Olympia Travel​ Independent Travel Agency

In a recent announcement that has caught the attention of Canadian travellers putting many of them into a state of panic, Egypt declared a significant shift in its visa policy for Canadian passport holders. The announcement on new Egypt visa requirements for Canadians has been posted on the FB page of the Embassy of Egypt in Ottawa and the Consulate of Egypt in Montreal. In accordance with that, effective October 01, 2023, the Egyptian government will implement changes that will impact how Canadians can obtain visas for travel to the country. This article explores the details of these changes and sheds light on what Canadian travelers need to know before planning their Egyptian adventures.

The Canadian government through its Ministry of Global Affairs has put forward the following warning: “Starting October 1, 2023, Canadian passport holders will not be able to obtain a visa online before traveling to or upon arrival in Egypt. You will be required to obtain a visa from an Egyptian embassy or consulate abroad.

If you travel to Egypt on an electronic visa on or after October 1, 2023, your visa will be considered void, and you will be denied boarding and/or entry into Egypt. If you are planning to travel to Egypt, you should contact the nearest Egyptian embassy or consulate before you go.”

**Understanding the Changes**

For almost a decade, Canadian travelers could easily apply for an Egyptian e-visa or acquire an entry visa upon arrival. This convenient process applied to various visa types, including those for tourism, business, and private visits. However, the landscape has shifted, and Canadians looking to explore the wonders of Egypt will now face new visa restrictions.

**Visa Restrictions for Canadians**

Due to officially unannounced reasons the Egyptian government has decided to discontinue the option for Canadian passport holders to apply for e-visas or obtain entry visas on arrival. New Egypt visa requirements for Canadians span across all visa categories, impacting tourists, business travelers, and those seeking private visits. These changes have sparked discussions among travelers as well as a frantic search for ways to get an Egypt visa in a new way. Others are just reconsidering their travel plans.

**What Do Canadians Need to Enter Egypt?**

Given the updated visa regulations, Canadian citizens looking to enter Egypt on or after October 01, must secure the appropriate visa prior to departure. This visa has a form of a sticker that is affixed on one of the empty pages in the passport. This requires a visit to the Egyptian embassy or consulate in Canada. Travelers can find the Egyptian embassy in Ottawa and the Egyptian consulate in Montreal.

**Egypt Visa Application Process**

Canadian travelers must now follow a more traditional route when applying for an Egyptian visa. The previous e-visa application process and the option for obtaining a visa upon arrival have been replaced by the need to submit a visa application through the Egyptian embassy or consulate. This change emphasizes the importance of planning ahead and ensuring all required documents are in order before embarking on the journey. The applicants also must submit photos and a copy of their airline and hotel bookings along with their passports. The processing, though not officially announced, will take 7-10 days. So, visa to Egypt for Canadians is becoming more complicated.

**Cost and Application Details**

Naturally, one of the first questions travelers may have pertains to the cost of obtaining an Egyptian visa. While specific details can vary and are not yet clear, travelers should budget for visa application fees in addition to factoring in the time required for processing. To find the most accurate and up-to-date information, it is recommended to directly consult the Egyptian embassy, consulate, or visa firms.

The so-called second wave of the coronavirus has fortunately frightened not all the countries worldwide. Some of them, unlike cautious Europeans, still plans to reopen flight connections, normalize business activities, and renew tourism. For instance, the Philippines are opening their borders on August 1^st for the foreigners with long-term visas, though no new visas will be issued yet. They will also have to find and book accommodation for the quarantine period and arrange a COVID-19 test.

Sri Lanka is going to start welcoming guests on August 15^th, if the epidemiological situation does not worsen. The authorities are still discussing the rules of organizing guests’ leisure activities since, as they claim that “during their stay on the island tourists are to be tested for coronavirus three or four times”. In addition to this questionable prospect, tourists can also be put off by the introduction of a 100$ fee for an electronic visa. The government explains the renewal of this duty by the need to fund new safety protocols.

Seychelles has confirmed their intention to open commercial flights fromAugust 1^st. Passengers, going to the islands, must provide booking for the whole period of stay as well as a negative COVID-19 test certificate, received within three days before the flight, and upon the arrival, they will be temperature screened and will have to fill out forms. In case of showing any symptoms, they will have to undergo an express test.

Those who are thinking of going to Africa for a safari will have an opportunity to visit Rwanda from the next month. Regular international flights are to be renewed from August 1^st there. There at the arrival travelers will also have to show negative virus tests of up to three days old, and after the arrival, they will need to have another test made, stay in isolation and wait for its result for a day, all at their own expense. At the same time, national parks are already open to tourists.

In the very heart of Polynesia – on Tahiti – foreign visitors have been welcomed since July 15^th. The quarantine is not required but a three-day negative COVID-19 test result certificate, a PCR test only, is compulsory. To get permission for a flight, passengers must fill out a form in French Polynesia’s Electronic Travel Information System (ETIS) and get confirmation to be produced before boarding the plane. In addition, tourists need to have booked accommodation as well as a leisure program. It is interesting that all visitors will be given an express test kit that is to be taken individually on the fourth day of the stay, and its results are to be submitted to a local medical center.

We are both tired already but we still a few places to see, we walked a lot already but we can’t find the Holy Rosary Cathedral. We asked a local and he is able to help us the street where we could find it, we ended in one old church but my husband says it is not the cathedral we are looking so we continue walking in a narrow street, there’s a lot of street vendor which means we are almost there.

We found the cathedral after passing a lot of street vendors, we are not able to take a good picture because there’s a lot of cars parked around the church.

The Cathedral of the Most Holy Rosary is founded in 1797 which commonly known as the Portuguese Church, in Kolkata, is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Calcutta.

The cathedral has a decorated pediment, flanked on either side by two domed towers, and an extended portico with arched entranceway. Behind the altar, there are the figures of Madonna and Child. The remains of the first Archbishop of Calcutta lie below the altar.

To visit India book your flight and hotel beforehand to get a good rate. And also do not forget about the travel visa.

This summer travel is trashed due to the pandemic, but be inspired and prepare yourself for a future trip to Kenya.

Our journey starts upon arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. We are taken to the hotel where we spend our first night in Nairobi the capital city of Kenya. Be sure that you have received a Kenya tourist visa. The city is crowded during the day and noisy especially from the traffic. But the uptown of Nairobi is a bit calm and the perfect place for your rest.

Early the next morning we start our safari to Masai Mara national park. Kabiro is our driver and guide in the next 3 days we will be in Masai Mara. Our drive takes us to the south along the floor of the Great Rift Valley with wonderful scenery and a perfect place to take lots of pictures. We take a break at Narok Town for our lunch and then climb the western wall entering Hemmingway’s Country of the “Serengeti Plains”. We arrive in Masai mara late afternoon in Masai mara with a game drive along the way before arriving at the campsite where we spend the night. The campsite is so amazing since we are sleeping in self-contained tents with electricity and shower inside, who could imagine that in a bush unless it was a lodge. Kudus to the Olympia Travel agency.

We later join other travelers for a campfire and some entertainment by the Maasai villagers, ooh what a wonderful way to retire for bed. But sure you would like to share that wonderful photos you have taken during the day with your loved ones at home. For this you would need a pocket wifi which ensures your Internet connection in this areas of the world.

Early the next morning after superb heavy breakfast we leave for a morning game drive in the park. Our guide makes a joke that we are going hunting but we should not use guns but our cameras. What I loved during the game drive was the cooperation between all the drivers who were in the park, the way they could communicate with each other on the radio on the exact spot where the animals were and where there was a hunt. It was so good, because this way we were able to see many animals and I guess it was also our lucky day because we saw a cheetah on the hunt. It killed an antelope and unfortunately a crowd of hyenas came and chased the cheetah away and enjoyed the meal. how unfortunate, but I guess is the way to survive. Our driver told us that it was our lucky day to witness the hunt, we took lots and lots of photos.

After our full day game drive, our driver takes us to the Masai village where we make a stop and learn on their culture , ways of living and the food they eat. Their houses which are commonly known as the manyattas are pretty small but the Masai are proud of there ways of living. We had a chance to get some beautiful Masai souvenirs, what a day.

We headed back to the campsite for some freshening up and later had a wonderful African dinner which was prepared on a special request by our host. It was a meal of Ugali and fried goat meat. We later join the campfire and interact with others then retire for bed.

On the third day our driver picks us up for a morning game drive after breakfast which lasted up to 11.00 o’clock in the morning. I am sorry to say this, but the trip ends here. We later arrive back in Nairobi in the late afternoon for lunch. Lunch in Nairobi restaurants is fairer in price compared to eating in the hotel. We are later joined by our host Nancy and she gives us this wonderful surprise of taking us to carnivore restaurant to wind up our trip with dinner there. Wow, the dinner was great, they have a different range of bush meat, and choma was perfect. After this wonderful dinner, we left for the airport. Asante sana Kenya and I will surely come back for more days.