General Information

Security level:

There has been some improvement in security in recent years, but due to the continued activity of extremist groups in some areas of the country (North Sinai, border areas with Libya, border area with Sudan), they should not be visited except in urgent need. The activities of extremist groups in North Sinai are mainly aimed at military and police targets, but attacks on civilian targets are not excluded.
The best way to get to know the sights of the country is to use the services of licensed travel agencies, which can provide you with complete information about the tourist sites of interest and provide escorts and transportation, while being responsible for your safety.
If you happen to come across street protests, it is advisable to leave the area.
It is typical for the country to organise street processions of supporters during big football matches, sometimes leading to conflicts between supporters of the opposing teams or between them and law enforcement forces. In such a situation Bulgarian citizens caught in such a situation should leave the area.
In large cities, given their overcrowding, street crimes of various kinds are possible — theft, mugging, forcible taking of bags and belongings from people passing by on motorcycles, pickpocketing (when visiting people's markets and other very busy places), etc. When locals offer to take you to souvenir or artefact shops or sell you items on the street, you should be particularly cautious and not trust them as you may be the victim of a scam.
The use of taxi services by unaccompanied women alone is not recommended, especially in the evening hours.

Healthcare:

In private clinics and hospitals, medical care is at a relatively good level, but the provision of medical care and treatment is associated with significant costs. The standards in public hospitals are below the European level, but the prices are also lower. It is recommended that Bulgarian citizens wishing to visit Egypt take out appropriate medical health insurance valid for their entire stay.
Before travelling to Egypt, it is necessary to obtain international travel and health insurance valid for your entire stay. The policy should cover the costs of hospitalization, treatment and medical repatriation from Egypt to Bulgaria in case of necessity, as well as cover some specific activities you intend to do during your stay, such as diving, participating in a desert safari, etc.
In case of an emergency involving Bulgarian citizens, the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Cairo can provide a list of hospitals to which citizens can turn.
Recommended vaccines and personal hygiene advice:
Food in hotels and restaurants above 3 stars, as well as in supermarkets, is safe. Eating in street food outlets, in particular eating fresh fruit and vegetables bought in street markets, is a prerequisite for serious gastrointestinal infections. In case you have serious stomach complaints or prolonged high fever, you should see a doctor. Only factory bottled drinking water should be used.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health requires an immunization booklet with yellow fever and poliomyelitis immunizations upon entry into the country only from persons arriving from countries at high risk for yellow fever and poliomyelitis.

Specifics of the local legislation:

Although there are no explicit rules on women's dress, it should be borne in mind that in an urban street setting, clothing that is provocative to local mores — short skirts, plunging necklines, etc. — is not advisable.
Bulgarian tourists should be aware that filming street objects of the army and police, including their officers with cameras, video cameras and mobile phones may lead to the confiscation of the filming equipment. There is a legal ban on the use of flying technical devices such as drones and similar devices, and their import into the country and their use requires special permission from the authorities in each case. Prohibited sites for photography are buildings of state institutions, embassies, police and army checkpoints, fences of various types, etc. Warning signs prohibiting filming are not always easy to see and are sometimes written only in Arabic. For this reason, Bulgarian citizens visiting the country must take into account the location and the surroundings when taking pictures of different objects. When filming in street settings and outside tourist sites, the sensitivities of particular social strata for cultural or religious reasons must also be taken into account. In cases where local citizens react negatively to a camera pointed at them, you should immediately stop shooting to avoid a conflict situation.
Bulgarian journalists visiting the country on an official capacity should have obtained accreditation and permission for journalistic activity in advance, following the established procedures. There are special requirements for TV crews who must declare and obtain prior permission to import filming and other equipment and familiarise themselves with the requirements in advance. The Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Cairo is ready to assist, within its competences, the Bulgarian journalistic teams.

Customs requirements:

Visitors to Egypt, upon entering and leaving the country, must declare the cash they are carrying in cases where the amount exceeds USD 10,000 or the equivalent. Egyptian currency of not more than 5,000 Egyptian pounds may be carried in and out of the country. It is forbidden to import or export foreign currency by letters or parcels.

Road traffic:

When driving on the street, whether you are on foot or driving a car, you should bear in mind that car traffic is very intense and chaotic, and drivers often drive aggressively and dangerously. Risks are created by the cases of driving into oncoming traffic, reversing, driving without lights at night, risky movement of motorcycles and cyclists between cars, inclusion of caravans and carts in the traffic, etc. Pedestrians should exercise extreme caution when crossing, as their right of way is sometimes not respected at pedestrian crossings. A relatively safe way to cross a busy street is to do so with another group of people crossing or, crossing alone, to raise your hand and politely signal for them to wait for you.

Practical advice:

When travelling to Egypt, it is advisable and useful to observe the following rules:
- You can register in advance at the Bulgarian Embassy in Cairo before your travel. Registration can be done by phone or via the e-mail of the Embassy. You need to provide information about your planned stay: traveller's name, length of stay, location, contact phone and email. This information will make it easier for the Embassy to assist you if necessary.
- Carry identification documents (passport recommended) with you at all times, but in a safe place;
- In a street environment, do not pass through barriers placed by law enforcement authorities! Don't get into arguments with law enforcement and police — even when you think you have the right! In the event of a situation between you and the law enforcement authorities, it is advisable to contact the Bulgarian Embassy immediately for assistance or recommendations;
- Independent and unorganized overland travel throughout the country is not recommended. For visits to tourist sites outside Cairo, it is best to contact a licensed travel agency and do not resort to the services offered by private individuals;
- Travellers to Egypt's beach resorts for the purpose of underwater sports should use the services of reliable and licensed companies providing the necessary equipment, instructors and guarantees.
- Travels in the desert, in Egypt's border areas with Libya and Sudan, and from Egypt to the Gaza Strip (North Sinai), pose a significant security risk to travellers. If you undertake such a trip, it is solely at your own risk. The possibilities of the Bulgarian Embassy in Cairo to provide assistance for exit from the Gaza Strip and re-entry into Egyptian territory are very limited;
- In case of any problems, besides the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Cairo, assistance can also be sought from the General Directorate of Tourist Police at 126. It has been designated by Egypt's Ministry of Interior as a ‘hotline’ that receives reports around the clock and provides assistance to foreign tourists in the country. You will speak in English to a person on duty on the telephone line. You can also call 122 (the police) to inform about emergencies (extreme help in situations threatening the lives of citizens).
- Avoid filming under any pretext public events, events or objects affecting security and security authorities;
- Avoid conflict situations on the street with local citizens;
- Refrain from commenting, debating and criticizing domestic political issues.

Prohibited items for export:

1.Original papyri and ancient books.
2.Any original antique objects — statues, paintings, etc.
3.Old cars representing antiques.
4.Corals
Customs requirements for Egypt can be downloaded from HERE.

Local currency:

Currency exchange should take place at banks and licensed exchange offices. The use of credit and debit cards for payment is widespread and can be used in large retail outlets, restaurants and hotels.

When travelling to the Arab Republic of Egypt, it is necessary to have a foreign passport valid for at least 6 months after the date of entry into the country.
The existing visa regime with Egypt requires all Bulgarian passport holders, including diplomatic and official passport holders, to have an Egyptian entry visa before entering the country. Ordinary passport holders should also have visas affixed, but they are allowed to obtain an entry /tourist visa only/, and only at Egyptian airports, not at land borders.

Bulgarian citizens may enter the territory of Egypt with visas obtained in advance from the Egyptian Embassy in Sofia or other diplomatic or consular representation of the Arab Republic of Egypt abroad. There are three types of visas: tourist, entry (for purposes other than tourism) and transit.
Visas for tourism purposes and stays of up to 30 days could also be obtained at the border checkpoints (BCP) at international airports — stickers are sold at bank offices located in the transit area before passport control. The cost of the visa sticker purchased at the BCP is USD 25, which can be paid by credit card or in hard currency.

When travelling for tourism purposes to the resorts of South Sinai, Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba, there is an option on arrival at the airports in Sharm el-Sheikh and Taba to obtain a free passport stamp with permission to enter the country without a visa and stay in the resorts for a period of up to 15 days without the right to travel outside these areas. If tourists plan to travel outside these areas and stay more than 15 days in the country they need a visa.

Special care should be taken by holders of diplomatic and official passports. There is no signed agreement between Bulgaria and Egypt on the exemption of diplomatic and special passports from visas. Diplomatic passport holders must obtain an Egyptian entry visa in advance from the Egyptian Embassy in Sofia or other Egyptian diplomatic missions abroad, whether travelling in a personal or official capacity.
To extend their stay in Egypt, before the expiry of the validity of the tourist or entry visa, Bulgarian citizens should apply to the Passports, Visa and Immigration Department of the Ministry of Interior (‘Al Mughammaa’) of the Arab Republic of Egypt and upon payment of the relevant fees can obtain a permit for a longer stay.
Attention! Your passport must have at least one completely blank page so that the entry visa can be affixed to it. There should be no other visa stamps on the back of this page other than the border control stamps.
 

Issuance of identity documents:
When applying for identity documents, the person shall sign the application in person in the presence of an official and biometric data shall be taken in the cases provided for by law.

Certifications and legalizations:
The documents subject to certification and legalization by the Consular Office of the Embassy are various documents of a general nature. Documents originating from Egyptian institutions must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Documents originating from Bulgarian institutions should accordingly bear the certification of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria. Documents of a private nature of persons who have affixed their signature at a Consular Office in Cairo before the consul are authenticated by the Embassy depending on the country for which they are intended. When the document to be authenticated concerns the transfer of property rights over immovable property, the consul shall authenticate not only the signature but also the contents of the document, for which additional fees are payable according to a price list.

Civil status:
Upon registration at the Cairo Consular Office of a birth, marriage (contracted before the Egyptian Civil Services) or death occurring on Egyptian territory, it is necessary to present accordingly: birth certificate, civil marriage certificate or death certificate (accompanied by a phyto-sanitary control document), which must be legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Fees:
The fees of the Consular Office in Cairo are in accordance with the tariffs approved by the Bulgarian state normative documents — laws, rules, regulations, orders and are publicly announced