Egypt Introduces Digital QR Visa-on-Arrival at Cairo Airport Starting August 1
Starting August 1, 2026, international travelers to Egypt can look forward to a more streamlined airport experience. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in Egypt is set to officially launch a new Digital Visa-on-Arrival system at the Cairo International Airport. This pilot program, which will be implemented across all arrival terminals at Cairo Airport, replaces the traditional paper visa stickers with scannable QR codes. This is a significant step in Egypt’s efforts to modernize its border procedures.
Travelers from about 46 eligible nationalities can now generate their visa QR code before departure, during their flight, or upon landing. This can be done via an official online portal, a dedicated mobile app, or self-service kiosks located in the arrival halls of Cairo Airport. The total cost of the digital visa is $36 USD — the existing $30 visa fee plus a new $6 digital issuance charge. Each QR code has a 48-hour validity window from the time of generation, so travelers are advised to generate it close to their departure date. During the pilot phase, paper visa stickers will still be available as a backup option.
This system was developed in collaboration with Cy Shield Technology. Payments are processed through the National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr. After the pilot phase in Cairo, Egypt plans to gradually introduce the digital visa system to other airports across the country.
Source: TravelPulse Canada – Egypt to Launch Digital Visa-on-Arrival System at Cairo Airport