The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities announced plans to launch a digital visa-on-arrival system for a faster, seamless arrival experience for international travellers.
The pilot phase of the new system will begin on 1 August 2026 at Cairo International Airport.
The system will replace and modernize the traditional paper visa sticker with a visa QR code, offering a smoother arrival that reflects Egypt’s commitment to smart, traveller-friendly experiences. The code costs US$36 ($51) in total: US$30 ($43) current visa fee plus a US$6 issuing fee.
Travellers can get their visa QR code via the official online portal, the mobile app, and self-service machines at Cairo Airport’s arrival halls. The traveller or travel agency can generate the code before departure, mid-flight, or after landing. Officers scan it with the passport at the border, shown by email or printed. Each code is valid for 48 hours after issuance.
The Egyptian Tourism Authority (ETA) plans to phase out the paper visa sticker system once the pilot phase concludes. It will also extend the system to other airports in stages.
Egypt is quickly becoming a popular destination for travellers. Abercrombie & Kent reported in February strong and sustained growth in demand for the country among luxury travellers.
