Egypt swaps paper stickers for QR code visa on arrival at Cairo Airport

QR codes replace paper stickers at Cairo Airport

Egypt's digital visa-on-arrival system is in trial operation at Cairo International Airport, swapping the traditional paper visa sticker for a QR code that immigration officers scan at passport control. The pilot began in mid-June 2025 and tests self-service kiosks, a web portal and a mobile app.

A full deployment across all Cairo terminals is scheduled for August 2026, with a gradual rollout to other Egyptian airports to follow. Eligible travelers enter passport data, pay the visa fee electronically and receive an instant QR code in place of the sticker sold at bank counters.

Who feels the change

The shift is procedural, not categorical. Citizens of countries already eligible for visa-on-arrival or e-visa, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, most EU states, Australia, Japan and South Korea, remain eligible under the same tourist terms, generally up to 30 days.

Remote workers and frequent visitors who string together short tourist stays should see faster processing at arrivals, though the underlying visa category is unchanged. Long-term expats on residence permits or work visas are largely unaffected, except when they re-enter on tourist status.

Nationals who currently need a consular visa in advance, including travelers from Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and several African states, aren't covered by the digital VoA and still need pre-approved visas.

What arrivals should do

Travelers landing at Cairo before the August 2026 full launch should expect a mixed environment, with paper stickers still in circulation alongside the digital kiosks. Those arriving after the full rollout should plan on the QR-based visa as the default.

Practical requirements track the existing tourist visa rules:

• Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond entry, with one blank visa page
• Eligibility under Egypt's current VoA or e-visa list
• A payment card for the electronic visa fee
• Tourism or short-visit purpose, stays up to 30 days

Three channels are available at Cairo: self-service kiosks in the arrivals hall, the official digital VoA website and the dedicated mobile app. Each issues the QR code for scanning at passport control.

Read our full Egypt guide for the complete picture and follow our visa updates for rollout news at other Egyptian airports.