Egypt road checkpoints, documents and travel advice
Between Egyptian towns you pass police checkpoints where passports may be checked; the UK FCDO notes routine security checks on vehicles around the Red Sea resorts. The FCDO advises against all travel to North Sinai and against all but essential travel to the northern part of South Sinai beyond the St Catherine–Nuweiba road. A free “Sinai only” stamp does not cover Cairo or Luxor. Prices checked .
What to carry on intercity trips, with the official sources. Check the current advice of your own government before you book.
Checkpoints
Checkpoints are normal on intercity roads and at the entrances to towns and resorts; the FCDO writes that “security forces carry out routine checks on vehicles and at airports” around resorts including Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam. The driver handles the conversation; keep passports (or clear copies with the visa page) within reach.
Areas the UK FCDO advises against
The FCDO advises against all travel to the North Sinai Governorate and to within 20 km of the Egypt–Libya border, and against all but essential travel to the northern part of the South Sinai Governorate beyond the St Catherine–Nuweiba road (except the coastal areas on the west and east of the peninsula), to the Western Desert west of the Nile Valley (with exceptions) and to Ismailiyah east of the Suez Canal. We do not drive into areas under “all travel” advice. St Catherine lies on the boundary road of the South Sinai advisory — read the current advice before booking a St Catherine or Mount Sinai trip. The Sharm el-Sheikh–Cairo road follows the western coast of the peninsula, which the advisory excludes.
Source: FCDO travel advice for Egypt (UK government web archive snapshot of 20 August 2026). Advice changes — check gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt or your own government’s advice on the day you book.
Sinai only stamp
Visitors arriving at Sharm el-Sheikh for up to 15 days in South Sinai can get a free “Sinai only” permit instead of a visa. It does not allow travel to Cairo, Luxor or the Red Sea coast around Hurghada — for those you need a full visa (visa2egypt.gov.eg).
Questions
Do I need my passport on a day trip?
Yes — take it on every intercity trip.
Where can I check the official rules?
The Egyptian e-visa portal visa2egypt.gov.eg and the UK FCDO travel advice for Egypt (or your own government’s advice).