How to get a United Kingdom visa from Egypt
Visa types, fees, processing times and application requirements for Egyptian passport holders travelling to United Kingdom.
Visa types & fees
3 visa options for travelling to United Kingdom.
Student visa
CategoryShort-term Study Visa
Processing time3 weeks
Validity180 days
Tourist visa
CategoryStandard Visitor Visa
Processing time3 weeks
Validity180 days
Work visa
CategoryGeneral Work Visa (Tier 2)
Processing time3 weeks
Validity5 years
Application requirements
Documents Egyptian applicants need to provide.
- Passport with a validity of more than 6 months from the intended period of exiting the country. The passport should have at two blank pages for the necessary stamp.
- Duly filled visa application form signed by the applicant.
- Two recent passport-sized photographs with a white background. The photo should follow the specification for a visa application.
- Original copy of bank statement from the past three months prior to the period of visa application. This is proof of steady and continuous flow of funds.
- Travel insurance which has sufficient medical coverage. The insurance should be valid for the duration of your stay in the country.
- Proof of accommodation for the period you will be staying in the country.
- Copy of return flight ticket.
- Travel itinerary.
Visa type details
Standard Visitor Visa
- The Standard Visitor Visa is issued to foreigners traveling to the United Kingdom for leisure, tourism, or visit family and friends.
- Foreigners with the intention of engaging in business activities or taking part in sports or creative events are also eligible for this visa type.
- This Standard Visitor Visa also allows foreigners to receive private medical treatment during their time in the country.
- Applicants of this visa are allowed to study in the country for up to 30 days, as long as it is not the main reason for the applicant's visit. You can also take part in exchange programmes.
- The Standard Visitor Visa has replaced the Family Visitor Visa, General Visitor Visa, Child Visitor Visa, Business Visitor Visa, Sports Visitor Visa, Entertainer Visitor Visa, Private Medical Treatment Visitor Visa, and Approved Destination Status (ADS) Visa.
- Foreigners traveling to the United Kingdom to get funding to start, take over, join or run a business in the United Kingdom can also apply for this visa.
- Applicants of the Standard Visitor Visa should note that they cannot take up paid or unpaid work while in the country.
- Foreigners are restricted from marrying or registering a civil partnership or giving notice of marriage or civil partnership.
- You can stay in the United Kingdom for 180 days but it can be longer if you are traveling to the country for private medical treatment – up to 11 months. If you are an academic on sabbatical and traveling to the UK for research, you can stay in the country for 12 months with your spouse or civil partner.
- Foreigners are expected to leave the country at the end of their visit in the country.
- If you are applying to visit for medical treatment, you must provide proof that you have a medical condition that needs consultation or treatment in the country.
- Minors applying for this visa should provide the original copy of their birth certificate. A letter of consent signed by both parents of the minor should also be provided.
Permitted Paid Engagement Visa
- Egyptians applying for this visa must have been invited to the United Kingdom as an expert in their profession.
- Applicants of this visa can travel to the United Kingdom to do specific paid work without having to be sponsored under the points-based visa system.
- To be eligible for this visa, you must be from a country that is not in the European Economic Area and Switzerland.
- Foreigners who have been invited by a United Kingdom based education, arts or research organization can take part in selection panels as a highly qualified academic.
- Academicians can also give lectures at a higher education institution, as long as it is not a part-time or full-time role.
- During your time in the country, you cannot do specific paid work unrelated to your main job or area of expertise.
- Dependents of holders of this visa cannot accompany them, they must apply separately.
- Foreigners in the United Kingdom on this visa cannot study for more than 30 days, studying cannot be the main reason for their visit.
- You are expected to leave the country at the end of your visit.
- A letter of invitation from the United Kingdom based organization the applicant will be paid by is required.
- A letter from your employer in Egypt should be provided. The letter should prove that he paid engagement relates to your expertise, qualifications, and main job in Egypt.
Marriage Visitor Visa
- Egyptians applying for this visa have the intention of getting married or registering a civil partnership in the United Kingdom.
- Foreigners in the country must not be planning to stay or settle in the country after the marriage of civil partnership.
- Holders of this visa can pass through the United Kingdom in transit to their destination country.
- Applicants of this visa cannot study for more than 30 days and studying cannot be the main reason for their visit.
- Foreigners in the United Kingdom are not allowed to seek public funds.
- Applicants of this visa must be over the age of 18 years and must be able to prove this.
- Proof that you and your spouse are in a genuine relationship should be provided.
- If you have been married before, you are required to show proof that you are free to marry or enter a civil partnership again.
- You are expected to leave the country at the end of your visit.
Short-term Study Visa
- Foreigners who are traveling to the United Kingdom to do a short course of study can apply for this visa.
- People who are from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland are can apply for this visa.
- Egyptians studying for this visa can do research for a short period as part of a degree course in the United Kingdom.
- Applicants of the Short-term Study Visa cannot study at a state-funded school.
- Family members of the applicant of the Short-term Visitor Visa cannot accompany holders of this visa.
- Foreigners can stay in the United Kingdom for any short course (including English language courses), or a short period of research for 6 months. If you are taking an English language course, you can stay in the United Kingdom for 11 months.
- The 6-month visa costs £97 while the 11-month visa costs £186.
- Before applying for this visa, you must have been accepted into an institution in the United Kingdom to study a course.
- Applicants of this visa must not be less than 16 years of age.
- Academic certificates and transcripts from previously attended schools should be provided during the visa application.
- If you are a minor traveling alone, a letter of consent signed by your parents should be provided.
General Student Visa (Tier 4)
- This visa allows foreigners who are 16 years or over and have been offered a place on a course in the United Kingdom to study without restrictions.
- Foreigners applying for this visa must be able to speak, read, write, and understand English language.
- Egyptians who have been issued this visa can enter the United Kingdom for up to one week before the course starts if the course lasts 6 months or less. If the course lasts more than 6 months, applicants can enter the United Kingdom one month before.
- Students can work in most jobs depending on what level the course the applicant is and what kind of sponsor the applicant has.
- Holders of this visa are not permitted to seek public funds while they are in the country.
- A letter of acceptance from the institution the applicant has been accepted should be provided. The letter should state the course of study and the duration of the study programme.
- Applicants of this visa must have passed an English language test before applying for this visa.
- If the applicant is under the age of 18, the original copy of the applicant’s birth certificate is required.
Child Student Visa (Tier 4)
- The Child Student Visa is issue to foreigners who between the ages of 4 and 17 and want to study in an independent school in the United Kingdom.
- Applicants of this visa must have consent from their parent or guardian before applying for this visa.
- Foreigners in the United Kingdom on this visa can apply for an extension on this visa.
- If you are over the age of 16, you can work part-time when school is in session for up to 10 hours per week and full-time during vacations.
- Foreign students can work as a student union sabbatical officer for up to 2 years.
- Holders of this visa are not allowed to take a full-time permanent job or be self-employed.
- To apply for an extension to the Child Student Visa, you must apply no more than 3 months before the course start date on your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
- The unabridged original copy of the child’s birth certificate is required.
General Work Visa (Tier 2)
- Applicants of this visa must have been offered a skilled job by an employer in the United Kingdom.
- After the applicant’s sponsor has checked to see if the applicant is qualified for the job they are being hired to do, they will then assign the applicant with a certificate of sponsorship to prove this.
- The applicant’s employer in the United Kingdom must provide a letter which states the job the applicant has been offered and the amount they will be paid while working in the company.
- Foreigners can like in the United Kingdom on this visa for a maximum of 5 years and 14 days, or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship, whichever is shorter.
- Egyptians can apply for an extension for another 5 years, as long as their total stay is not more than 6 years.
- You can work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship and do a second job in certain circumstances.
- Holders of this visa can study as long as it does not interfere with the job they have been sponsored for.
- You cannot own more than 10% of your sponsor’s shares unless you earn more than £159,600 per year.
- Applicants should provide proof that they will not be paid below the appropriate salary for their job.
- Foreigners should provide a criminal record certificate from any country they have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.
Intra-Company Transfer Visa (Tier 2)
- Foreigners applying for this visa must have been offered a role in the United Kingdom branch of the organization they are working for.
- Applicants of this visa must be from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland.
- The sponsor will assign the applicant of this visa a certificate of sponsorship which proves the applicant is qualified for they job they have been hired to do.
- There are two types of the Intra-company Transfer Visa; the Long-term Staff and the Graduate Visa.
- Applicants of the Long-term Staff Visa are staffs of the company who have had previous experience working for the company. The applicant of this visa must have worked for the company for more than 12 months unless they are going to pay you £73,900 or more a year to work in the United Kingdom.
- This visa is for transfers into graduate trainee programmes for specialist roles. You need to be a recent graduate with at least 3 months experience with your employer overseas.
- The Graduate Trainee Visa costs £482, the Long-term Staff (up to 3 years) costs £610, while the Long-term Staff (more than 3 years) costs £1,220.
- Foreigners who apply for this visa can do a second job in the same profession and at the same level as the main job for up to 20 hours per week.
- Applicants can study as long as it does not interfere with the job you are being sponsored for.
- Proof that the applicant will be paid the appropriate salary that matches the job they have been offered in the country.
- Proof that you have worked for your employer outside the United Kingdom is required.
Exceptional Talent (Tier 1)
- Applicants of this visa must work in a qualifying field and must have been endorsed as a recognized leader or an emerging leader.
- Foreigners must go through 2 stages of visa application process. Applicants must first apply to the Home Office for endorsement as a leader or an emerging leader in your field, then, you can apply for the visa.
- A printed copy of the applicant’s endorsement letter should be provided.
- The visa fee for the two stages must be paid for separately. The first stage costs £456 while the second stage costs £152.
- Foreigners can apply for settlement once they have been in the United Kingdom for 3 years with an exceptional talent visa.
- Egyptians cannot change jobs without telling the Home Office and can also do voluntary work.
- Applicants of this visa should note that the cannot work as a professional sportsperson or a sports coach.
- Foreigners can stay in the United Kingdom for up to 5 years and 4 months.
Seasonal Work Visa (Tier 5)
- Foreigners applying for this visa have the intention of traveling to the United Kingdom for up to 6 months to do farm work.
- Applicants of the Seasonal Worker Visa must have a sponsor and must be from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland.
- Holders of this visa are allowed to study for some courses and will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme Certificate.
- Egyptians in the United Kingdom on this visa cannot take a permanent job or work in a second job that is not described in your certificate of sponsorship.
- You are not allowed to seek public funds in the country.
- Eligible applicants of this visa must have a certificate of sponsorship reference number from their sponsor in the United Kingdom.
- Family members of the holders of the Seasonal Worker Visa can accompany them.
- You can stay in the United Kingdom for up to 6 months.
Where to apply
United Kingdom embassy & visa application centers in Egypt.
Cairo
Address7, Ahmed Ragheb Street, Garden City, Cairo, Egypt.
Phone+2 (02) 2791 6000
Email[email protected]
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Frequently asked questions
How much is the UK visa fee
The UK visa costs £95.
How can I get a job in the UK as an Egyptian
To get a job in the UK, your best chance is to have the relevant skills, training, and experience of one of the jobs on offer in the country.
Do I need a photo for UK visa
Yes, you need two identical photos which meet the specification of a visa application.
Can you work on a visitor visa in UK
No, you are not allowed to take up paid work in the country.
Can I extend visitor visa in the UK
You may be able to extend your visitor visa as long as the total time you spend in the UK is less than 6 months.
Visa fees and rules change often. Confirm the latest United Kingdom visa
requirements with an official embassy or consulate before booking travel.