Wayzata World Factbook 1995/World Factbook - 1995 Edition - Wayzata Technology (1995).iso/mac/text/Build/tvlmactxt/EGYPT.TVL

Text File | 1994-12-07 | 10KB | 172 lines

Egypt - Consular Information Sheet
October 7, 1994

Country Description:  Egypt is a developing country with extensive
facilities for tourists.

Entry Requirements:  A passport and visa are required.  For travelers
arriving by air, a renewable 30-day tourist visa can be obtained at airport
points of entry.  Visitors arriving overland and by sea, or those previously
experiencing difficulty with their visa status in Egypt, must obtain a visa
prior to arrival.  Military personnel arriving on commercial flights are not
exempt from passport and visa requirements.  Tourists must register with
local authorities (either through their hotels, at local police stations, or
at the central passport office) within seven days of arrival.  Proof of
yellow fever and cholera immunization is required if arriving from an
infected area.  Evidence of an AIDS test is required for everyone staying
over 30 days.  For additional entry information, U.S. citizens can contact
the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, 3521 International Court, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20008, tel. [phone], or the Egyptian consulates in San
Francisco, Chicago, New York, or Houston.

Areas of Instability:  Egyptian extremist groups seeking to overthrow the
government have staged violent attacks against Egyptian police and security
officials, Egyptian Christians and moderate Muslim intellectuals.  In
several incidents, extremists have sought to cripple the Egyptian economy
through attacks on tourists, tour buses, and sites frequented by tourists.
Some attacks have occurred in Cairo, but the vast majority of the violent
incidents have taken place in the southern provinces of Assiyut, Minya and
Qena, which lie between Cairo and Luxor.  All surface travel (bus, car,
train, boat, etc.) through those provinces is considered dangerous.  While
there have been no specific credible threats singling out American citizens
or businesses in Egypt, Islamic extremists have threatened to target foreign
investors and tourists.  A series of successful police counter-terrorist
operations since the beginning of 1994 has reduced terrorist capabilities
and operations, particularly in the Cairo area.  Sporadic incidents of
extremist violence continue, however, and the threat of terrorist activity
directed against tourist targets remains a concern.

Restricted Areas:  Those wishing to visit areas near Egypt's frontiers,
including oases near the border with Libya and off-road areas in the Sinai,
must obtain permission from the Travel Permits Department of the Ministry of
the Interior, located at the corner of Sheikh Rihan and Nubar Streets in
downtown Cairo.

Medical Facilities:  There are many Western-trained medical professionals in
Egypt.  The U.S. Embassy in Cairo can provide a list of local hospitals and
English-speaking physicians.  Medical facilities are adequate for non-
emergency matters, particularly in the areas where most tourists visit.
Emergency and intensive care facilities are, however, limited.  Facilities
outside of Cairo fall short of U.S. standards.  Most Nile cruise boats do
not have a ship's doctor, but some employ a medical practitioner with the
equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree.  Hospital facilities are available
in Luxor and Aswan, but are extremely limited at most other ports of call.
U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States.
Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate payment in cash for treatment.
Supplemental health insurance which specifically covers overseas treatment
has proven useful.  Beaches on the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts are
generally unpolluted; however, there is a strong risk of exposure to the
bilharzia parasite when swimming in the Nile or canals, walking barefoot
along the river or drinking untreated river water.  Bilharzia can cause
extensive tissue damage, kidney failure and blindness.  The risk of exposure
to rift valley fever (rvf) exists throughout Egypt.  RVF is a disease of
domestic animals that can infect humans and which flares up in parts of the
country from time to time.  Preventive measures include avoiding freshly
slaughtered meat and known areas of infestation.  Properly prepared,
thoroughly cooked meat in tourist hotels, nile cruise boats, and tourist
restaurants is considered safe.  Additional information on health problems
can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control's international
travelers hotline at [phone].

Information on Crime:  The crime rate in Egypt is low.  While incidents of
violence are rare, purse snatching, pickpocketing and petty theft are not
uncommon.  Unescorted women are vulnerable to sexual harassment and verbal
abuse.  Travelers and foreign residents are subject to Egyptian laws.  A
U.S. citizen enjoys no special consideration simply because he or she is an
American.  The loss or theft of a U.S. passport abroad should be reported
immediately to local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Useful information on safeguarding valuables, protecting personal security,
and other matters while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of
State pamphlets, "A Safe Trip Abroad" and "Tips for Travelers to the Middle
East and North Africa".  They are available from the Superintendent of
Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

Drug Penalties:  Travelers are subject to the laws and legal practices of
the country in which they travel.  Drug enforcement policies in Egypt are
very strict.  The death penalty may be imposed on anyone convicted of
smuggling or selling marijuana, hashish, opium, LSD, or other narcotics.
Law enforcement authorities prosecute and seek fines and imprisonment in
cases of possession of even small quantities of drugs.

Customs Requirements:  Everyone entering Egypt must declare items such as
jewelry, electronic equipment, and other valuables.  This requirement is
strictly enforced.  Any valuables not accounted for may be confiscated.
There are no currency exchange requirements.  A maximum of 100 Egyptian
pounds may be carried into or out of Egypt.

Photography Requirements:  There are strict duties on the importation of
expensive photographic and video equipment.  This includes most types of
equipment typically carried by tourists to Egypt, including all video
cameras, all autofocus cameras, etc.  Travelers who wish to take such
equipment with them on a temporary visit have three options with Customs
authorities: (A) The Customs inspector may inventory the equipment and list
it by model and serial number in their passports, so that the equipment can
be crosschecked when they leave Egypt, in which case no duty will be
collected.  (B) The traveler may have the equipment placed in storage for
the duration of their stay, in which case a storage fee may be collected.
(C) Long-term visitors or residents will pay the standard duty fee for
importing these items and be issued a receipt; at the time of departure the
fee will be refunded upon presentation of the receipt.  There are
restrictions on photographing military personnel and sites, bridges and
canals.

Dual Nationality:  The government of Egypt considers all children born to
Egyptian fathers to be Egyptian citizens.  Even if the children bear
American passports, immigration officials may require proof that the father
approves their departure before the children will be allowed to leave Egypt.
 Americans married to Egyptians do not need their spouse's permission to
depart Egypt as long as they have a valid Egyptian visa.  To renew a visa,
or to leave the country after a visa has expired, an American woman married
to an Egyptian must present proof of the husband's consent.  Dual Egyptian-
American nationals may enter and leave Egypt on their U.S. passports.  If a
dual national resides in Egypt for extended periods, proof of Egyptian
citizenship, such as a family I.D. card, is required.  Male dual nationals
of military age, who have not completed military service, are not generally
required to enlist in the armed forces; however, before they can leave
Egypt, they must obtain an exemption certificate through the Ministry of
Defense draft office.  Individuals who may be affected can inquire at an
Egyptian consular office abroad before traveling to Egypt.  Persons with
dual nationality who travel to Egypt on their Egyptian passports are
normally treated as Egyptian citizens.  U.S. consular assistance to such
persons is extremely limited.

Registration:  U.S. citizens who register at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo can
obtain updated information on travel and security within Egypt.

Embassy Location:  The U.S. Embassy in Cairo is located on Lazoughli Street,
Garden City, near downtown Cairo.  The mailing address from the U.S. is
American Embassy Cairo, APO AE 09839-4900; from Egypt, it is 8 Kamal El-Din
Salah Street, Cairo.  The telephone number is (20)(2) 355-7371.  The
Consular Section telephone is (20-2)357-2201; the consular FAX is (20)(2)
357-2472.

The workweek in Egypt is Sunday through Thursday.

No. 94-233

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated August 31, 1994, to
delete information for travelers to the September population conference in
Cairo and to revise areas of instability. \\

                                UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED            6

RUKLDAR/US ARMY MATERIEL COMMAND ALEX VA//AMC MISS//
RUWDOAA/NAVOCEANSYSCEN SAN DIEGO CA JAMES C SHIELDS
RUEAHQA/HQ USAF WASH DC//XOXI//
RUEABOA/BOLLING AFB DC//IVOA//
RUCNJVW/AL INOCCO 8105721076 USDOE OKRE
RUKGNHA/FAA WASHDC//ACS 400//
RULSNAA/COMNAVAIRSYSCOM WASH DC//AIR1031B//
RUKGNFA/NRC WASH DC//INFOSEC//
RUEANAT/NASA HQ WASH DC //CODE NIS JVERBA//
RUCJACC/USCINCCENT MACDIL AFB FL//CCJ2 JIT
RUCPCIM/CIM NTDB WASHDC
RUDMGRD/COAST GUARD INTERCORDCEN WASHINGTON DC
RULKNIS/DIRNAVCRIMINVSERV WASHINGTON DC//22C//
\