Egypt raises Visa On Arrival fee to 36 dollars with new QR code system

Egypt replaced paper visa-on-arrival stickers with digital QR codes at Cairo International Airport on Aug. 1, introducing card-only payments and a new service fee for incoming travelers.

Higher fees and card-only payments at Cairo terminals

Travelers landing in Cairo no longer need to queue at airport bank counters for physical passport stickers. The digitized system allows visitors to secure an entry visa through self-service kiosks in the terminal, an official web portal or the “Visa On Arrival” mobile app. Passport officers scan the generated QR code directly from a phone screen or paper printout to verify entry records, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities confirmed.

The digital transition includes a price increase. While legacy paper stickers cost $30, the QR-code visa costs $36, which includes a mandatory $6 issuance fee.

Payments through the app, web portal and kiosks are electronic only, restricted to Visa and Mastercard. Nomads flying into Cairo must carry an active payment card, as airport kiosks don't accept cash.

Rules, validity and rollout to regional airports

The underlying immigration terms remain unchanged for remote workers reviewing Egypt's entry rules. The entry permit grants a single-entry stay of up to 30 days for eligible nationalities. Passports must have at least six months of validity beyond the entry date and contain at least one blank page.

Each generated QR code is valid for seven days from issuance. Nomads can complete the application and payment online within a week of departure to bypass airport kiosk queues entirely upon landing.

Traditional paper stickers remain available in parallel during the Cairo airport pilot, Egyptian cabinet statements confirmed. Travelers flying directly into other international entry points, including Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Luxor, will continue using the standard sticker process until authorities expand the digital platform to all domestic airports.