SeaandSky5

You used to be able to download the application from their website.

Excellent!! Unfortunately, we were a 6 hour drive away. Hope all goes well!!

Not sure if you’re aware but unless something has changed, Canadians must apply at either the Embassy or Consulate for a visa. There is no way to apply online. You must either attend in person or send your application through mail or courier. Just want to be sure your husband has enough time to do this if his trip is in April.

It’s possible. From what I see it’s more military and policing that seem to be the issues but you just never know. Has he already applied for his visa?

Wow. That explains it then. My husband is retired police officer. Sorry you had to cancel.

Hi there, we made the trip to Ottawa and applied for our visas in person. We had been told that we should be going to Montreal but I was able (at the time) to make an appointment in Ottawa. We submitted our applications and left our passports paid $205 each and were told told to return 2 weeks later after 3pm. We made the 6 hour trip again to pick up our visas on the day and at the time we were told. My husband was then advised that he was not going to be given his visa - no explanation, no appeal process, no refund, no nothing. We were shocked. My husband is retired, has never had any brush with the law, has travelled all over the world and has never been denied a visa before. I was given my visa. When we returned home, we contacted an immigration lawyer who suggested we contact Global Affairs in Ottawa and lodge a complaint, to contact CBC and let them know the Embassy was using citizens as pawns in their battle with Ottawa. We opted to not do this as we were still hopeful that we wouldn’t require the visa to board (which we did not). Two days prior to arrival in Egypt, our passports were collected and stamped. We had no problem- both of us- getting that stamp and being allowed to port in Egypt. But, there was so much anxiety before we got there. I had already decided if my husband couldn’t leave the ship, I wasn’t going either. (He didn’t agree) but in the end, it was fine. Stress level off the charts though. We also didn’t receive our visa for Saudi Arabia until 2 days before we arrived. After this experience, we’ve decided that we will choose our itineraries based on visa requirements and will not put ourselves through that again.

Does this mean if you are getting off the ship (for an excursion) that you do need a visa?

FYI, my understanding is that they are on a work to rule. They are not answering the phones.

I was not able to book an appointment before our departure date in Montreal. We got an appointment in Ottawa. There were people there applying for visas without an appointment. I don’t know if this helps you but technically we were supposed to go to Montreal, but chose Ottawa because it’s closer. Confirming the sign on the door says walk-ins were accepted 10-12.

We dropped off on Oct 11-pickup is October 24th

Hi there. There are no appointments available. Are you trying for Ottawa or Montreal?

My concern has been that the rules can change at any moment. Right now, NCL required documentation guidelines indicate no visa is required for Canadians unless they are flying into Egypt. However, as we saw back in August, Egypt can change the rules today and decide today that all Canadians require a visa for entry into the country regardless of how they are entering - if you look into Egypt’s entry requirements, they make no distinction on entry based on how you get there. We simply couldn’t take that chance. And since no one can assure us that what is outlined today will be in place in a month, we opted to just get the visa. No one will put anything in writing.

I don’t know about a courier preference but a friend of mine who is a travel agent paid for expedited shipping for a client’s visa (and passport) to be shipped back. It wasn’t and was “lost” by the consulate. They had to send someone in person to Montreal to try to get them to locate it. This was the day prior to her clients leaving. They found the documents and then that person flew from Montreal to Toronto with them so the clients could have them in time for their departure. We opted to drop them off and pick them up in person. It’s a lot of inconvenience but less anxiety. Well, we think so anyway. I’ll let you know when I have my passport and visa in hand on October 24th.

Hi there, Canadians can no longer apply for an Egyptian visa online as of October 1st. We drove to Ottawa from Hamilton to apply in person at the Embassy yesterday. We were told we had to go to Montreal but we couldn’t get an appointment in Montreal but got one for Ottawa. Here’s my experience: 1. Made an appointment-arrived a bit early, they let us in. I only made appointment for myself but it was both my husband and I - they let us both in (but he wasn’t on the list and I thought for a moment they would not let him in, but they did) 2. By geography we were supposed to go to the consulate in Montreal. We were concerned we would be declined service- we were not. They took us at the Embassy 3. We had all paperwork completed, with passports, 2 passport photos (dated) and $205 cash each (for multiple entries) and with our appointment, we were served within 10 minutes and out the door headed home 10 minutes after that. 4. Your cash must be free of tears, rips etc otherwise they will not accept it. The woman in front of us had a $20 with the corner missing and they refused to accept (my husband gave her $20 so she could complete her application) 5. We can pickup visas and passports in two weeks - no appointment needed. 6. There were people there who did not have appointments. Walk ins are accepted. This is all very stressful, especially given the current situation and that our ship may not even dock in Egypt. However, I feel better knowing that we will have our visa, just in case. I am happy to answer any questions about any of this.

Can you confirm your Egypt stop was October 1st or later?

This is good to know. Since the rules changed this week for Canadians, if the Egyptian authorities stamped all passports, including Canadians even after the change came into effect, the conclusion can be drawn that they will do the same for all cruise ships. If anyone else has firsthand experience, I’d love to hear about it.

Thanks! This makes me feel a bit more reassured but I’m still worried that NCL will change their page that indicates no visa requirement as we get closer to our departure date. If I could get someone on a NCL ship to confirm no visa required, I might be able to relax a bit.

Hi All, Ottawa now requires an appointment to get a visa. We still have no definitive answer on whether or not a visa is required if you are entering by cruise ship. Apparently Celebrity has indicated Canadians do not need to apply for visa in advance. I’m still nervous. Celebrity Cruises is one line that stops in Alexandria, Egypt, and according to an update posted last week by the Canadian team, it appears passengers, under the new guidance, will be granted 72-hour visas on arrival. Celebrity says a 72-hour visa can be obtained upon vessel arrival for most nationalities (including U.S, Canada, U.K., E.U., and Australia). For 72-hour visa guests, immigration officers will stamp the guest passports on arrival. The new requirement for Canadians to apply for an Egyptian visa in advance applies only for entry by air, Celebrity notes.

Is this for all Canadians entering Egypt regardless of point of entry? (Air, land or sea) or just by air and land? NCL’s website still says Canadians require a visa to fly into Egypt but not to enter by sea. I’m worried they will change this right before our cruise and then we will be out of luck.

Does anyone have any information now that this has come into effect? We leave for our cruise in 6 weeks so we have time to drive to Ottawa (7 hours away) but I am concerned we won't get an appointment, or get the documents back in time. it is a lot of stress, time and time off work, if we don't need it.

Cruising on NCL in November with several stops in Egypt. The NCL site indicates Canadians will need a visa to fly into Egypt but not to enter by cruise ship. I think we need to see what happens over the course of the coming weeks since this all comes into effect on October 1st.