Egypt
Location: Northeast Africa / Southwest Asia
Visas & Permits
Visas & Work Permits
Western passport holders can either obtain a visa on arrival or apply for an e-Visa in advance. Tourist visas are valid for a maximum period of 90 days.
There is no special work permit required to film in Egypt.
Please contact a local embassy, consulate or representative for more information. Alternatively, there are specialist companies that provide visa and immigration support to the media industry, and may be able to assist.
Film Location Permits
In Egypt, this very much depends on the nature of the shoot. Generally speaking, a visiting crew will apply for location permits with its local Egyptian embassy, including the name of the local fixer or service company. Once the locations have been cleared with all the relevant authorities, the permits are granted. A government minder may be required to accompany the production.
Permits for b-roll filming are free but take around three weeks to clear.
Individual permits are required for each antiquities site. Prices and timing vary depending on several factors, including the type of shoot, dates, extent of location control required, and whether or not there are any current excavations or public access.
Long form projects, such as films and television dramas, require extra permitting and can take up to three or four months to permit.
Drone filming is currently illegal in Egypt. Penalties for using a drone without a permit include arrest and confiscation of equipment. One option to get aerial footage is to hire an Egyptian military drone operator (or helicopter and pilot) but this can be expensive.
Customs
For productions looking to bring in film equipment, Egypt is not an ATA carnet country.
All the standard camera, grip and lighting equipment is available locally. More specialised equipment can be easily brought in from nearby European production centres or Dubai.
A permit is required for bringing film equipment into Egypt, so allow at least a month for processing this permit. For small projects, it’s best to bring in gear as handheld luggage.
When to Film
When to Film
The Mediterranean coast is mild and wet, while the Sahara in the south is hot and dry. Egypt has two main seasons – a mild winter from November to April and a hot summer from May to October. The periods from February to April and September to November are considered the best months to film.
Egypt is a predominately Muslim country, with a minority of Coptic Orthodox Christians. Ramadan is widely observed with many services limited or closed during this period. Coptic Orthodox Christmas, Easter and New Year is observed.
Public Holidays
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Egypt.
Costs & VAT
Egypt has one of the least expensive shoot day costs in the Middle East.
The standard VAT rate in Egypt, at the time of writing, is set at 14%.
Funding & Tax Incentives
At the time of writing, this country does not have any filming incentives. However, up-to-date information on global filming incentives may be found on the Entertainment Partners' Production Incentives Map.