The Egypt Guides

Egypt Launches Digital Visa-on-Arrival QR Code System in August 2026

· 2 min read Travel News
Digital passport and QR code for Egypt visa on arrival

Contents

  1. How the New System Works
  2. Who Qualifies
  3. Entry Points Covered
  4. What This Means for Trip Planning

Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has confirmed that a new digital visa-on-arrival system will go live in August 2026, replacing the paper sticker that travellers have long collected at Cairo International Airport and other major entry points. Under the new system, eligible visitors can apply and pay online before departure, receiving a QR code that immigration officers scan at arrival.

How the New System Works

The process shifts most of the paperwork away from the arrivals hall and onto a government portal that opens several days before travel. Applicants fill in personal details, upload a passport scan, pay the fee, and receive a confirmation QR code by email. At the airport, officers verify the code with a scanner rather than issuing a sticker visa on the spot.

The Egyptian government says the change reduces processing time at the visa-on-arrival counters by an estimated 60 to 70 percent - a meaningful improvement during peak periods when queues at Cairo arrivals can stretch to 45 minutes or more.

For travellers who have not pre-applied, a counter-based option will remain available, though with potentially longer wait times.

Who Qualifies

Egypt’s standard visa-on-arrival eligibility - which covers most European, North American, and many other nationalities - applies under the new system. The fee structure is expected to stay at current levels (approximately US $25 for a single-entry visa), payable by card through the portal.

Nationals of countries that currently require a full visa in advance should verify their situation with the Egyptian embassy before travel, as the digital QR system is an upgrade to the existing visa-on-arrival programme, not a new category of entry.

Entry Points Covered

Cairo International Airport is confirmed as the first entry point to run the full QR system from launch. Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Luxor, and Alexandria (Borg El Arab) airports are expected to follow as the rollout progresses through August and September.

The Sinai Special Zone entry - which allows most nationalities to visit Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba, and Taba free of charge without a full Egypt visa - operates under separate rules and is not affected by this change.

What This Means for Trip Planning

The digital system makes it easier to budget arrival time. Previously, the standard advice was to allow 90 minutes from landing to clearing immigration and customs during busy periods. With the QR code pre-applied, that buffer can shrink - though we still recommend allowing time for baggage claim and customs channels.

Save the QR code to your phone and email in case of connectivity issues at the airport. The code is typically valid for 30 days from issue.

For full entry information including passport validity requirements and customs allowances, visit our Egypt travel and practical guide. Once through arrivals, our things to do in Egypt guide covers the major sites and how to plan your days.