North Africa Travel: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria Entry Rules and Country Guides
Which countries need a visa for Americans, current State Department advisory levels, and links to our country guides, city guides and where-to-stay articles.
- 4 countries in our guides
- 90 days visa-free in Morocco and Tunisia
- $30 Egypt arrival visa, cash, outside Cairo airport
- Level 2 State Department advisory for all four
This hub brings together our guides to Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria and the city pages under each one. It starts with the question that differs most from country to country for U.S. travelers: whether you need a visa, and when you have to apply.
Entry rules and advisory levels below come from the State Department’s country pages, checked on October 14, 2026. We are rewriting our city guides one by one on a sourced template; the updated ones are listed further down.
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- Visa rules for Americans
- When to go
- Water and health
- Country guides
- Updated city guides
- Where to stay
- Tours
- FAQ
- More regions
- Sources
Do Americans need a visa for North Africa?
Not for Morocco or Tunisia on a short trip. Egypt requires a visa you can get on arrival or online, and Algeria requires one before you fly.
| Country | Visa | Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Morocco | None up to 90 days | 6 months’ validity |
| Tunisia | None up to 90 days | 6 months past arrival, 1 blank page per stamp |
| Egypt | Required: e-visa or on arrival (30 days) | 6 months on arrival, 1 blank page |
| Algeria | Required, before travel | 6 months past arrival, 1 blank page per stamp |
Egypt visa tip: the State Department points to the government site visa2egypt.gov.eg for e-visas and warns that other sites charge more. On arrival, it lists about $36 by credit card at Cairo airport and $30 in exact cash at other entry points.
All four countries carry a Level 2, “Exercise increased caution,” advisory: Morocco since September 4, 2026, Tunisia since May 21, 2026, Algeria since August 25, 2026, and Egypt since July 15, 2025. Read the full advisory before you book.
When to go to North Africa: weather compared
Winters are mild everywhere and summers hot, with the widest swing in Marrakech, where July afternoons average close to 100°F. Rain splits the Mediterranean coast (Algiers, Tunis) from Cairo, which stays almost dry all year.
| City | January / summer high | Rain per year |
|---|---|---|
| Marrakech | 66 / 100°F (July) | 8.7 in |
| Tunis | 62 / 94°F (August) | 19.1 in |
| Cairo | 66 / 95°F (July) | 1.0 in |
| Algiers | 63 / 91°F (August) | 23.7 in |
Average highs for January and the hottest month, and yearly rainfall, from 1991-2020 airport normals in Wikipedia’s climate tables, converted and rounded by us. January nights drop to the low 40s in Marrakech and Algiers.
Water and health
- Water: France’s foreign ministry advises sealed bottled or treated water and no ice in all four countries.
- Cairo air: pollution runs particularly high; on bad days, cut back on time outdoors.
- Red Sea diving: decompression chambers exist in Hurghada, El Gouna, Safaga, Marsa Alam, Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab, but not in Nuweiba or Taba.
North Africa country guides
Morocco
Our most detailed country, with city guides from the Atlantic coast to the edge of the Sahara. Start with Essaouira, our latest rewrite.
Tunisia
Visa-free for up to 90 days; longer stays need a residence permit from the local police.
Egypt
Visa required; the arrival visa is valid for 30 days and can be renewed in the country.
Algeria
Apply for your visa before departure; the exception covers certain southern cities visited with an approved travel agency. City guide: Oran.
City guides we have already updated
- Essaouira, Morocco: day trip or overnight from Marrakech, the UNESCO-listed medina, what to pack for the wind (October 14, 2026).
Where to stay in North Africa
The map below opens on Marrakech. Type another city into its search box to see what is available elsewhere in the region, with current prices and guest reviews.
Check Marrakech hotel prices and reviews
Tours and day trips in North Africa
Our partner GetYourGuide sells guided tours and excursions; the button below opens its Morocco listings, our most detailed country in the region. If a tour crosses a border, check the visa column above first.
See Morocco tours and activities on GetYourGuide
North Africa travel FAQ
Do U.S. citizens need a visa for Morocco?
No, not for stays of 90 days or less, according to the State Department. Your passport needs six months of validity.
Can I get an Egypt visa on arrival?
Yes. It costs about $36 by card at Cairo airport or $30 in exact cash elsewhere, and is valid for 30 days.
Which North African country gets the least rain?
Egypt: Cairo averages about 1 inch of rain a year, against roughly 19 inches in Tunis and 24 in Algiers.
Is it safe to travel to North Africa?
The State Department rates Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria at Level 2, “Exercise increased caution.” Read each country’s advisory for the regions on your route.
More regions
Africa (including South Africa), Europe, Caribbean, Oceania.
Sources
All pages checked on October 14, 2026.
- U.S. Department of State, Morocco.
- U.S. Department of State, Tunisia.
- U.S. Department of State, Egypt.
- U.S. Department of State, Algeria.
- French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, travel advice (in French; water, health): Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria.
- Weather, 1991-2020 airport normals: Wikipedia, Marrakesh, Tunis, Cairo, Algiers.
Maintained by the Advised Traveler team. Entry rules change, so confirm them with the State Department before you book. Spotted an error? Let us know.