Egypt: Visa and Permit Requirements
If your crew is interested in acquiring an Egypt film permit, allow Film Fixers to sort you out. Egypt has always been a premiere film location in Africa, and it is easy to understand why. With a rich history, stunning desert landscape and predictable weather, allow Film Fixers to facilitate your shoot.
Egypt has a rigid permit application system, which makes the overall process seamless. However, many locations and attractions require very specific permissions that a standard film permit might not cover. These are usually historical or cultural sites. Additionally, it is worth knowing that Egypt also has incredibly strict drone laws, which you can read about below.
Egypt has a lot to offer once all the necessary permissions are acquired. At Film Fixers, we will ensure that crews get whatever permits and permissions you need to carry out your shoot.
When considering an Egypt film permit, the first authority to deal with is always your local Egyptian Embassy. Crews are expected to submit documentation revealing the nature, scope and details of the shoot. The embassy will then forward the application to the Press Office in Cairo who will take the case over.
Crews should note that the duration, cost and time taken to process an Egyptian film permit depends on several factors. Locations, time of year, proximity to excavation sites and other factors will determine the cost and duration of a permit. Because of this, the application process has the potential to get quite messy, however we at Film Fixers have built a reliable cabinet of local agents and connections all over the continent that allows us to make your life easier.
As a rule of thumb, crews should assume the application process will take around 3 weeks, to stay on the safe side of things.
Drone laws in Egypt are quite strict, and the sale, manufacturing and distribution of drones in the country is illegal. The Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) is the body responsible for regulating drone use and administering drone permissions in Egypt, however it is notoriously difficult to obtain permission for drone use in Egypt . The only other option is to hire a drone service within the country operated by local (sometimes a military pilot), but this can be costly.
With the right connections and enough charisma it is possible to obtain this rare permission, however our advice for incoming crews is to prepare for the possibility that they will not be able to operate drones without a lot of effort and money.
Egypt has many historical sites and protected areas, even if many of these places require unique permissions. These unique location-based permits cost can cost around $1000 for the day, whilst some locations can cost that for the first hour. In many of these locations, product shoots can cost up to $3000 for the day, although these are specific locations.
Allowing us at Film Fixers to organize Egyptian permits is in your best interest, as we have dealt with these authorities before and have built good relationships that result in a smoother and often cheaper application process.