Egypt halts 'visa on arrival' for citizens of 50 countries, including Turkey
Egypt's interim government stops issuing visa on arrival for foreign citizens from nearly 50 countries, including Turkish nationals, at airports
CAIRO
Egypt's interim government halted granting on arrival visas for foreign nationals from nearly 50 countries, including Turkey, between the ages 20-45 from the coastal Egyptian cities of Alexandria, Hurghada and Sharm al-Sheikh as of July 26, Turkish Embassy in Cairo said on Sunday.
Issuing a statement on its official Twitter account, Turkish Embassy in Cairo noted that "According to the current visa requirement, Turkish citizens had to get visa from the foreign missions prior to their travels to Egypt. Egypt used to provide a unilateral convenience for Turkish nationals between the ages 20-45 giving a single entry visa at Alexandria, Hurghada and Sharm al-Sheikh border-crossings. The Egyptian interim government ceased the practice as of July 26, 2013. However, the practice prevails in Cairo Airport."
Turkey is one of nearly 50 countries whose nationals enjoyed on arrival visas at airports in Egypt, a procedure introduced during the term of toppled President Hosni Mubarak.
Turkish citizens at airports in Turkey and elsewhere were not allowed Sunday to board their Egypt-bound flights for lacking proper documents for entry into Egypt.
A Turkish citizen told Anadolu Agency that he was not allowed to get on his plane due for Cairo at Istanbul Ataturk Airport due to lack of visa into Egypt.
The country's interim government earlier banned on arrival visas for Syrian, Palestinian and Yemeni citizens.
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