Egypt’s paper arrival and departure cards will be replaced with a digital immigration system from February 1, in a move toward faster and more efficient travel.
Minister Dr. Sameh El-Hefny said the move allowed passenger information to be processed digitally before arrival through the Advanced Passenger Information system. The shift is expected to reduce waiting times, streamline passport control, and create a smoother travel experience.
It comes as part of wider airport upgrades, with discussions also underway to expand e-visa access, visa-on-arrival services, and improve transport and banking options inside terminals.
Civil Aviation Minister Sameh El-Hefny said that the reform is part of a broader strategy to digitise services across Egyptian airports, noting that a recent cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, reviewed the latest developments in the pilot phase of the integrated electronic visa issuance system.
The system will allow visa applications to be submitted and tracked online, reducing paperwork while ensuring speed and accuracy.
He said the meeting also discussed procedures related to the emergency visa, with measures in place to ensure tourists can obtain it swiftly upon arrival, a step intended to support inbound tourism in the near future.
Ground services
On ground services, the minister said performance indicators have improved, noting that the first piece of checked baggage now reaches passengers within 20 minutes of an aircraft’s arrival, while the last bag is delivered within 40 minutes.
He said these improvements are part of a plan to boost operational efficiency and passenger satisfaction.
Cairo International Airport is handling record passenger numbers, averaging about 106,000 travellers per day, with plans for Terminal 4.
On tourism destinations, he said the ministry is working closely with the company developing Marsa Alam Airport, noting a 20 percent rise in tourist flights, alongside steady growth in traffic to Sharm El-Sheikh.
European states and the United States have gradually phased out paper landing cards over the past two decades, replacing them with passport-based border controls and advanced passenger data systems. The United Kingdom followed suit in 2019, abolishing its landing card entirely and relying instead on eGates, passport checks, and advance passenger information, overseen by the UK Border Force.
Across continental Europe, Schengen countries moved earlier, with Nordic and Western European states eliminating routine paper cards between 2008 and 2011, followed by southern and eastern members by the mid-2010s. By 2015, paper arrival and departure cards had effectively disappeared across the Schengen Area, as border authorities relied on biometric passports, airline data, and national databases.
