Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories From: 76702.1202@CompuServe.COM (Wally Doerge) Subject: ALL: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Egypt Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Distribution: wstd Date: Mon, 10 Jan 1994 15:05:13 GMT STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Egypt ============================================================ Egypt - Consular Information Sheet January 5, 1994 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. Those arriving overland and by sea, or those previously experiencing difficulty with their visa status in Egypt, must 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 the Egyptian consulates 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, Egyptian Christians and secular Muslim intellectuals. In several incidents, extremists have sought to cripple the Egyptian economy through attacks on tourists, tour buses, and sites where tourists are likely to be found. These attacks have occurred in Cairo as well as in the southern governorates of Assiyut, Minya and Qena, which lie between Cairo and Luxor. Bus travel through those southern governorates is considered dangerous. The extremists have also threatened foreign-owned investment in Egypt. While there have been no threats specifically 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. The U.S. Embassy in Cairo can provide a list of local hospitals and English-speaking physicians. 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. 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 visitors 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 untreated river water. Bilharzia can cause extensive tissue damage, kidney failure and blindness. The risk of exposure to rift valley fever (RVF) exists throughout Egypt, having spread >from its original concentration along a 60-mile stretch of the Nile in the Kom Ombo area of the Aswan governate. RVF is primarily a disease of domestic animals, but it can readily infect humans. The vast majority of cases of RVF in humans result in only fever and flu-like symptoms, with complete recovery in a few days. In two to three percent of cases, however, RVF leads to liver necrosis, encephalitis, and blindness. Preventive measures include avoiding farm animals (particularly those that appear ill), camels, freshly slaughtered meat, mosquito bites, raw milk, and locally prepared cheese products. Properly prepared, thoroughly cooked meat in tourist hotels, Nile cruise boats, and tourist restaurants is considered safe. 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 loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported immediately to local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Useful information on safeguarding valuables, protecting personal security, and other matters while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlets, "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa." They are available >from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Drug Penalties: Travelers are subject to the laws and legal practices of the country in which they travel. Drug enforcement policies in Egypt 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: Everyone entering Egypt must declare items such as jewelry, electronic equipment, and other valuables. This requirement is strictly enforced. Any 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 100 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. This includes most types of equipment typically carried by tourists to Egypt, including all video cameras, all autofocus cameras, etc. 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, who have not completed military service, are not generally 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. Registration: U.S. citizens who register at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo can obtain updated information on travel and security within Egypt. Embassy Location: The U.S. Embassy in Cairo is located on Lazoghli 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 Lazoghli 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 workweek in Egypt is Sunday through Thursday. No. 94-002 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated November 30, 1993, to update information on areas of instability and customs requirements.