File Photo: A private yacht cruises in the Red Sea ahead of this year s United Nations global summit on climate change, known as COP27, in Sharm el-Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt, Oct. 31, 2022. AP
Before the upgrade, yachts had to wait 15-30 days for a visa, according to the transport ministry.
The online portal allows applicants to upload documents like yacht/passenger info, arrival time, chosen port/marina, and the tourist programme, the ministry added.
Visas will be paid in US dollars in a uniform fee system in all ports, the ministry affirmed.
Unlike before, yachts can now leave from any tourist port, not just where they arrived, granting greater flexibility in planning their itineraries.
The portal also links to the Passports, Immigration, and Nationality Administration at the Ministry of Interior, allowing applicants to quickly secure electronic tourist visas for their passengers.
The online portal also links to the Suez Canal Authority website if the foreign yacht's itinerary includes crossing the international maritime course of the Suez Canal.
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