The Egyptian visa process has changed since August 1, 2026, at Cairo International Airport. Travelers eligible for a visa on arrival can now complete the process electronically and obtain a QR code to present with their passport at border control. However, this system remains in a pilot phase and should not be confused with the Egyptian e-Visa.
Egypt announced this development in the spring. It is now in effect in Cairo. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities confirmed the launch of the pilot phase on August 1, 2026, in all arrival halls of Cairo International Airport.
For French travel agencies and tour operators, this change warrants an update to their pre-departure information. The QR code modifies the visa-on-arrival procedure, but it does not change the traveler's eligibility rules.
Summary
Egypt visa with QR code: how does the new procedure work?
The system relies on three channels announced by the Egyptian authorities: the official online portal, a dedicated mobile application and self-service kiosks installed in the arrival areas of Cairo.
The official portal, accessible at visaonarrival.gov.eg, requires travelers to provide the necessary information, make a payment, and then generate a QR code. This code can be received and saved in digital or printed form.
At passport control, the officer checks the QR code along with the traveler's passport. The visa on arrival is therefore still processed as part of the border crossing.
According to the specialized press, Travel Market Report also confirms that this first phase concerns Cairo and that the system is to be gradually extended to other Egyptian airports.
The actual price of an Egyptian visa with a QR code is $36
The official price announced for this new procedure is USD 36 per person.
This amount corresponds to USD 30 for the visa and USD 6 for the digital issuance fee. The QR code procedure therefore costs USD 6 more than the visa on arrival fee of USD 30.
France Diplomatie confirms that a visa is mandatory for French citizens traveling to Egypt and that the fee for a single-entry tourist visa is USD 30. Its information sheet, updated on June 30, 2026, still describes the traditional procedure with a sticker, which predates the launch of the digital pilot program on August 1.
Please note: the QR code is only valid for 48 hours
This is a point to pay particular attention to in the documents sent to clients. The official announcement from the Egyptian Tourism Authority on July 23, 2026, indicates that each QR code remains valid for 48 hours from the date of issue.
The seven-day duration sometimes mentioned in recent publications is therefore not the one officially communicated at the launch of the system.
The QR code can be generated before departure, during the trip, or after landing. A travel agency can also perform this procedure on behalf of its clients, according to information provided by the Egyptian authorities.
For professionals organizing groups, this possibility is particularly important: the formality can now be prepared in advance, provided that the validity window of the QR code is respected.
Paper visas have not yet disappeared in Cairo
Another important point: since August 1st, the QR code is not yet the only way to obtain a visa on arrival in Cairo.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities clarifies that, during the pilot phase, the new digital system operates alongside the existing paper visa.
The removal of the vignette is planned after the experimental phase, but no specific end date for the pilot was announced in the official statement of July 23.
It would therefore be premature to tell travellers that the paper visa has already been abolished.
Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh and Luxor are not yet affected
The new Egyptian visa via QR code is, at this stage, being tested at Cairo International Airport.
The authorities announced a gradual extension to other airports, without providing a detailed timetable for Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, Marsa Alam, Luxor or other gateways to the country.
For a tourism professional, this distinction is essential. A procedure given to a client arriving in Cairo should not automatically be applied to a file with direct arrival on the Red Sea.
QR code and Egyptian e-Visa: two different procedures
The new QR code corresponds to the visa scan upon arrival. It does not replace the Egyptian e-Visa already available before travel.
The official e-Visa portal operates separately. Travelers submit an application before their trip, wait for approval, and then download their e-Visa. French citizens are among the nationalities eligible to use this procedure.
The official portal currently displays a price of USD 30 for a single-entry tourist e-Visa and USD 65 for multiple entries.
For sellers, the terminology must therefore remain precise: a visa QR code on arrival is not a new e-Visa.
What agencies need to change right now
For applications arriving in Cairo, pre-departure information must now include the existence of the official portal, the cost of USD 36, the 48-hour validity period of the QR code, and the temporary retention of the paper visa during the pilot phase.
Travel professionals must also continue to verify the requirements specific to the traveler's nationality. While the QR code simplifies payment and visa issuance upon arrival, it does not eliminate the need to check applicable formalities before departure.
As of August 5, 2026, the main change is therefore clearly identified: the Egyptian visa in Cairo can now be obtained via a QR code, but the national rollout has not yet taken place.
Sources
- https://apps.visaonarrival.gov.eg/
- https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/egypt-launches-new-digital-visa-on-arrival-system-for-a-faster-seamless-arrival-experience-302832533.html
- https://www.travelmarketreport.com/destinations/articles/egypt-to-pilot-digital-visa-on-arrival-system-at-cairo-airport-starting-august-1
- https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/information-par-pays/egypte/conseils-aux-voyageurs-entree-sejour
- https://www.visa2egypt.gov.eg/eVisa/FAQ
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