Compare Egypt travel insurance

Offering plenty of sunshine, beautiful beaches, awe-inspiring ancient sites and culture, Egypt attracts thousands of British visitors every month.

If you’re planning a trip to the land of the pharaohs, here’s what you need to know to find the right Egypt travel insurance to cover your holiday, flights and medical treatment.

Offering plenty of sunshine, beautiful beaches, awe-inspiring ancient sites and culture, Egypt attracts thousands of British visitors every month.

If you’re planning a trip to the land of the pharaohs, here’s what you need to know to find the right Egypt travel insurance to cover your holiday, flights and medical treatment.

Written by

Rebecca Goodman

Insurance expert

Last Updated

5 MAY 2023

9 min read

Do I need travel insurance for Egypt?

Travel insurance isn’t a legal requirement for holidays to Egypt, but it’s highly recommended that you get cover for medical costs, holiday cancellations, lost luggage, and theft.

Private healthcare facilities in Egyptian holiday resorts and bigger cities like Cairo can be of a high standard, but they also tend to be expensive. Meanwhile, the standard of public healthcare is typically well below what you might expect. And you won’t be covered for treatment by your GHIC/EHIC card in Egypt.

The crime rate in Egypt is low, but holidaymakers do sometimes experience pickpocketing and even armed robberies and muggings. Egypt travel insurance can cover the cost of replacing your personal belongings if they are stolen while on holiday.

What travel insurance do I need for Egypt?

It depends on your holiday plans. If your trip to Egypt is your one holiday abroad this year, then a single trip policy could be your best bet. On the other hand, if you’re planning several trips abroad in the next 12 months, you could get a cheaper deal by choosing annual multi-trip cover.

If your holiday to Egypt is part of a longer gap year adventure in Africa or Asia, you may need extended trip travel insurance – also known as backpacker insurance. Or, if you’re going to Egypt with your nearest and dearest, you could save time and hassle by choosing a family travel insurance policy.

Is Egypt in Europe for insurance purposes?

Although Egypt is not in the EU, many insurance providers treat Egypt as Europe, meaning that European travel insurance could provide the cover you need. However, some classify the country as part of the Middle East or North Africa, meaning it falls into the worldwide policy group.

When you get a quote, make it clear that you’re travelling to Egypt. Don’t buy European travel insurance without checking it meets your needs.

What does Egypt travel insurance cover?

Policies vary but travel insurance for Egypt typically includes:

Medical costs – to cover necessary medical treatment if you get injured or fall ill while on holiday.
Repatriation – to get you back to the UK in a medical emergency, and in some cases, to cover accommodation and travel costs for a friend or relative to stay with you during treatment and repatriation.
Holiday cancellation – to cover your expenses if you have to cancel your trip due to an unforeseen reason, such as illness or the death of a relative.
Travel disruption – in case events out of your control, like bad weather or strikes, cause you to miss a flight or connection.
Lost, stolen or damaged luggage – to cover the cost of replacing or repairing your baggage and personal belongings.
Coronavirus cover – in case you need to cancel your trip because you have tested positive for COVID-19 or you catch it while you’re away. When you compare policies with us, it’s easy to filter your results for different levels of COVID-19 cover.

What won’t Egypt travel insurance cover?

While your insurance can provide cover for many of the unexpected costs you might face while travelling in Egypt, there are some common exceptions to be aware of:

Pre-existing medical conditions – you won’t be able to make a claim for any pre-existing conditions you haven’t told your insurance provider about, and failing to mention them when you apply could invalidate your policy.
Injuries or accidents resulting from high-risk activities – some travel insurance policies will cover popular activities like scuba-diving as standard, but it’s important to check your policy carefully and arrange extra cover if necessary.
Incidents related to drugs or alcohol – resorts such as Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada are popular for their all-inclusive hotel packages, but with the alcohol flowing freely, bear in mind that claims as a result of being under the influence are likely to be rejected.
Breaking the law – you won’t be covered for any claims related to committing a crime. It’s worth noting that as a predominantly Muslim country, local laws in Egypt can vary significantly from the UK.
Terrorism – the FCDO advises that terrorist attacks are a threat in Egypt. Check your policy as cover may be limited.
Natural disasters – you may have some cover if a natural disaster impacts your trip, but read your policy carefully to be sure.

There are areas of Egypt the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has advised against all travel to. In other areas, essential travel only is advised.

If you travel against FCDO advice, your policy is unlikely to be valid, and you won’t be able to make a claim. See the latest FCDO recommendations. This advice can change at any time so make sure you check regularly.

What else should I consider when choosing my travel insurance for Egypt?

Think about what activities you plan to do in Egypt. You may want extra insurance to cover:

Extreme sports like bungee jumping, desert biking and kite surfing. If you’re planning a camel ride, check it’s covered by your insurance.
Water sports if you want to try scuba diving, snorkelling, stand-up paddle boarding or water-skiing. Some water sports may be covered by standard travel insurance, so check your policy.
Taking a cruise if sailing along the Nile is part of your itinerary.

You can typically add extra cover to your travel policy for an additional cost or look for specialist policies that cover the activities you want to do.

It doesn’t usually cost much more to add extra cover and it can be a lot less than the price of paying out for medical treatment if you do need to claim.

Just make sure to check - you guessed it - the small print. Providers have different rules when it comes to activities such as water sports, so while one may consider an activity as risky, another might not cover it at all.

Do I need a visa for Egypt?

British passport holders usually need a visa for Egypt. You can get a visa before you travel using the Visa2Egypt portal and it will be valid for up to three months.

Alternatively, you can buy a visa from authorised kiosks in the airport arrival halls before you go through immigration and passport control. It costs $25 to get a visa, typically payable in US dollars, although you may also be able to pay in sterling.

If you’re travelling to resorts in Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba and Taba, you’ll receive a free permission stamp on arrival, which is valid for 15 days. If you’re staying for longer or planning to travel outside the resort area, you’ll need a visa.

Customers with pre-existing medical conditions

If you have a serious health condition, your travel insurance is likely to be more expensive. Whatever happens, don’t lie to an insurance provider, because this could mean your claim is rejected. When you declare any medical conditions on our website, we’ll only show you quotes from insurance providers who will cover them, with no exclusions.

If your condition is more serious, MoneyHelper has a directory of insurance providers who may be able to provide quotes over the phone. You can call them on 0800 138 7777.

Any other tips for travelling to Egypt?

You’ve waited a long time for this trip — years in some cases because of the pandemic — and it’s almost time to jet off. But before you go, here are a few tips to help you enjoy your trip to Egypt.

Medication

Some prescribed and over-the-counter medicines are considered controlled substances in Egypt. That means you’ll need prior permission from Egypt’s ministry of health to bring them into the country. If you don’t, you could be refused entry or even face prosecution under Egyptian law.

Contact the Egyptian embassy in London if you have concerns about the medication you’re taking with you.

If you’re taking prescription medication, ask your GP for an official letter confirming:

What medication you’re taking
Details of the condition the medication is treating
The quantity of medicine you’re taking,
That the medicine is for personal use only.

Vaccinations

NHS Fit for Travel advises that you consider the following vaccinations or boosters for travel to Egypt:

Hepatitis A (usually free on the NHS)
Hepatitis B
Rabies
Typhoid
Tetanus
Poliomyelitis.

You can get hepatitis A from contaminated food and water, so make sure you drink bottled water, not tap.

Currency

The official currency is the Egyptian pound (£E), although many hotels and tour operators readily accept US dollars and euros. ATMs can be found in the main tourist areas and most hotels and restaurants accept the major credit cards.

Language

The official language of Egypt is Arabic, but English is widely spoken, especially in the main tourist areas.

Drinking and drugs

It’s illegal to drink alcohol anywhere that isn’t licensed. Drinking in the street could get you arrested.
Note that possession or use of drugs is a serious offence in Egypt and can lead to lengthy prison sentences (25 years), life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Ramadan

Be aware of this holy month while travelling to Egypt, a traditionally Islamic country. During this time, Muslims will fast from sunrise until sunset. If you’re out in a public place during Ramadan, respect this tradition and avoid eating, drinking and smoking.

Dress code

Be respectful and aware of local customs, which include dressing modestly in public places, particularly in more rural areas, mosques and markets.

LGBT travellers

Although homosexuality is not explicitly criminalised in Egypt, it is not widely accepted, and public shows of affection are likely to receive unwelcome attention outside of the tourist resorts. Note that people have been arrested under the charge of ‘debauchery’ in Egypt for waving rainbow flags.

Women travellers

Take extra care when travelling alone in Egypt as a woman, particularly at night. As well as unwanted attention, British women have been the victim of sexual assault and harassment in Egypt.

ID

It’s recommended that you always keep a form of photo ID on you while in Egypt.

Photography

Be careful what you snap. You’ll need written permission to take photos of any Egyptian citizens and taking photos of children is absolutely prohibited.

Taking photos of any government buildings, infrastructure, churches and religious buildings is also prohibited and could lead to you being arrested. If in any doubt get permission before you take photos.

Tipping

As a tourist, you’ll be expected to tip hotel staff, waiting staff and even tour guides. It’s not customary to tip taxi drivers though.

How much is travel insurance for Egypt?

A 20-year-old with no pre-existing medical conditions could get travel insurance for a week in Europe for £8^[1].

Worldwide travel insurance for a week away could cost £16^[2].

But the price you’ll pay for Egypt travel insurance depends on several factors, including your age, how long you’re away for and what activities you’re planning to do.

Here are some tips to help you find cheap travel insurance to Egypt:

Only get cover for what you need – don’t pay for add-ons like gadget cover and extreme sports cover if you don’t need them.
Consider annual travel insurance if you’re travelling on more than one holiday a year, it could work out cheaper.
Compare quotes – don’t settle for the first policy you see, check what else is out there to make sure you’re getting the best deal for your Egypt holiday.

^[1]Based on Comparethemarket data for a single trip travel policy for a 20 year-old with no pre-existing medical conditions travelling in Europe for 1 week. Prices correct as of March 2023.

^[2]Based on Comparethemarket data for a worldwide travel insurance policy for a 20 year-old with no pre-existing medical conditions travelling for 1 week. Prices correct as of March 2023.