canada warns against travel to egypt

Egypt imposes new restrictions on Canadian travellers

Egypt said the measure is in response to canadian restrictions on visas.

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Canadian passport holders soon will no longer be able to obtain visas upon arrival in Egypt — a new rule that could mean additional headaches for thousands of travellers.

As of Oct. 1, Canadians travelling to Egypt will have to visit Egypt's embassy or a consulate in Canada to apply for a visa before they leave the country, according to Global Affairs Canada's travel page for Egypt.

Previously, travellers could get their visas upon arrival at the airport in Cairo, or obtain an e-visa before departure through the online portal.

The changes initially were set to take effect this Sunday. However, after CBC News published a story about the new rules, Global Affairs Canada issued a statement saying the new visa requirements would take effect Oct. 1.

Canadians with proof of Egyptian citizenship also will have to apply for visas to enter the country as of Oct. 1. Prior to this rule change, Canadians could enter the country without visas if they had Egyptian passports, national ID cards or birth certificates.

An email from the Egyptian embassy in Ottawa laid out the visa application process for Egyptian nationals.

The announcement, sent to Egyptian-Canadians on Monday, cited the "principle of reciprocity" and claimed the rule change is a response to Canadian measures that deny visas to Egyptian citizens. It claims those measures are "offensive in nature to the dignity of the Egyptian state."

Officials at the Egyptian embassy declined to comment when reached by CBC News. CBC has also reached out to Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly's office for comment.

'It's insane'

Adel Boulos, president of the Egyptian Canadian Business Network, says it's not easy for Egyptians to get a visa to come to Canada.

"It's getting more difficult for Egyptians to come to Canada," he said. "I have cases, unbelievable stuff like parents wanting to see their children, people are getting married here and they want their parents and family to come and they can't … It's insane."

But Boulos said the Egyptian government had other options to deal with the situation.

"I would have liked the Egyptian government to take another route by convening a meeting with the Canadian officials to discuss how to help them out in issuing visas faster," he said.

And unanswered questions remain about the visa application process for Egyptian nationals in Canada, he said.

"We have about 300,000 Egyptians living in Canada and most of them travel with their Canadian passports because they didn't renew their Egyptian passports or don't have the national ID," Boulos said.

"People travelling with their Canadian passport because their Egyptian passport is expired, they don't have one, whatever the issue is, they will also be required to get a visa."

Egypt has tried to encourage tourism in recent years. Tourist numbers plummeted following the violent suppression of anti-government demonstrations in 2011.

Egypt is on track to welcome a record-breaking 15 million tourists this year, the country's tourism minister said in April. The country aims to attract 30 million tourists annually by 2028.

Some Egyptian media outlets claimed the news of the stricter visa rules was untrue.

A story in the Egypt Independent, a Cairo-based online newspaper, claimed that the Egyptian cabinet media centre "denied these rumours and added that the centre communicated with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to confirm the matter was false."

But a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada confirmed the new rules for Canadian passport holders would take effect.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Yasmine Hassan is a producer at CBC's Parliamentary Bureau.

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Canada tells citizens: “Exercise a high degree of caution in Egypt”

Canada’s travel advisory, published on the Canadian government’s website , states that its citizens should “exercise a high degree of caution” in Egypt, advising to avoid traveling to specific regions, such as North Sinai and Western Sahara due to deteriorating security conditions and the spread of terrorism. 

Egypt applied new regulations regarding entry visas for Canadian citizens, effective starting October 1 according to which the issuance of emergency visas will be stopped at all Egyptian ports for Canadians.

Holders of a Canadian passport will be required to obtain a visa prior to visiting Egypt from Egyptian embassies or consulates, according to an announcement made by the Embassy of Egypt in Ottawa on its Facebook page on August 29.

This move is expected to negatively impact the number of Canadian tourists to Egypt.

Speaking with Egypt Independent, Louis Dumas, Ambassador of Canada to Egypt, clarified that the Canadian government’s security rating is part of a usual periodic review process Canada has always been adopting with all countries, including Egypt.

“One of the favorite parts of my job as Ambassador is to welcome Canadians of all kinds to Egypt. In fact, we’d like to see more Canadians visiting Egypt so they too can enjoy the warm weather and hospitality. The Embassy of Canada works closely with the Egyptian authorities to confirm security information which leads to a regularly updated Travel Advisory on the Government of Canada travel website. This cooperation has been consistent since 2019.”

Then, he went on, illustrating Canada’s safety classification, “For example, road travel is no longer restricted for travel to Siwa Oasis from Marsa Matrouh and on the highway from Sharm el Sheikh to Tabah. The last update on the Travel Advisory in relation to the security situation was on July 20, 2023 when Canada lifted the restrictions on travel to the Black and White Desert areas. The Travel Advice to Canadians has different levels for different countries and the level currently for Egypt is “Exercise a high level of caution”, in place since 2019, and interestingly this is the same level of some other European countries.”

The latest Canadian travel advisory was updated on August 31 addressing only travel health notices related to Egypt . 

(This article has been updated on Friday, September 8. It includes a comment from Louis Dumas, Ambassador of Canada to Egypt, on the Canadian travel advisory regarding Egypt. Correction: Canada’s latest travel advisory updated on August 31 was in relation to health instructions for Egypt travelers, not the security situation).

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Visa spat between Egypt, Canada throws fall travel plans into disarray

Post date: Sep 5 2023

Date: Sep 5 2023

By: Kathryn Folliott

This story was  posted Sept. 5, 2023. For the latest updated story, posted Sept. 12, 2023, click here .

TORONTO — A visa spat between Egypt and Canada threatens to derail vacation plans for Canadian travellers starting this fall.

As of Oct. 1 the Egyptian government will no longer allow Canadians to obtain visas through the online eVisa process.

Instead, Canadians planning trips to Egypt are asked to obtain a visa from an Egyptian embassy or consulate. And as of Oct. 1, eVisas for the country will no longer be valid.

As Global Affairs Canada notes in an update to its Egypt page : “Starting October 1, 2023, Canadian passport holders will no be able to obtain a visa online before travelling to or upon arrival in Egypt. You will be required to obtain a visa from an Egyptian embassy or consulate abroad. If you travel to Egypt on an electronic visa on or after October 1, 2023, your visa will be considered void, and you will be denied boarding and/or entry into Egypt.”

The update adds: “If you are planning to travel to Egypt, you should contact the nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate before you go.”

“NONE OF OUR AGENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH”

Travel advisor Marsha Ramage did just that, to no avail.

She and her fellow agents reached out to the Egyptian embassy in Ottawa, and the Egyptian consulate in Montreal. “None of our agents have been able to get through to the Egypt embassy in Montreal or Ottawa to find out what we are now to do. What form to fill out. What all needs to be sent to the Embassy. Turnaround time for processing,” Ramage tells Travelweek.

Ramage, an advisor with Blowes & Stewart Travel Group, is at her wit’s end. “Many clients are booked on cruises departing in September and arriving into Egypt after Oct. 1, so not much time to figure it out,” she says.

A recent CBC story said the change to the visa process was announced to Egyptian-Canadians via an email from the Egyptian embassy in Ottawa. According to CBC, the email noted the “principle of reciprocity”, citing policies from the Canadian government about visas for Egyptian citizens.

Travelweek got in touch with tour operators selling Egypt, to find out what they know.

Moira Smith, VP Africa & Asia for Goway Travel, said Goway is aware of the change, and working hard to get to the bottom of the situation.

“We also received this information, hot on the tail of the first advisory we received that clients would be able to obtain a visa online. They then rescinded that, and as you mention, advised that Canadian passport holders have to obtain a visa directly from the Egyptian Embassy or consulate office in Canada prior to travel,” says Smith.

“It does not appear that either have a process in place yet for how to apply. We have reached out to our partners in Egypt for clarification. And to see if there is any way they can put pressure to at least get the ‘in person’ changed to online.”

Other tour operators selling Egypt include G Adventures, Intrepid Travel and Exodus Travels, and Travelweek has reached out to all of them. More details will run in Travelweek Daily and on Travelweek.ca as they become available.

Meanwhile the Canadian government is also warning Canadian travellers heading to Egypt to exercise a high degree of caution, with regional travel advisories. The page was updated Aug. 31.

Tags: Egypt, Lead Story

Kathryn is Editor at Travelweek and has worked for the company since 1995. She has travelled to more than 50 countries and counts Hong Kong, Jerusalem, the Swiss Alps and the Galapagos Islands among her favourite destinations.

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Travel advice and advisories by destination

COVID-19: travel health notice for all travellers

The Government of Canada’s official source of travel information and advice, the Travel Advice and Advisories help you to make informed decisions and travel safely while you are outside Canada. Check the page for your destination often, because safety and security conditions may change. See Travel Advice and Advisories – FAQ for more information.

Where are you going?

Take normal security precautions

Exercise a high degree of caution

Avoid non-essential travel

Avoid all travel

Travel advice from other countries

Travel advice is also provided by the governments of Australia , New Zealand , the United Kingdom and the United States .

Risk Levels

  take normal security precautions.

Take similar precautions to those you would take in Canada.

  Exercise a high degree of caution

There are certain safety and security concerns or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.

IMPORTANT: The two levels below are official Government of Canada Travel Advisories and are issued when the safety and security of Canadians travelling or living in the country or region may be at risk.

  Avoid non-essential travel

Your safety and security could be at risk. You should think about your need to travel to this country, territory or region based on family or business requirements, knowledge of or familiarity with the region, and other factors. If you are already there, think about whether you really need to be there. If you do not need to be there, you should think about leaving.

  Avoid all travel

You should not travel to this country, territory or region. Your personal safety and security are at great risk. If you are already there, you should think about leaving if it is safe to do so.

• Wednesday, 01 May 2024

Canada lifts travel ban on Egypt, 9 other African countries over Omicron fears

Zeinab el-gundy , saturday 18 dec 2021.

Canada’s Federal government lifted on Friday its travel ban on 10 African countries including Egypt while it reimposes for Canadians taking short trips abroad to get a Covid-19 test before returning back to the country over Coronavirus’ Omicron variant spread fear.

Canadian Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced at a Friday press conference in Ottawa that the travel ban imposed on 10 African countries since late November would be lifted effective 18 December at 11:59 p.m. ET.

The decision to impose the travel ban on Egypt, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Nigeria and Malawi drew huge criticism of the Canadian government as the Omicron variant spread to over 77 countries including countries in the west.

“While we recognize that this initial emergency measure created controversy, we believe it was a necessary measure to slow the arrival of Omicron in Canada at a time of uncertainty,” Jean-Yves Duclos said at the press conference adding that given the current situation in Canada this measure has served its purpose and “is no longer necessary.”

A number of Egyptian MPs expressed their dismay towards the Canadian decision to impose a travel ban on Egypt and other 9 African countries over Omicron variant concerns.

In a statement before parliament in early December, Karim Darwish, the head of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee asked Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry to consult with the ambassador of Canada on the reason for including Egypt in the travel list.

Egypt’s flagship carrier EgyptAir suspended its direct flights to Toronto in early December over that travel ban.

The decision of Canada to include Egypt in its travel ban over Omicron cases when the country officially did not record a single case of the variant locally was taken following the decision of Switzerland to place five countries including Egypt on its 10-days quarantine list and oblige travelers from those countries to present negative (PCR) results.

In early December, Switzerland removed Egypt and other countries from the list.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for countries to keep calm and take " rational, proportional risk-reduction measures ” in response to the new, fast-spreading variant.

The Egyptian Health Ministry announced on Friday that it recorded officially its first three Omicron variant cases for travelers who return back to the country and were discovered at Cairo International Airport.

The three patients are currently in quarantine at a Cairo-isolation hospital.

Canada’s health minister announced on Friday that his country requires Canadians and permanent residents who travel abroad for short trips “less than 70 hours” to get a negative Covid-19 (PCR) test before returning to Canada starting from 21 December.

The travelers must take the test in a country other than Canada, he said.

According to Canadian media, this rule was dropped in November.

Coronavirus

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Canada warns against travel to Egypt, calling it a ‘high risk’ country

Canada warned its citizens against traveling to Egypt, classifying it as a high risk country due to deteriorating security conditions and the spread of terrorism, but excluded Cairo.

The warning was issued on August 31  after Egypt recently imposed an entry visa on Canadian citizens , even those holding Egyptian identity documents.

This move will negatively impact on Canadian and western tourism to Egypt.

The Canadian travel warning, published on the  Canadian government’s website , addressed Egypt’s security situation and specified a high degree of risk in the regions of North Sinai and Western Sahara.

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Canadians may soon be able to leave Gaza through Egypt: Global Affairs Canada

By Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press

Posted October 13, 2023 3:12 pm.

Last Updated October 13, 2023 11:32 pm.

Canada’s foreign affairs minister arrived in Tel Aviv on Friday for a visit to Israel and Jordan, as escalating tensions have hundreds more Canadians asking for help to leave the region.

Of particular concern are the 150 people with a connection to Canada inside the Gaza Strip, meaning Canadian citizens but also their foreign relatives and possibly permanent residents.

Canada’s top official for consular services says there might be a short window of time on Saturday afternoon for Canadians to cross the border into Egypt.

But she said the situation remains volatile.

“We know this has been a terrible week for Canadians in Gaza,” Julie Sunday, the assistant deputy minister for consular, security and emergency management at Global Affairs Canada, told reporters on Friday during a briefing on Parliament Hill.

“It is an incredibly difficult situation there right now.”

She said there are approximately 2,200 Canadian citizens and permanent residents in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank who have asked for consular help in leaving the region. That includes 600 who sought help on Thursday night alone.

Those requests came as Israel’s military told about one million Palestinians to evacuate northern Gaza on Friday and head to the southern part of the sealed-off coastal enclave ahead of an expected ground invasion. The United Nations warned that would be impossible and potentially calamitous on a 24-hour deadline.

In a nationally televised address on Friday, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to destroy Hamas as the army prepares for an expected ground invasion of the Gaza Strip.

Sunday said Ottawa is still assessing how best to instruct Canadians in the territory. She noted that there is no guarantee a crossing that Egypt intends to open at the southern end of Gaza will end up being available.

“We are not going to tell Canadians to move until we know that that is a possibility,” Sunday said.

Meanwhile, military flights from Tel Aviv to Athens continue for Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their families seeking to leave Israel, with the Canadian planes also transporting 28 Israelis from Greece back to their home country.

Canadians are still able to find commercial flights out of Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Sunday said, adding there were “a number of no-shows at the airport” on Thursday.

“Our assessment is that individuals have found alternate routes out and are trying to get out as quickly as possible,” she said.

The war, sparked after Hamas conducted surprise attacks across the Israeli border from Gaza on Saturday, has already claimed more than 2,800 lives on both sides.

Sunday said there are 6,500 Canadians registered in Israel and another 485 in both Palestinian territories of the West Bank and Gaza.

She stressed that Canada’s travel advisories are updated frequently, particularly on how those within these regions can best limit their exposure to danger.

“We are trying to the best of our abilities to give the most accurate information to Canadians.”

Joly is in the region to discuss the impacts of the attack by Hamas on Israel and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

“I’m in Israel to extend Canada’s support to those impacted by the terrorist attack by Hamas,” Joly wrote Friday in a statement on the X platform, formerly Twitter.

“I’ll meet with Canadians who are on their way home and with officials to better understand the situation on the ground and the humanitarian impact on Israeli and Palestinian civilians.”

Alexandre Lévêque, another assistant deputy minister at Global Affairs Canada, said during the briefing that Joly spent a few hours in Israel meeting with her counterpart there. She also spoke with Canadians awaiting an airlift out of Israel, before she went on to Jordan.

The department wrote in a news release that Joly will “reaffirm Canada’s support for Israel and its right to defend itself in accordance with international law,” while pushing forward collective efforts to ensure the swift passage of humanitarian aid and the protection of both Israeli and Palestinian civilians.

It says Joly will also meet with the foreign affairs minister for Jordan.

Joly’s three-day trip comes after militants from Hamas, which Canada considers a terrorist organization, staged a deadly massacre in Israel last Saturday, with ensuing Israeli bombardments killing hundreds in besieged Gaza.

The Trudeau government has urged all parties to respect humanitarian law and says Israel has a right to defend itself, without specifying whether it agrees with the United Nations that Israel is violating international humanitarian law.

Toronto-area Liberal MP Omar Alghabra, who was recently a cabinet minister, said Friday the actions by Hamas were “horrific and unjustifiable,” but added that Palestinians need protection.

“The images of mass destruction of Gaza are horrifying,” he wrote on X.

“Civilians in Gaza are defenceless and Israel has obligations under international law.”

This week, the U.S. government ramped up efforts to press for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza, including asking Israel to change a policy the Netanyahu government describes as a total siege, and asking countries in contact with Hamas to allow for access.

Ireland’s head of government Leo Varadkar went further than most of his western peers, criticizing Israel in an interview that aired Thursday evening. He said Israel is under threat and must defend itself without “targeting civilians” and cutting off infrastructure.

“To me, it amounts to collective punishment. Cutting off power, cutting off fuel supplies and water supplies — that’s not the way a respectable democratic state should conduct itself,” he told RTÉ One.

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon expressed concern and solidarity with everyone affected by the conflict during a Friday event at Rideau Hall to formally welcome various diplomats to Canada, including Israel’s new ambassador.

“I extend our deepest condolences, on behalf of all Canadians, to the people of Israel, to the families of the victims, and to everyone impacted by this tragedy,” she said, according to a written copy of the speech provided by her office.

“Our country supports you and stands firmly with you during this time of crisis. We condemn any and all actions motivated by hate and discrimination.”

— With files from The Associated Press.

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More Canadians approved to leave Gaza for Egypt, but the border is closed again

M ore Canadians were set to make the journey to safety from Gaza at the Rafah crossing with Egypt on Wednesday, only to learn that the border was closed again.

The U.S. State Department said it was closed due to an unspecified "security circumstance."

Global Affairs Canada said late Tuesday that 40 Canadians, permanent residents and family members were on the latest list of those approved to exit the war-torn Gaza Strip, after the first such group of 75 left on Tuesday.

Canadian Mohammed-sharif Alghusain, now in Cairo with his wife and two daughters, said he lost everything he had in Gaza in a single day

"I literally have nothing to go back to, except my parents that I'm trying my best to get out of there," said Alghusain, who is also preoccupied with getting his diabetic daughter some insulin. He said his parents have had one traumatic experience after another.

"The house they were in had 70 people. It was awful, but they had to move again because they heard there would be bombardment beside them. So they had to gather whatever was left and move to another house."

Suhail Saqqa, who has permanent residency in Canada and is on the exit list, talked to CBC News on Wednesday while he and others waited to cross, before news of the latest closure was announced.

He described life in Gaza as "terrible" and "not a place to live anymore." Like so many others, he described looking forward to leaving, but was feeling distressed about the state of the territory since Israel announced its "complete siege" of Gaza in response to the deadly Hamas attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7.

"I'm happy because I'm leaving with my family alive," he said. "I'm not happy because everything's destroyed in our home and Gaza.... They destroyed everything — schools, the houses, the streets, infrastructure, everything has been destroyed."

Mother and newborn baby escape to Egypt

Others spoke of wondering whether an exit would even become a reality. The uncertainty weighed heavily on Ahmad Abualjedian, a visually impaired Canadian permanent resident in Brantford, Ont. His newborn daughter and wife, who were in Gaza, are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Abualjedian learned they were able to leave Gaza on Tuesday and had boarded a bus to the Canadian Embassy in Cairo.

"It's not a dream anymore, it's real. My wife and daughter are very safe now and they'll be joining me here, so what can get better than that?" he told CBC News.

When Abualjedian spoke to CBC News last Thursday, he said Global Affairs couldn't help with a departure for his wife and baby Sila, who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents. A few days later, he said someone from the department called him back and told him they were reopening his file.

In an earlier interview, he said the hospital in Gaza where his daughter was born on Oct. 23 was so crowded that his wife had to give birth on the floor.

On Wednesday, his wife, Yara, spoke of anxiety-filled moments when she went into labour and she and her mother didn't know whether they would be able to reach a hospital in Gaza. Once they arrived, she said she ended up giving birth in the waiting room.

Other Canadians, like Hussam Alaloul, spoke on the Gaza side of the border of how they were looking forward to reuniting with family. 

"I have so many relatives in London, Ont., and Canada, and I thought I would never have the chance to meet with them again," Alaloul said.

Canada's ambassador to Egypt said getting everyone out will not be easy.

"That's going to be a real challenge," Louis Dumas said. "Honestly, I want to be realistic and I don't want to over-promise, but it's going to be a long process. So we have to keep in mind that we have hundreds [of Canadians] still in Gaza."

"Canada does not determine when or how many persons can cross each day," Global Affairs said in a late afternoon statement on Tuesday. "As the situation is quite fluid and unpredictable, Canadians should be prepared for significant delays at the Rafah border.''

"Canadians who were at the border today for crossing were contacted, and we are hopeful the border will reopen tomorrow to allow them to cross. Canada does not determine when or how many persons can cross each day," Global Affairs said in a statement Wednesday.

The government of Egypt will allow those who cross into Egypt from Gaza to stay in the country for a maximum of 72 hours, the statement said.

"Canadian officials are on the Egyptian side of the border to facilitate transportation to Cairo by bus and help with onward travel to Canada. While in Cairo, Canada will provide accommodation, food and basic necessities to those who cross from Gaza into Egypt," it said. 

The crossing was first opened to foreign nationals last Wednesday under an apparent agreement between the United States, Egypt, Israel and Qatar, which mediates with Hamas. The border was closed on the weekend and reopened late on Monday to some foreigners.

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The Canadian government warns residents to avoid nonessential travel outside the country.

In response to the spread of Omicron, Canada is also ramping up distribution of booster doses and rapid antigen tests.

• Share full article

By Vjosa Isai

• Dec. 15, 2021

For travelers from Canada who are unclear what to do about holiday plans in international destinations, the federal government issued new guidance on Wednesday that could tip the scales: Consider canceling your trip.

Since early November, Canada has seen a steady rebound in coronavirus cases, according to a Dec. 10 epidemiology report published by the country’s public health agency. Now, with the rise of the Omicron variant — which spurred travel restrictions around the globe connected to several countries in southern Africa — the Canadian government has issued an advisory against all nonessential travel just over a week before Christmas.

“To those who were planning to travel, I say very clearly, now is not the time to travel,” the country’s health minister, Jean-Yves Duclos, said at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.

The advisory will be in effect for four weeks and will then be re-evaluated. The government also plans to increase testing at the border, Mr. Duclos said, and will provide more detail in future announcements.

The Dec. 10 epidemiology report also shows that fewer than 1 percent of Covid-19 infections were contracted during international travel and that fewer than 1 percent were linked to an exposure to someone who had traveled.

Yet Mr. Duclos said avoiding travel was smart because Canadians abroad may not be able to gain access to health care if they get sick during travel.

“The situation abroad is already dire in many places,” Mr. Duclos said. “Once they have left Canada, there is very little we can do to help them.”

Fully vaccinated Canadians traveling by air or land for less than 72 hours will still be able to return home without providing proof of a negative coronavirus test, the country’s transportation minister, Omar Alghabra, said.

Over 76 percent of Canadians are fully vaccinated, according to federal data , with unvaccinated patients accounting for more than three-quarters of hospitalizations and deaths reported to the public health agency as of November.

As the holidays near, the country’s most populated province, Ontario , is recommending that personal gatherings be limited to 25 people as cases mount, fueled in part by the spread of new variants, including Omicron, which is estimated to infect 7.7 times as many people as the Delta variant, provincial health experts reported .

Provinces are racing to offer booster doses and free rapid antigen tests to Canadians through the holiday season, with an inventory of 16 million booster doses currently available and 35 million rapid tests scheduled for distribution by the federal government.

Update April 12, 2024

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Egypt Travel Advisory

Travel advisory july 13, 2023, egypt - level 3: reconsider travel.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Reconsider travel to Egypt due to  terrorism . Exercise increased caution in Egypt due to  the Embassy’s limited ability to assist dual national U.S.-Egyptian citizens who are arrested or detained.

Do not travel to:

• The Sinai Peninsula (with the exception of travel to Sharm El-Sheikh by air) due to  terrorism .
• The Western Desert due to  terrorism .
• Egyptian border areas due to  military zones .

Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Egypt. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, and have targeted diplomatic facilities, tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, western businesses, restaurants, resorts, and local government facilities. Terrorists have conducted attacks in urban areas, including in Cairo, despite the heavy security presence. Terrorists have targeted religious sites, to include mosques, churches, monasteries, and buses traveling to these locations.

Due to risks to civil aviation operating within or in the vicinity of Egypt, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). For more information U.S. citizens should consult the  Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices .

Local law prohibits protesting or demonstrating without a permit. Being near anti-government protests can draw scrutiny from Egyptian police and security forces. U.S. citizens have been detained for participating in protests and for posting content on social media perceived as critical of Egypt or its allies.

The U.S. Embassy may have a limited ability to provide consular services to dual U.S.-Egyptian citizens. Egyptian law considers dual citizens to be Egyptian citizens.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Egypt.

If you decide to travel to Egypt:  

• Stay alert in locations frequented by Westerners.
• Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
• Obtain comprehensive medical insurance that includes medical evacuation.
• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)   to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on   Facebook   and   Twitter .
• Review the  Country Security Report   for Egypt.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest   Travel Health Information  related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the   Traveler’s Checklist .

Sinai Peninsula – Level 4: Do Not Travel The Sinai Peninsula remains a particularly dangerous area, with frequent attacks on security forces and civilians.

The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens anywhere in the Sinai Peninsula as U.S. government employees are not authorized to travel to these areas (with the exception of the beach resort of Sharm El-Sheikh; travel to Sharm El-Sheikh is only permitted by air). Visit our website for  Travel to High-Risk Areas .

Travel Advisory Levels

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• Passports, travel and living abroad
• Travel abroad
• Foreign travel advice

Warnings and insurance

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office ( FCDO ) provides advice about risks of travel to help British nationals make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice .

Areas where FCDO advises against travel

Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice. Consular support is also severely limited where FCDO advises against travel.

Egypt-Libya border

FCDO advises against all travel to within 20km of the Egypt-Libya border, except for the town of El Salloum (where we advise against all but essential travel).

North Sinai

FCDO advises against all travel to the Governorate of North Sinai.

Northern part of South Sinai

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the northern part of the Governorate of South Sinai, beyond the St Catherine-Nuweibaa road, except for the coastal areas along the west and east of the peninsula.

The eastern part of Ismailiyah Governorate

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Ismailiyah Governorate east of the Suez Canal.

Western Desert

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the area west of the Nile Valley and Nile Delta regions, except for:

• Luxor, Qina, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings
• the Governorate of Faiyum
• the coastal areas between the Nile Delta and Marsa Matruh
• the Marsa Matruh-Siwa Road
• the oasis town of Siwa
• the Giza Governorate north-east of the Bahariya Oasis
• the road between Giza and Farafra (but we advise against all but essential travel on the road between Bahariya and Siwa)
• Bahariya Oasis, Farafra, the White Desert and Black Desert

Hala’ib Triangle and Bir Tawil Trapezoid

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Hala’ib Triangle and the Bir Tawil Trapezoid.

Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel .

Conflict in neighbouring Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs)

The Israeli government has declared a state of emergency across the whole country. International borders in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) could close at short notice. As a result, the land border into Israel from Egypt at Taba could close with little notice. Check with local authorities and consult the travel advice for  Israel  and the  Occupied Palestinian Territories  before trying to cross the border.

In response to events in Israel and the OPTs, a number of demonstrations have taken place in Egypt and protests have been planned, including after Friday prayers. Demonstrations could take place at short notice, with a heavy security presence in place. You should avoid large gatherings, demonstrations and protests. See  Safety and security

Entering Egypt from Gaza

The Rafah border crossing partially opened on 1 November. This is primarily to facilitate the evacuation of seriously wounded Palestinians and some foreign nationals. We understand that the crossing will continue to be open for controlled and time-limited periods to allow specific groups of foreign nationals, including British nationals, to cross. It is for the Egyptian and Israeli authorities to determine who is permitted to cross, and when. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will contact Embassies to let them know when their foreign nationals can cross. Should we receive notification from the Israeli and Egyptian authorities that individuals are permitted to cross, we will notify those people individually.

Movement to the Rafah crossing and beyond is at your own risk. You should only travel if you judge it is safe to do so. Check the  Israel and The Occupied Palestinian Territories travel advice.

The Egyptian authorities have said all aid going into Gaza from Egypt must be channelled through the Egyptian Red Crescent:

• telephone: + 20 226 703 979, + 20 226 703 983
• fax: + 20 226 703 967

They are unlikely to consider requests for humanitarian access made in Egypt at short notice.

Concern for friends and family

If you are concerned about friends or family, or need consular assistance call:

• British Embassy Cairo on + 20 (0)2 2791 6000
• +44 1767 667 600  (UK number) if you experience technical difficulties with the above number

Incidents in South Sinai  

On 27 October, an Egyptian Armed Forces spokesperson confirmed that an unidentified drone fell near a medical facility in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Taba next to the Israeli border, injuring six people. An additional unidentified drone also struck outside the town of Nuweiba, though no casualties have been confirmed. The authorities are conducting ongoing investigations.

Incident in Alexandria

On 8 October 2023, an Egyptian police officer is reported to have shot and killed two Israeli tourists and an Egyptian tour guide in Alexandria. A third tourist was injured. Remain vigilant and exercise caution at tourist and religious sites, as well as public gatherings. Find out more information on current risks on the  Safety and security .

Border crossings from Sudan

There are still people trying to cross the border into Egypt at Argeen and Qustul. Our ability to provide consular assistance is very limited.

If you are a British national and have crossed the border without valid documentation, contact the British Embassy in Cairo for consular assistance on + 20 (0)2 2791 6000.

Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide as well as support for British nationals abroad which includes:

• advice on preparing for travel abroad and reducing risks
• information for women, LGBT+ and disabled travellers

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram . You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance . Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

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Israel’s war on Gaza updates: ‘Biggest catastrophe’ facing Palestinians

‘New momentum’ reported in ceasefire talks as Hamas delegation flies to Egypt to give its response to latest proposal.

This live page is now closed. You can follow all the latest developments our new live page here .

• Palestinian President Abbas appeals to the US to help stop Israel’s planned invasion of Rafah as Israeli attacks kill 66 people in last 24 hours.
• Diplomatic efforts intensify to reach a ceasefire in Gaza as a Hamas delegation heads to Egypt after news reports suggest Israel may be considering a “sustainable” truce.
• Israeli military’s chief of staff approves plans for the “continuation of war” as hardline ministers warn PM Netanyahu his government will collapse if a truce is agreed on.
• At least 34,454 Palestinians killed and 77,575 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attacks stands at 1,139 with dozens of people still held captive in Gaza.

That’s a wrap from us

Thank you for joining us here for updates on everything related to Israel’s war on Gaza.

This live page is now closed.

You can follow all the latest developments on our new live page here .

Palestinian woman killed in Israeli air raid on Rafah: Report

Wafa news agency reports that a Palestinian woman was killed and others have been injured in an Israeli air raid on Rafah .

It stated that Israeli jets bombed a house in a neighbourhood east of Rafah.

Earlier, Wafa reported that a Palestinian was killed and others were injured after Israeli air strikes targeted a vehicle in the northern Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Israeli FM warns of ‘wave of severe antisemitism’ if ICC issues arrest warrants

Israel Katz, has “instructed all Israeli missions worldwide today [Sunday, April 28] to prepare immediately for a wave of severe antisemitism, anti-Jewish, and anti-Israeli outbreaks” in response to the possible ICC arrest warrants we reported on earlier.

“Due to the severity of the threat to Jewish communities abroad, Foreign Minister Katz also instructed to involve Jewish organizations abroad in the need to prepare for such events, including coordinating the enhancement of security around Jewish institutions with the authorities,” a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The ministry quoted Katz as saying, “We expect the court to prevent the issuance of arrest warrants against senior Israeli officials in the political and security echelons.”

Jewish voices divided at City University of New York protest encampment

Reporting from New York

I will say that this movement has divided not just the nation but also the Jewish community.

There was a group of Orthodox Jews who were supporting the protest. One of them burned his Israeli passport.

I also spoke to a man who said he was a former Israeli soldier, he had been in Gaza, and he disagreed with the protests and was critical of Hamas.

He tried to get into this protest but was ejected and police had to escort him to their car. They didn’t arrest him but said it was for his own safety.

Inside this protest, you don’t see division at all. Everybody here is very supportive of this student movement. You can see all the tents, which are increasing, as are the protests. It is a Sunday afternoon  and there are a lot of people here.

Qatar ambassador to US rejects claims of links with campus protests

Meshal Hamad Al Thani has said that Qatar is not financially backing protests on US college campuses, despite accusations to the contrary.

“Qatar is not a large donor to U.S. universities. The Qatar Foundation pays the costs for six U.S. universities to maintain faculty and operate campuses in Qatar, educating and awarding degrees to women and men from Qatar and others who wish to study there,” he wrote in a post on X.

“These are not donations,” he said. “Qatar does not influence these universities, and we have nothing to do with anything that happens on their home campuses in the U.S.”

Regarding media reports alleging some link between Qatar and recent events on U.S. university campuses, it is important to get the facts straight. Qatar is not a large donor to U.S. universities. 1/3 — Meshal Hamad AlThani (@Amb_AlThani) April 28, 2024

Blinken to travel to Jordan and Israel

The US State Department says the Secretary of State will expand his trip to the Middle East and continue onto Jordan and Israel after visiting Saudi Arabia.

In a statement, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Blinken will focus on efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, which will see the release of captives and ensure that humanitarian aid into the besieged coastal enclave continues and increases.

Photos: Day 11 of the pro-Palestine encampment at Columbia University

WATCH: Will it be safe for Palestinians in Gaza to return and rebuild their homes?

The United Nations warns it could take 14 years to clear the rubble and unexploded bombs in Gaza after describing the state of the besieged enclave as “unprecedented levels of destruction” since the start of the war in October.

Al Jazeera’s Inside Story speaks to experts about whether it will be safe for people to return and rebuild their homes once the war is over.

Watch the discussion below:

Hamas delegation to visit Cairo on Monday for ceasefire talks

A Hamas official has told Reuters news agency that the delegation will discuss a ceasefire proposal handed by the group to mediators from Qatar and Egypt, as well as Israel’s response.

Another senior Hamas official said the delegation will fly to Cairo from Doha, adding it will be led by Khalil Al-Hayya, deputy to Hamas’s Gaza chief.

The talks will take place between the Hamas delegation and the Qatari and the Egyptian mediators to discuss remarks the group has made over the Israeli response to its recent proposal.

Biden reiterated position on Rafah in call with Netanyahu

The White House says US President Joe Biden spoke with the Israeli PM and “reiterated his clear position” on a possible invasion of the Gaza border city of Rafah.

A statement issued by the White House did not give more details of that part of the conversation.

Washington has said that it could not support a Rafah operation without an appropriate and credible humanitarian plan.

Speaking earlier, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Israel had agreed to listen to US concerns and thoughts before it launches an invasion.

Several of Israel’s allies, the United Nations and major NGOs have urged Israel not to invade the southern Gaza Strip city, in which hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians are currently sheltering.

Earlier, we reported that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said only the US could stop Israel from launching the ground invasion of Rafah.

LISTEN: What it means to give birth in Gaza

Lubna al-Rayyes dreamed about having a child. When she found out that meant having a Caesarean section in Gaza, her dream became a nightmare.

Israel’s war on Gaza has shut down maternity wards. She had two choices: deliver on her own, or find a way out.

WATCH: Is starvation an Israeli weapon in Gaza?

As the world waits for a ceasefire and a permanent end to the bloody conflict, the question arises: “What will the day after look like for Gaza once the war is over?”

Sigrid Kaag, UN senior humanitarian and reconstruction coordinator for Gaza, talks to Al Jazeera:

Could Netanyahu also face arrest in Israel?

We have reported on the possible arrest warrant by the ICC for Israeli PM Netanyahu. Israel is not a member of the court and does not recognise its jurisdiction.

However, the embattled PM is currently in the midst of a domestic corruption trial in which he has been charged with fraud, bribery and breach of trust in three cases filed in 2019.

If convicted in a bribery case, he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in jail.

Netanyahu has denied the charges and claimed that the indictments were part of a politically charged witch-hunt by rivals.

Netanyahu has been accused of using a controversial judicial overhaul plan – which has sparked more than a year of protests in Israel – to circumvent his legal troubles.

Photos: Students set up protest encampment at McGill University in Canada

Israeli gov’t received indications ICC could issue arrest warrant for Netanyahu, ministers: Report

The Israeli government has received indications from senior legal officials that the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor is considering issuing arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including PM Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a report by Israel’s Channel 12.

The ICC is currently investigating Israel’s actions in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

In addition to Netanyahu, these investigations could lead to arrest warrants being issued for Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.

The Israeli newspaper Maariv also reported that Netanyahu is “frightened and unusually stressed” by the possibility of an ICC arrest warrant.

On Friday, Netanyahu posted on X that under his leadership, “Israel will never accept any attempt by the ICC to undermine its inherent right of self-defense”.

The ICC case is separate from several ongoing cases against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), including one brought by South Africa that alleges that Israel is committing the crime of genocide in its continuing war on Gaza .

The ICJ was created to resolve conflicts between states; the ICC prosecutes individuals for crimes.

LISTEN: What are the challenges of clearing tonnes of rubble from Gaza?

The United Nations says clearing the debris from Israel’s war on Gaza will be a huge challenge that could take 14 years. Unexploded munitions will also make this a dangerous task.

So, what will this mean for the millions of Palestinians who hope to return to their homes? Listen to the discussion below:

Palestinian killed in Israeli strike on Nuseirat refugee camp

Wafa news agency reports that a Palestinian was killed and others were injured after Israeli air strikes targeted a vehicle in the northern Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.

Citing local sources, the news agency said an Israeli drone fired a missile targeting a vehicle in the camp north of Nuseirat, adding that Israeli artillery also shelled the western areas of the city of Beit Lahiya in the north of Gaza.

Israeli forces detained 15 Palestinians in occupied West Bank

According to the Commission of Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society, the detainees included a girl, two children, and former prisoners.

The detentions took place in Tulkarem, Qalqiliya, Jenin, Tubas, Salfit, Jericho and occupied East Jerusalem overnight.

“This brings the number of Palestinians detained by Israeli forces since October 7 to 8,495,” the organisations said.

Sixteen detainees have died in Israeli prisons since that time, the organisations added. The bodies of all but one are being withheld by Israeli authorities, preventing families from burying them.

WATCH: What role do US tech giants play in powering Israeli war crimes?

US tech giants, including Google, Meta and Amazon, face pushback from their workers for supporting the Israeli military.

After Amazon and Google signed a $1.2bn contract to launch Project Nimbus , providing cloud technology to the Israeli government and the military, tech workers started to notice more Israeli use of artificial intelligence against the Palestinian people.

Watch the latest episode of The Bottom Line below:

Students protesting Israel’s war on Gaza being punished by US universities

Hundreds of students in the US are being arrested, suspended, put on probation and, in rare cases, expelled from their universities for participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, with many still waiting to hear the full consequences of their actions, The Associated Press reports.

Last week, more than 100 faculty members at Columbia University and affiliated Barnard College staged a “Rally to Support Our Students”, condemning the arrests and demanding suspensions be lifted.

Crackdowns continued at a handful of campuses on Saturday, including a lockdown at the University of Southern California and a heavy police presence. More than 200 people were arrested at a handful of schools including 80 late on Saturday at Washington University in St Louis.

At issue is whether universities and law enforcement will clear the students of charges, or whether the suspensions and legal records will follow them into their adult lives.

Hezbollah military compound destroyed: Israeli military

The Israeli military says that it destroyed Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon’s Aita al-Shaab area, and  that two rockets were recently launched from Lebanon towards the area of Har Dov in northern Israel.

Since October 8 , the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and the Israeli military have traded fire regularly.

You can read our in-depth analysis of these cross-border attacks here .

Gaza aid pier to become operational in ‘two-three weeks’

The White House says a US-made pier it says will boost aid to Gaza will become operational in a few weeks.

“It will take probably two to three weeks before we can really see an operation,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on ABC News.

Kirby said that while the pier will bring more food and other essentials into Gaza, it has limits.

“Nothing can replace the ground routes and the trucks that are getting in,” Kirby said.

Palestinian Christians pray on Orthodox Palm Sunday in Gaza City

‘Israel operates with full adherence to all laws of war’: Minister

An Israeli official has hit out at the International Criminal Court as news reports suggest it will soon issue arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and army chief Herzi Halevi.

“There’s nothing more distorted than attempting to prevent Israel from defending itself against a murderous enemy openly calling for the destruction of the state of Israel,” said Foreign Minister Israel Katz in a warning to diplomatic staff abroad.

“If the warrants are issued, they will harm [Israeli army] commanders and soldiers and encourage the Hamas terror organization and the radical Islamic axis led by Iran against whom we are fighting,” Katz added .

“Israel operates with full adherence to all laws of war … accompanied by a robust and independent legal system, and provides extensive humanitarian aid to the population in Gaza in collaboration with international bodies, even though Hamas uses the population as human shields, attacks, and complicates the delivery of aid.”

White House calls for ‘peaceful’ university protests as hundreds are arrested

The White House says pro-Palestinian protests that have rocked US universities in recent weeks must remain peaceful after police arrested 275 people on four separate campuses over the weekend.

“We certainly respect the right of peaceful protests,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told ABC’s This Week programme.

The wave of demonstrations began at Columbia University in New York, but has since spread rapidly across the country – even globally.

While peace has prevailed in many campuses, the number of protesters detained – at times by police in riot gear using chemical irritants and tasers – is rising fast.

They include 100 at Northeastern University in Boston, 80 at Washington University in St Louis, 72 at Arizona State University, and 23 at Indiana University.

Among those arrested at Washington University was Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein, who faulted police for aggressive tactics she said provoked the sort of trouble they are meant to quell.