Egypt will roll out a pilot phase of its new digital emergency visa-on-arrival system in mid-June, initially testing it at Cairo International Airport.
On May 15, 2025, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities chaired a strategic meeting to finalize the implementation of the new electronic visa-on-arrival system at Egyptian airports. The system—designed to address administrative bottlenecks faced by travelers upon arrival in Egypt—will begin its pilot phase in mid-June at Cairo.
Acting under the directives of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy convened a high-level interministerial meeting at the Ministry’s headquarters. The goal was to review the operational details of the new system, which aims to issue emergency visas on arrival to travelers from various countries.
Egypt emergency visa-on-arrival: Self-service kiosks and a mobile app coming soon
Developed in close collaboration with the Ministries of Civil Aviation, Finance, and Digital Transformation, along with the company in charge of the technical development of the project, the new system is designed to streamline entry procedures and reduce congestion at Egypt’s airports.
According to the Ministry’s statement, travelers will be able to quickly obtain their visa on arrival using a QR code that identifies the airports participating in the program.
To speed up the process, self-service kiosks will be installed in arrival areas, and a dedicated mobile app will be launched. The app will allow travelers to upload required documents and make payments either before or after landing.
Gradual rollout starting mid-June 2025
The system will initially launch as a pilot at Cairo International Airport starting in mid-June 2025. This phase is intended to identify logistical challenges and fine-tune the process before expanding the program to all Egyptian airports.
Minister Sherif Fathy emphasized that this initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize Egypt’s tourism infrastructure. It aligns with the country’s ongoing work to enhance the traveler experience and boost Egypt’s appeal as a tourist destination.
