Egypt introduces QR code visas for tourists

On Aug 4, 2026

Egypt has introduced a new QR code visa-on-arrival system for tourists, replacing paper visa stickers with a digital permit to speed up entry procedures and reduce airport waiting times.

The system took effect on 1 August 2026 and is being piloted across all arrival halls at Cairo International Airport (CAI). It will operate alongside the existing paper process during a limited transition period before being extended to other airports and entry points.

Eligible travellers can obtain the QR code before departure, in transit or on arrival at CAI via self-service kiosks or through their online site. The code remains valid for seven days and can be used for a single-entry tourist visa allowing stays of up to 30 days.

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The service costs US$36 (EGP1,805), including the standard visa-on-arrival fee and an additional processing charge. After receiving the QR code by email, passengers can proceed directly to immigration to complete the entry process.

The digital option is available to nationals already eligible for Egypt’s visa-on-arrival programme, covering more than 70 countries, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and EU member states. GCC residents may also qualify when their residence permit is valid for at least six months, while accredited tour operators can issue QR codes for organised groups.

Egypt continues to expand its tourism and hospitality infrastructure as visitor arrivals grow 16% year-on-year in Q1 2026, despite ongoing Middle East tensions. The country ranked as the seventh most popular outbound destination for GCC travellers in the 2026 Connecting Travel Insight Report, based on data from travel analytics firms RateHawk and Emerging Travel Group.

For more information, visit visaonarrival.gov.eg

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