Yes — every foreign visitor needs a valid passport to enter Egypt; there's no exception based on nationality or trip length. The part that actually catches travelers out isn't whether a passport is needed, but the specific validity and paperwork rules around it.
Passport validity: the six-month rule
Egypt, like most countries, expects your passport to have at least six months of validity remaining from your date of entry, not just from your date of departure. This is checked at check-in by your airline as well as on arrival, so a passport expiring in, say, four months can get you denied boarding before you even reach Egypt. Renew well ahead of travel if you're anywhere close to that threshold rather than assuming it will be fine.
Physical condition of your passport
Beyond validity dates, a passport that's significantly damaged, water-stained, or has pages coming loose can be refused at immigration or by your airline at check-in, at the discretion of the official reviewing it. It's a low-probability issue for a passport in normal condition, but worth a quick check before you travel if yours has seen better days.
The entry card / immigration form
Depending on current procedures at your specific port of entry, you may be asked to complete a short arrival card with basic details — name, passport number, flight number, and the address of where you're staying in Egypt. Having your hotel name and address written down or saved on your phone before you land makes this quicker, since trying to recall or look it up at immigration adds unnecessary delay. Procedures do shift between fully paper-based, digital, and no separate card at all depending on the airport and time, so treat this as something to be ready for rather than something guaranteed to apply.
What else immigration may ask to see
Beyond your passport and visa/e-Visa approval, having your return or onward flight confirmation and your hotel booking accessible (printed or on your phone) is sensible, since immigration officials can ask for evidence of onward travel or accommodation, even if this isn't checked on every entry.
Practical tips
- Check your passport's expiry date against your return date the moment you book — six months of remaining validity from arrival is the standard to aim for.
- Keep your hotel address and booking confirmation easily accessible for arrival, not buried in an email you'd need wifi to find.
- Carry a printed or offline copy of your e-Visa approval alongside your passport — don't rely solely on airport wifi to pull it up.
- If your passport is worn, damaged, or nearly full of stamps, consider renewing before you travel rather than risking a problem at check-in.
This is a general orientation, not immigration or legal advice — entry procedures can change, so always confirm current requirements through Egypt's official channels for your specific nationality close to your travel date.