The Egypt Guides

Egypt Launches Digital Visa on Arrival at Cairo in August

· 5 min read Travel News
Cairo skyline with Nile River Egypt

Contents

  1. How the new system works
  2. Cairo first, then the rest of the country
  3. Luxor and Aswan: free visas until October
  4. Planning your visit
  5. Which Nationalities Qualify for Visa on Arrival
  6. The Sinai Only Stamp: A Different Option
  7. The e-Visa Option: Still the Fastest Route
  8. Timeline for Other Airports

Egypt’s government announced on 13 May 2026 that a fully digital visa on arrival (VoA) system will launch at Cairo International Airport in August 2026, before rolling out to other airports across the country. The upgrade replaces the existing paper-based process and aims to cut arrival queues significantly.

Two agreements were signed to establish the system, with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy attending the ceremony alongside officials from the Central Bank of Egypt, implementing company SciShield Technology, and service providers the National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr.

How the new system works

Under the new system, eligible travellers can apply online before departure — up to 48 hours before departure — at self-service kiosks in the terminal, or through an official mobile app. Applications are also accepted through registered travel agencies. The visa is issued as a QR code, with fees paid electronically — no more hunting for a cash machine in the arrivals hall.

Anyone who applies and pays in advance will move straight through passport control without stopping at a dedicated visa window. The standard visa on arrival fee rose from $25 to $30 USD in March 2026, so factor that into your pre-trip budget. The nationalities that qualify for visa on arrival today will continue to qualify under the new system.

Cairo first, then the rest of the country

Travellers arriving in Cairo will be among the first to experience the new process. After the Cairo rollout, the system is planned to expand gradually to all Egyptian airports. The timeline for Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh has not yet been confirmed.

For what to expect from landing to exit at Cairo, our Cairo getting there guide covers airport logistics in detail, and our Cairo day tours page has options ready to book once you have cleared arrivals.

Luxor and Aswan: free visas until October

If you are flying directly into Upper Egypt, arrivals at Luxor and Aswan airports qualify for a free visa from May through October 2026. The Egyptian government has renewed this incentive for both 2026 and 2027. If your itinerary is focused on the temples and tombs of Upper Egypt and you can route your flight accordingly, this saves you $30 USD per person.

For a full picture of who qualifies for visa on arrival, which nationalities must apply for an e-Visa in advance, and how the Sinai Only stamp works for travellers heading directly to Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, see our Egypt visa guide.

Planning your visit

Egypt recorded a 15.6% rise in inbound tourist arrivals in Q1 2026 — the highest growth rate in years — and the Grand Egyptian Museum near Giza continues to draw visitors from across the world. The streamlined digital entry process is part of a wider strategy targeting 30 million annual visitors by 2030.

If you are planning a visit this summer, Egypt’s e-visa portal (evisa.gov.eg) remains the fastest option until the new system goes live: approvals typically arrive within three to five business days and the process is entirely online.

For first-time visitors, our 7-day Egypt itinerary covers Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan with practical logistics built in, including airport transfers and internal flight options between cities.

Which Nationalities Qualify for Visa on Arrival

As of mid-2026, Egypt’s visa on arrival is available to nationals of a broad list of countries, including all EU member states, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and most Asian and South American passport holders. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nationals (citizens of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman) can enter Egypt without a visa at all.

Nationalities that do NOT qualify for visa on arrival and must apply for an e-Visa in advance include some African and South Asian passport holders. The Egyptian Ministry of Interior maintains the current list; check the official e-Visa portal at evisa.gov.eg for the most current eligibility list before travelling.

The Sinai Only Stamp: A Different Option

Travellers flying directly to Sharm el-Sheikh or arriving at Taba border crossing with the goal of staying in the South Sinai only — covering Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, and the St Catherine’s Monastery area — can obtain a free Sinai Only Entry Permit on arrival. This permit is valid for up to 15 days and carries no fee, but it restricts travel entirely to the Sinai peninsula. Crossing the Suez Canal to visit Cairo or Luxor requires a separate standard visa.

For those whose itinerary is purely Red Sea diving, beach time, and Sinai trekking, the free Sinai stamp is a genuine saving and simplifies the arrival process significantly.

The e-Visa Option: Still the Fastest Route

Until the new digital VoA system goes live in August, Egypt’s existing e-Visa portal (evisa.gov.eg) remains the smoothest pre-arrival option. Single-entry tourist e-Visas currently cost US$30 and are approved within three to five business days in most cases. Multiple-entry e-Visas are also available at a higher fee. Holding an approved e-Visa eliminates the visa-on-arrival queue at Cairo International entirely — a meaningful time saving during peak season when arrival halls handle simultaneous long-haul flights.

Timeline for Other Airports

Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism has confirmed the digital VoA system will launch at Cairo first, with expansion to other airports — including Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Luxor, Aswan, and Marsa Alam — to follow. No specific timeline for the secondary airports has been confirmed as of mid-2026. Travellers arriving at these airports after August 2026 should continue to use the e-Visa or standard paper VoA until official confirmation of the digital system’s expansion.

For a full guide to Egypt’s entry requirements covering every visa type, fees, processing times, and the free Luxor/Aswan incentive (valid May–October 2026), see our Egypt visa guide.