20 years ago, I needed visa to go to East Europe.
I needed a travel visa to go through East germany (DDR).
I needed a visit visa for Poland.
I had to go in person to The Hague to deliver my passport in the morning and stay in The Hague to receive my passport with a visa in the afternoon. The travel visa, I received at the border of the Germanies.
The visa for Egypt was easy, I filled a paper at the airport and paid some money and I had a visa.