Sinai only visa: what the Sharm El Sheikh entry stamp covers and when you need a full visa
If you fly into Sharm El Sheikh for a resort holiday, you can usually get a free Sinai only entry stamp on arrival. It is valid for the resorts of South Sinai and for a short stay; anything beyond that, such as a trip to Cairo, Hurghada or Luxor, needs a full visa. Entry rules change often, so everything below was checked on 15 October 2026 and you should check the current rules before you travel.
What the Sinai only stamp is
The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) describes it like this: if you arrive by air at Sharm El Sheikh and stay less than 15 days at resorts in Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba, you do not need a visa and you receive a free entry permission stamp at the airport. Wikipedia, citing the Egyptian consulate in the UK, gives the same picture for citizens of EU states, the United Kingdom and the United States: up to 15 days, free of charge, for the Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba resorts without leaving them.
A small number of operators in Sharm still speak of 14 days, so look at the dates on your own stamp and treat that as the limit.
Who gets it: EU, UK, US and Russian or Ukrainian passports
The official wording names citizens of the EU, the UK and the US. For Russian and Ukrainian passport holders no official page we could open confirms the stamp. According to our local partner companies in Sharm (October 2026), Russian and Ukrainian citizens receive the Sinai entry stamp for about one month, 28 to 30 days, which is longer than the 15 days quoted for EU, UK and US passports. Treat that as practical experience rather than a rule, and check the current requirements for your passport before you fly.
Where the Sinai only stamp does not work
The stamp covers the coastal strip of the Sinai peninsula from Sharm El Sheikh through Dahab and Nuweiba to Taba. It does not cover Cairo, Hurghada, Luxor, Marsa Alam or a Nile cruise, and it does not cover a stay longer than the stamp allows. The FCDO says that if you plan to travel outside the resorts or stay more than 15 days, you must get a visa, which you can buy at Sharm El Sheikh airport or online. One practical consequence: if your return flight leaves from Cairo or Hurghada, you need a full visa.
Two places are disputed, so we do not promise either way. St Catherine and Mount Sinai: some sources say the stamp covers them, but the FCDO list names only the four resort areas. Ras Mohammed National Park: a Sharm dive centre says it is covered, while older guidebook material says it is not, and we found no current official text. If either is on your plan, ask the park or your tour operator before you travel, and check the current rules.
Full visa: on arrival or online
The FCDO says approved airports have kiosks before the immigration counters where you can buy a physical visa for 30 US dollars, cash only, valid for up to 30 days. The price rose from 25 to 30 US dollars on 1 March 2026. You do not need to buy a visa from an agent, and agents often charge more than 30 US dollars; if someone pressures you in the terminal, the tourist police are in the terminal building. An online e-visa is also available and the FCDO says it is valid for up to three months. Fees change, so check the amount on the official portal on the day.
Whichever you choose, your passport must be valid for at least six months from the day you arrive and have at least one blank page.
If you drive: what to carry on the road
Police check identity documents regularly, and the FCDO says you may be detained if you cannot show your ID and your visa, or a digital or paper copy. In practice that means carrying your passport with the entry stamp whenever you drive, especially on the Sharm to Dahab road with its checkpoints, alongside your licence and the rental papers.
The request form on Charm Rental does not ask which entry type you have, and it does not depend on it. What the stamp changes is where you may go. Separately, the FCDO advises against all but essential travel in the northern part of South Sinai beyond the St Catherine to Nuweiba road, except the coastal areas. If you plan a longer route, write it in your request and ask the rental company to confirm that the car may be driven there.