Home Arrow FAQs Arrow How can Egyptian citizens travel from Egypt to South America with minimal transit visa requirements?

How can Egyptian citizens travel from Egypt to South America with minimal transit visa requirements?

What you need to know

There are visa and entry policies of each South American country. In flying out of Egypt, mostly you have to fly through Europe, the Middle East, or Africa. It may or may not require a transit visa depending on:

  • The location of your layover country.
  • Whether you are on the airport transit (airside) or on the immigration (landside).
  • Your airport and airline transfer services.

When you are airside and have a single ticket, it is possible that you do not require a transit visa. But you will usually need one when you are required to switch terminals or airports, or cross the immigration.

When transit without visa is possible

You may transit visa-free if:

  • Your layover is airside only, and you do not go through border control.
  • The transit country’s regulations allow Egyptians to connect without a visa.
  • You have a confirmed onward flight ticket and valid travel documents for South America.
  • You do not exceed the allowed time in the airport transit area.

Some routes through Middle Eastern countries (for example, via Qatar, UAE, or Turkey) may allow airside connections without a transit visa, depending on your airline.

No direct flights exist from Cairo (CAI) to South America in 2025. However, several one-stop options use visa-friendly hubs:

  • Through Istanbul (IST), Turkey: Turkish Airlines flies between Cairo and Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Bogota making short stops. Egyptian passport holders may transit airside at Istanbul Airport without a transit visa only if the connection remains entirely within the international transit area and is issued on a single ticket. Requirements may vary depending on the airline and airport procedures. Nevertheless, a visa might be necessary in some of the itineraries, based on types of tickets and airport processes. Before booking, always ensure that you call Turkish Airlines or Turkish consulate.
  • Through Dubai (DXB), UAE Emirates serves Cairo-Sao Paulo, Rio, and Buenos Aires. The Egyptian citizens can usually transit airside in Dubai without a visa if the layover does not exceed 24 hours and the journey is booked on a single ticket. But the individuals who have to leave the airport or make other bookings are to receive a 48 or 96-hour UAE transit visa beforehand.
  • Through Doha (DOH), Qatar: Qatar Airways makes it easy to fly between Cairo to Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires with a few stopovers. Airside transit at Hamad International Airport is generally permitted without a transit visa for Egyptian nationals, provided they remain within the international transit area and hold a confirmed onward ticket.
  • Through Addis Ababa (ADD), Ethiopia: Ethiopian Airlines offers connecting flights from Cairo to São Paulo via Addis Ababa, depending on the schedule. Transit visa requirements for Egyptian nationals transiting through Addis Ababa vary depending on the airline and ticket type. In some cases, airside transit may be permitted without a visa when traveling on Ethiopian Airlines. It is highly recommended to ensure that you book through Ethiopian Airlines or the Ethiopian Embassy.
  • Through Casablanca (CMN), Morocco: Transit visa requirements for Egypt passport holders in Morocco depend on whether the connection is airside only, the length of the layover, and whether the journey is booked on a single ticket.

These routes take 18-25 hours total, depending on the destination. Book through airline sites or aggregators like Skyscanner for real-time prices.

Visa requirements for South American destinations

Secure your destination visa first.

  • Egyptian citizens generally require a visa in advance for South American countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia. Application procedures and approval rates vary by country and should be confirmed with the respective embassy.
  • Bolivia: Egyptian travelers must apply for a visa in advance; visa on arrival is not consistently available.

Always check with the respective embassy or consulate before applying, as visa policies may change.

Final advice

It is possible for Egyptian travelers to reach South America without obtaining a transit visa, but only when using specific airside-friendly transit hubs and meeting all airline and airport requirements.. You must always check with your airline and the embassy of every country you are transiting in before traveling because visa policies keep on changing.

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