Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories From: 76702.1202@CompuServe.COM (Charlie Smith) Subject: *NEW* TRAVEL INFORMATION -- Egypt Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Distribution: wstd Date: Fri, 19 Mar 1993 14:07:03 GMT STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Egypt ============================================================ Egypt - Consular Information Sheet March 18, 1993 Country Description: Egypt is a developing country with extensive facilities for tourists. It is a popular destination for American travelers, with over 150,000 American visitors each year. Entry Requirements: A passport and visa are required. For those arriving by air, a renewable 30-day tourist visa can be obtained at airport points of entry. However, those arriving overland and by sea, or those previously experiencing difficulty with their visa status in Egypt, are required to obtain a visa prior to arrival. Military personnel arriving on commercial flights are not exempt >from passport and visa requirements. Proof of yellow fever and cholera immunization is required if arriving from an infected area. Evidence of an AIDS test is required for everyone staying over 30 days. Tourists must register with local authorities (either through their hotels, at local police stations, or at the central passport office) within seven days of arrival. For additional entry information, U.S. citizens can contact the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, 2310 Decatur Place N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, (telephone 202-234-3903), or an Egyptian Consulate General in San Francisco, Chicago, New York or Houston. Areas Of Instability: Egyptian extremist groups, seeking to overthrow the government, have staged violent attacks against Egyptian police and security officials. There have also been attacks against Egyptian Christians and secular Muslim intellectuals. The extremists have also issued threats against foreigners, and have claimed responsibility for attacks against tourists. In addition, a group outside of Egypt, claiming to represent one extremist group in Egypt, has threatened foreign businesses and investment in the country. Many of the incidents of extremist violence have occurred in Upper Egypt, in the governates of Assiyut and Minya which lie midway between Cairo and Luxor. Surface travel through those governates is dangerous. Recently, however, Cairo has also experienced acts of violence, including the bombing of a cafe in central Cairo and attacks against tour buses. While there are no specific threats against American citizens or businesses in Egypt, incidents of extremist violence are possible anywhere in the country. Medical Facilities: There are many Western-trained medical professionals in Egypt. Medical facilities are adequate for non-emergency matters, particularly in the areas where most tourists visit. Emergency and intensive care facilities are, however, limited. Most Nile cruise boats do not have a ship's doctor, but some employ a medical practitioner with the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree. Hospital facilities are available in Luxor and Aswan, but are extremely limited at most other ports of call. The U.S. Embassy or Consulate General can provide a list of local hospitals and English-speaking physicians. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate payment in cash for treatment. Supplemental health insurance which specifically covers overseas treatment has proved to be useful. Temporary visits to Egypt generally drink bottled water and soft drinks and avoid ice cubes. Beaches on the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts are generally unpolluted; however, there is a strong risk of exposure to the bilharzia parasite when swimming in the Nile or canals, walking barefoot along the river or drinking river water. If untreated, bilharzia can cause extensive tissue damage, kidney failure and blindness. Additional information on health problems can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline at [404] 332-4559. Information On Crime: The crime rate in Egypt is low. While incidents of violence are rare, purse snatching, pickpocketing and petty theft are not uncommon. Unescorted women are vulnerable to sexual harassment and verbal abuse. Travelers and foreign residents are subject to Egyptian laws. A U.S. citizen enjoys no special consideration simply because he or she is an American. The Department of State pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" contains information on safeguarding valuables and protection of personal security which may be of use. It is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Drug Penalties: Drug enforcement policies are very strict. The death penalty may be imposed on anyone convicted of smuggling or selling marijuana, hashish, opium, LSD, or other narcotics. Law enforcement authorities prosecute and seek fines and imprisonment in cases of possession of even small quantities of drugs. Customs Requirements: The Egyptian requirement to declare items such as cash, jewelry, electronic equipment, and other valuables is strictly enforced. On arrival, travelers must declare foreign currency (on form "D") and present the same form upon departure. Any currency or valuables not accounted for may be confiscated. For those staying in Egypt less than one month, there are no currency exchange requirements. For each month thereafter, U.S. citizens must present proof, in the form of bank receipts, that they have converted $180 per month per person into Egyptian pounds. A maximum of 500 Egyptian pounds may be carried into or out of Egypt. Photography Requirements: There are strict duties on the importation of expensive photographic and video equipment. Travelers who wish to take such equipment with them on a temporary visit have three options with Customs authorities. (A) They may have the Customs inspector inventory the equipment and list it by model and serial number in their passports, so that the equipment can be crosschecked when they leave Egypt, in which case no duty will be collected. (B) They may have the equipment placed in storage for the duration of their stay, in which case a storage fee may be collected. (C) They may pay the standard duty for importing these items. There are restrictions on photographing military personnel and sites, bridges and canals. Dual Nationality: The government of Egypt considers all children born to Egyptian fathers to be Egyptian citizens. Even if the children bear American passports, immigration officials may require proof that the father approves their departure before the children will be allowed to leave Egypt. Americans married to Egyptians do not need their spouse's permission to depart Egypt as long as they have a valid Egyptian visa. To renew a visa, or to leave the country after a visa has expired, an American woman married to an Egyptian must obtain proof of the husband's consent. Dual Egyptian-American nationals may enter and leave Egypt on their U.S. passports. If a dual national resides in Egypt for extended periods, proof of Egyptian citizenship, such as a family I.D. card, is required. Male dual nationals of military age, but who have not completed military service, are not required to enlist in the armed forces. However, before they can leave Egypt, they must obtain an exemption certificate through the Ministry of Defense draft office. Individuals who may be affected can inquire at an Egyptian consular office abroad before traveling to Egypt. Persons with dual nationality who travel to Egypt on their Egyptian passports are normally treated as Egyptian citizens. U.S consular assistance to such persons is extremely limited. Tips For Travelers: Those wishing to visit areas near Egypt's frontiers, including oases near the border with Libya and off-road areas in the Sinai, must obtain permission from the Travel Permits Department of the Ministry of the Interior, located at the corner of Sheikh Rihan and Nubar Streets in downtown Cairo. Egypt is a desert country. Dehydration or other heat-related injuries can occur in any season. In desert areas, emergency services are limited or non-existent. Horseback riding in the desert and near archeological sites can be dangerous even for experienced riders. The Department of State publication "Tips for Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa" contains useful information about travel in the region. It is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Registration: U.S. citizens can register at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo or the Consulate General in Alexandria and obtain updated information on travel and security in Egypt. Embassy Location: The U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, is located on Lazoughli Street, Garden City, near downtown Cairo. The mailing address from the U.S. is American Embassy Cairo, APO AE 09839-4900; >from Egypt, it is 8 Kamal El-Din Salah Street, Cairo. The telephone number is (20)(2) 355-7371 (24-hour switchboard); the fax number is (20)(2) 357-3200. The Consular Section of the American Embassy is located at the Embassy, but has a separate entrance on Lazoughli Street. The consular mailing address from the United States is American Embassy Cairo, Consular Section, Unit 64900 - Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900. The telephone number is (20)(2) 355-7371; the consular fax is (20)(2) 357-2472. The U.S. Consulate General in Alexandria, Egypt, is located at 110 Horreya Avenue, in the Sharqia District. The mailing address is Unit 64904, APO AE 09839-4904. The telephone number is (20)(3) 482-1911; the fax number is (20)(3) 483-8830. The after-hours telephone number is (20)(3) 482-8458. The workweek in Egypt is Sunday through Thursday. No. 93-053 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated January 8, 1993 to update information concerning personal safety in Egypt and general travel in desert areas.