What is important to know about moving to Egypt from Russia

Egypt is one of the most popular tourist destinations among Russians. The country with a hot tropical climate and ancient history is washed by two seas: the Mediterranean and the Red. It has simple entry rules and fairly low prices, so Egypt seems like an attractive option for expats. But life in the country has tangible disadvantages.

Documentation

For Russians to visit Egypt needOn the rules for the stay of foreign citizens in Egypt / Consulate General of Russia in Hurghada entry visa. You can apply for it at the embassy, ​​online at the official portal or at the country's airports immediately upon arrival. In order not to waste time in the queue after the flight, it is better to use the first two methods and make a visa in advance. It will be ready in about 7 days.

An entry visa entitles you to stay in Egypt for up to 30 days. Its cost is $25. If you are going to the resorts of the South Sinai province, then you will not have to pay for a visa. Upon arrival, you will receive a free "Sinai stamp". It is allowed to stay in this region for up to 15 days.

On the same portal, you can apply for a multiple entry visa for $60. It is valid for 6 months, but the period of permanent stay in Egypt remains the same as with a one-time option - 30 days. That is, within six months, you can enter the country six times.

In addition to a visa, you will need international passport and a negative PCR test, rapid test, or COVID-19 vaccination certificate.

PCR test needOn the entry, exit and stay of Russians in Egypt / Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Arab Republic of Egypt done no later than 72 hours before entering the country. The certificate should be with a QR code with patient data in English or Arabic.

Instead of PCR, you can take a rapid test for antigen. It must be done no later than 24 hours before entry. The requirements are the same: a QR code with patient data and a translation into English or Arabic.

For those who have been vaccinated with Sputnik V or another drug approved by WHO, a certificate of vaccination is sufficient. The document must be in English, with a QR code and passport data. The second dose of the vaccine must be received at least 14 days prior to entry.

Children under 12 years of age do not need a PCR test and a certificate of vaccination, an antigen test is sufficient.

On the plane or airport you will be given declaration about the state of health. In it you need to specify your passport data, information about the flight and availability coronavirus symptoms.

An entry visa can be extended free of charge for another 30 days at the gauzet, the office of the Egyptian Passport and Visa Service.

If you stay in the country longer than two months, apply for a temporary tourist residence permit. To do this, contact the houselet with the following documents: an application form (the form will be issued on the spot), a copy of the basis document (for example, long-term rental agreement), two copies of the first page of the passport and the page with a valid visa, as well as two photographs 3 × 4 cm.

After receiving the application, a stamp “waiting for a visa” is put in the passport. You can stay with him in the country until a decision is made on issuing a residence permit. The document itself will be valid for six months, and its execution will take about 2 months.

A non-tourist residence permit is also available to a foreigner. To do this, you need to have reasons, for example, to receive an official invitation to work, to study in Egypt, to join marriage with a citizen of the country or buy real estate worth more than 50 thousand dollars. A non-tourist residence permit is issued for 1 year, but it can be extended several times.

Road

Egypt can be reached by plane. Now there are direct flights from Moscow and Sochi, the flight takes about 5 hours. For the next dates, it will be possible to take tickets from Moscow to Cairo for 37,542 rubles, from Sochi for 35 424 rubles.

You can fly to Sharm El Sheikh with a change in Istanbul, tickets for the second half of April cost 22 915 rubles. From April 30, AirCairo will resumeWhich foreign airlines operate direct flights from Russia and where / Association of Tour Operators of Russia direct flights to the resort from Moscow.

There is a direct flight from Moscow to Hurghada, but ticket prices are high - from 59 256 rubles. With a transfer in Istanbul you can fly for 22 645 rubles.

If you want to save money, book tickets as early as possible and choose routes with transfers. For example, in early June, you can fly to Cairo on a direct flight for 19 290 rubles, and with a change in Athens - for 14,474 rubles.

Language

In Egypt, one official language is Arabic. It is spoken by most of the inhabitants. If you don't own it, use English. In large tourist centers, menus and signs are often duplicated in Russian.

Money

The local currency is the Egyptian pound, which is equal to 100 piastres. On the price tags, the currency is designated as LE or EGP. On April 8, the official exchange rate is as follows: 1 pound - 4.33 rubles, 1 dollar - 18.35 pounds.

Take cash when you travel, as card payments may not be accepted everywhere. This is especially true for small towns where tourists rarely visit. It is better to buy local currency in banks and official exchangers, they will definitely not lead you there. Please note that euros and dollars are more likely to be exchanged than rubles.

Russian cards VISA, Mastercard and "World» will not work in Egypt. A UnionPay succeedEgypt / UnionPay International use only when paying for purchases in several stores and for withdrawing cash from Credit Agricole, EBC, AAIB, NBE, CIB, QNB and Banque Misr ATMs.

If you plan to stay in the country, it is worth opening an account in an Egyptian bank. Usually, for this, the department asks for a passport, a local SIM card, a long-term treaty about renting housing and proof of the source of income, such as a certificate of employment. All documents must be in English or Arabic. In some banks, an account is opened only for holders of a non-tourist visa, somewhere they are asked to leave a deposit and attach a bank statement. The size of the deposit is different everywhere, on average it is an amount from 60 to 300 dollars.

The decision to issue a card often depends on the employees of a particular branch, so try to bypass all banks nearby. Perhaps you will be lucky in one of them. In chats, Russian-speaking residents of Egypt are advised to apply for a service at Banque du Caire, CIB and NBE. It takes about a week to open an account.

Housing

Housing prices in Egypt vary greatly in different cities and regions. It is best to stay in the well-maintained central and tourist locations of Cairo, Alexandria or resorts on the Red Sea.

Please note that typical apartments where locals live do not look like comfortable European ones. There are problems with water pressure, most often it costs shower cabin, not a bath, rarely where there are large windows and an equipped kitchen with new appliances. Look for options with all amenities in compounds - private residential complexes with their own infrastructure.

Apartments for daily rent can be found on Airbnb and Booking.com. For a day in a one-room apartment with all amenities and a fresh renovation in the center of Cairo, you need to pay 3,000–4,000 rubles. In Hurghada, housing near the beaches can be found for 1,500 rubles per day, in Sharm el-Sheikh - 3,500–5,000 rubles.

To search for an apartment for a long time there are sites olx.com, Propertyfinder.eg and www.aqarmap.com. Good options without intermediaries are often found in thematic groups on social networks.

In the central districts of Cairo there are one-room apartments for 5,000-6,000 pounds (272-327 dollars) per month, in Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada - for 3,500-5,000 pounds (190-272 dollars). Add £600-800 ($33-$43) to this amount for utilities.

Food

Supermarket chains operate in the country: French Carrefour, Metro Markets, Gomla Market, Bassem Market, Fathalla, Spinneys. Cereals, legumes, bread, seasonal vegetables and fruits are available here. But meat and dairy products are sometimes more expensive than in Russia. You should go to local markets for them - you can buy these goods there more profitable.

Prices in supermarkets are as follows:

• 1 kg of beef - 200 pounds (11 dollars);
• 1 kg turkey - 140 pounds (7.6 dollars);
• 1 kg of sausage - 190 pounds (10.3 dollars);
• 1 liter of milk - 15 pounds (0.8 dollars);
• 1 kg of hard cheese - 125 pounds (6.8 dollars);
• 30 eggs - 60 pounds (3.3 dollars);
• 1 kg of potatoes - 8 pounds (0.4 dollars);
• 1 kg of cucumbers - 15 pounds (0.8 dollars);
• 1 kg of tomatoes - 15 pounds (0.8 dollars);
• 1 kg of eggplant - 13 pounds (0.7 dollars);
• 1 kg of strawberries - 19 pounds (1 dollar);
• 1 kg of apples - 20 pounds (1.1 dollars);
• 1 kg of tangerines - 11 pounds (0.6 dollars);
• 1 wheat cake - 2 pounds ($ 0.1);
• 1 kg of rice - 14 pounds (0.8 dollars);
• 1 pack of pasta - 9 pounds (0.5 dollars);
• 1 kg of sugar - 20 pounds (1.1 dollars);
• 1 liter of vegetable oil - 30 pounds (1.6 dollars).

Both retail outlets of large chains and small stores often have their own delivery.

In Egypt, there are many shops and street cafes with traditional dishes. If you go to establishments away from the crowds of tourists, then you can buy lunch for a penny. falafel costs 7-8 pounds (0.4 dollars), stewed beans with spices - 4-5 pounds (0.2 dollars), a bun with meat filling and pickled vegetables - 5-6 pounds (0.2 dollars).

Going to a middle-class restaurant will no longer be so budget. Dinner for two with drinks will cost 800-900 pounds (44-49 dollars).

Connection

Several major operators operate in the country: Vodafone, Etisalat, Orange and W.E.. SIM cards will be sold with a passport and a visa at airports, hotels and mobile phone stores.

Internet quite expensive in Egypt, and there are no unlimited tariffs. 20GB will cost around £360 ($20). When choosing a package, be careful and check with consultants for details - often, according to the conditions, you can spend traffic only in certain social networks and applications.

You can top up your account in mobile stores, at supermarket checkouts and in the Sahl and Jumia Pay mobile applications. Add tax to the replenishment amount - approximately 35%.

Work

Jobs in Egypt should be looked for on LinkedIn and other social networks, as well as on websites wuzzuf.net, unjobs.org, bayt.com and Forasna.com.

Without knowledge of the Arabic language, vacancies in the tourism sector are available. Often looking for guides, administrators and animators. But you need to remember that such work is seasonal and in winter, most likely, you will have to get a job elsewhere.

Another option is to look for offers in Egyptian Russian-speaking communities. There are different vacancies - from a nanny and a master manicure to marketing and sales manager.

To get a permanent official job in an Egyptian company, you will need permission. For him, the employer shouldForeign work permits / Ministry of Manpower and Immigration Egypt pay a fee. The document will be valid for up to 1 year, if necessary, it can be extended.

If you are planning to start your own business, it is better to contact a lawyer or find an Egyptian partner to quickly resolve all issues with documents. You will need to register with the tax office and apply at the General Directorate of Investments. Depending on the legal form of the organization and the field of activity, a minimum authorized capital may be required. Registration takes from five weeks to three months.

Health

The level of free medicine in Egypt is quite low, so it’s worth doing a medical check before traveling. insurance. If you are staying for a long time, arrange VHI with an Egyptian company, for example AXA, Royal Insurance or Gig. A one-year policy for the entire family costs approximately £150,000 ($8,176).

Without insurance, you can go to private clinics on your own. It is better to choose them on the advice of friends and reviews. A day in hospital costs £4,000-5,000 ($218-$272), a general practitioner appointment is £200 ($11), a specialist appointment is £300-350 ($16-19), ultrasound £350 ($19), PCR test £750-900 ($41-$49), CBC £150 ($8).

From coronavirus restrictions in Egypt operateCOVID‑19 Information / U. S. Embassy in Egypt mandatory wearing of masks in closed public places, a ban on mass events and 70% occupancy of cafes and restaurants.

Foreigners can get the COVID‑19 vaccine. This will require a passport and an Egyptian phone number. Need to register for Egcovac.mohp.gov.eg - the link will open only with an Egyptian SIM card or through an Egyptian VPN.

The site will ask you to enter a phone number and select a vaccination point. In a couple of weeks, an SMS will come with a registration number and date. On this day, you need to come to the point with a passport, show your number and pay $ 25, after that you will be given vaccination. In Egypt, there are Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Sinovac, but, most likely, you won’t be able to choose a drug - they will offer what is available.

Service

There are many buses and minibuses in Egypt, but do not expect the trip to be comfortable. Transport is usually quite old and crowded with passengers, the ticket costs 10-15 pounds (0.5-0.8 dollars). Underground there is only in Cairo, its branches connect remote areas of the city, so it is not very convenient to move around the center. The price of a ticket depends on the distance, on average, the fare costs 7–8 pounds (0.4 dollars).

To call a taxi, use the Uber apps, Careem, Pink Taxi and InDriver. A trip from Cairo airport to the city center costs approximately 350-400 pounds (19-22 dollars). You can rent a car in services FriendyCar, Foorera and Ditto.

There are food delivery services. bringit, Talabat and Elmenus. Or just call the restaurant and order directly.

good hairdressers and beauty masters it is worth looking in social networks, chats and communities often share verified contacts.

There are few parks, public spaces and fitness clubs in Egypt. In your free time, you can visit shopping centers, cafes, cinemas and karaoke. Popular tourist activities are always available: snorkeling, desert safaris and excursions.