Egypt halts visas on arrival for Turkish citizens: Embassy

CAIRO

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Egypt’s interim rulers have stopped granting single-entry visas at airports for Turkish citizens aged between 20 and 45 in several cities, the Turkish Embassy in Cairo announced on its Twitter account. However, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry denied any procedural change in the practice.

The embassy said Turkish citizens could obtain single-entry visas in the cities of Alexandria, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh but the practice was unilaterally halted on July 26. “According to practice, Turkish citizens who are aged between 20 and 45 should obtain visas from foreign missions before they travel to the country. Egypt had eased the procedure by giving them single-entrance visas at airports. The practice was stopped in Alexandria, Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh. It still continues at the Cairo Airport,” the statement said. Turkish Airlines has also confirmed that the practice had been stopped.

Turkish citizens seeking to enter Egypt from several countries, including Turkey, have not been allowed to enter the country because they didn’t have visas in their passports.

However, the Foreign Ministry has denied any change in the procedure. Egyptian Foreign Ministry officials, speaking to Anadolu Agency, have said the procedure of obtaining visas at airports has been applied to groups to “revive tourism” and those who want to enter Egypt should apply to the country’s embassies and consulates to get visas.

The country’s interim government had previously banned on-arrival visas for Syrian, Palestinian and Yemeni citizens.