the sticker immediately after upgrading.
• Do not trust anyone claiming “the driver will fix it at the checkpoint” without an official receipt.
• Children require a visa for each passport.
• If refused, don't argue at the checkpoint; instead, return to Sharm and try the eVisa online if possible.

Common mistakes

1. Booking Pyramids with only a Sinai stamp.
2. Spending day 16 in Dahab then heading to Cairo—overstaying the stamp period.
3. Taking a bus to Hurghada for shopping from Sharm—mainland checkpoint creates issues.
4. Leaving upgrade for the morning of travel—expect long queues.
5. Applying for an eVisa with the wrong name—it has to match the passport exactly.
6. Traveling by night train without documents—board checks can occur.

Transfer + visa budget

Scenario	Approx. cost
eVisa + bus	$25 + 400 EGP
Tunnel upgrade + bus	$30 + 400 EGP
Domestic flight + eVisa	$25 + ticket

Train, bus, or car — same visa?

Yes, the type of transport doesn’t change the full visa requirement. Whether you're taking the Cairo–Aswan train later or a private taxi from Sharm, all require a stop at the tunnel. Even on an organized tour, while the operator may remind you, it's on you to carry your passport.

Keep in mind that some travel insurance policies require a “valid visa”—your eVisa PDF serves as proof.

Note that hotel staff in Cairo do not issue visas—avoid paying “fast-track fees” in a hotel lobby without visiting an official office.

Countdown: days before the move

Day	Action
−14	Apply for eVisa if not yet obtained
−7	Confirm your bus or train reservation
−1	Have the PDF, arrival card, and $30 ready
0	Leave Sinai with all required documents

Dahab → Cairo: The route might pass through Sharm for an upgrade; ask a Dahab center in the morning before your bus departs. The Nuweiba–Taba crossing has different rules—don't assume all tunnels follow the same process.

If you're returning from Cairo to Sharm, remember that you'll need a valid visa to remain in Egypt. Just visiting Cairo doesn’t automatically renew the initial Sinai stamp.

Cost of delay vs planning ahead

An urgent upgrade in Sharm might add two hours and a lot of stress on your travel day to Cairo. Submitting an eVisa from home takes just 15 minutes, plus waiting for approval, but it's well worth it before booking any train or hotel.

Example: Divers booking the Pyramids for day 12 while on a Sinai stamp often end up canceling their tours or facing hotel penalties. The $5 price gap for an eVisa proves invaluable. Keep your eVisa in your email and stored on your phone. And if you lose your phone in Cairo, a hotel printout could be your savior during a rare check.

Related articles

• Sinai-only stamp guide
• eVisa vs airport visa
• Sharm, Dahab and Hurghada

Conclusion

Traveling from Sinai to Cairo in 2026 demands a full tourist visa—a Sinai-only stamp simply isn't enough. Securing an eVisa before your trip is the cleanest approach, though an upgrade in Sharm is also possible, albeit more time-consuming. Avoid booking any mainland travel until you've settled your documents.

Explore flights on Vocafly, then proceed with either an eVisa or arrange an upgrade—Cairo promises a legal, comfortable visit. Transparency is key: don't hide from your driver or organizer that you're on a Sinai-only stamp—this honesty prevents unnecessary stops at the first mainland checkpoint. Keep your upgrade receipt or eVisa in a separate wallet from your checked luggage, as searching for papers in a hectic Cairo arrival hall is less than ideal.