Ahlan

Just a quickie on this. We got a residency visa from El Tur last May as we bought a flat in Nabq Bay, but when we left the country 2 days later the customs people said that it wouldn't allow us to re-enter the country. Is this true even though the visa was for one year validity?

I need to go back to Egypt soon so as I now have property and as my visa has expired in any case now, do i need to get another residential from El Tur to stay indefinitely and is it worth it do I need to get a multi entry visa from UK (as I'll be going to Cairo too).

Anne

[quote=Zeiad Yehia;49548]
Dear Anne,

Please read the quoted post and reply. I hope this will help.

All the best,

Zeiad Yehia
Solicitor

[quote=Zeiad Yehia;50240]Hi
I'm confused now! So If I get a residency visa from El Tur for 1 year this means if I want to return to UK for a while I have to do it within 6 months - Then I have to stay in Egypt ???? I cant leave the country again or I have to get another residency visa ???
Not_terry

[quote=Zeiad Yehia;50240]Fair point, but we went with our solicitor, so why didn't he mention this or make sure it was done? We are not to know. A year's resiency visa should mean just that. My husband speaks fluent Arabic and he didn't even tell him - in fact the solicitor was very flippant and in my opinion it was all too much trouble for him!

Hi - Yes we were told to make sure you tell them at the passport office that both the multi and residents are return and we made sure it stated visits on the mulit entry one as various.

Ok, many thanx. Vix

[quote=annethedonn;50289]I believe a misunderstanding might had happened then, but anyway you now know how to deal with it next time.

All the best,

Zeiad Yehia
Solicitor

OK now I am really confused! I have been living here for five years and have never been able to get a residents visa. Every year I go to the passport office in Hurghada and get my annual tourist visa and multiple entry/exit visa but only if I am planning to to anywhere. Usually I just get the annual tourist visa and they say one week before you want to leave buy your six month entry/exit visa.

The annual tourist visa clearly states you are unable to work.

To obtain a residents visa you must either be employed (and I think you have to find this job in the UK and not once you are here), marry an Egyptian or register your property if it is worth something like over 75,000 or 50,000 USD. Now if your developer has not registered the land then you cannot register your property. I have not gone through the process of registering my property because hardly anyone else in El Gouna has either, so I hear.

And what are the advantages of having a residents visa over a tourist visa. Well there are different prices here for tourists and residents. All hotels and transport offer different prices and the difference is quite big but shopping around on the internet for hotels you can always find cheap deals. Also Egypt Air you can get good prices if you book in advance.

Also in the hospitals there are different prices for residents and tourists. Luckily in El Gouna I get resident prices because I am an owner and the hospital is excellent. If I go outside the price is huge.

And you have to take the tourist convoys unless there are only a few other tourists on the bus (i.e. Cairo or Luxor buses, etc.)

And there is also some rule about owning or registering cars if you are not resident but as I said before it is safer to walk

Maybe it is easier to get one in El Tor then?? Mine was really easy to obtain and only cost 83le and does state work is not permitted. I also know an English lady that moved to Sharm a couple of years ago and she is a taxi driver there!!! Brave lady.

Hi
how did your friend get a work permit. I heard various rumours that you had to prove there was not an Egyptian that could the job, you have to have an aids test etc etc - is there a thread or anything about working in Egypt.

It does seem that this visa issue keeps rearing it's ugly head. That's a new complication - a 1 year visa that runs out after 6 months - only in Egypt!!

Re Visas - is it generally a language problem, or is it trying it on or are they not sure, and how would I know if they have written various or given me the correct visa or correct duration, I presume it is not written in English