- As of 2026, citizens of over 40 nationalities — including the USA, UK, all EU member states, Canada, Australia and Japan — can obtain a tourist visa on arrival at Egypt’s main international airports.
- The standard tourist visa on arrival fee is $25 USD per person (single entry, 30 days) — verify the current fee with an official source before travel; US dollar cash is the most reliably accepted currency at airport payment counters.
- Visa on arrival is available at Cairo International Airport, Hurghada International Airport, Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport, Luxor International Airport and Borg El Arab Airport (Alexandria), among others.
- The visa is valid for 30 days from the date of entry and can be extended inside Egypt at an immigration office if you need a longer stay.
- Visa rules change: always verify your specific passport’s current status with an Egyptian consulate or the official immigration authority before you travel, especially if booking for late 2026 or beyond.
What is Egypt’s visa on arrival, and is it different from an e-visa?
Egypt’s visa on arrival lets eligible passport holders purchase a tourist visa sticker at the airport immigration counter immediately after landing — no prior application, no embassy appointment, no waiting weeks for a decision. The e-visa (applied for online via the Egyptian government’s official portal before departure) is a separate route that produces the same result: a 30-day, single-entry tourist visa. The two options differ only in where and when you pay; the rights they grant are identical.
For most visitors, the visa on arrival is the default choice: you land, buy your visa sticker at the bank window inside the terminal, clear passport control, collect your bags, and meet your guide in arrivals. The whole sequence takes between 20 and 50 minutes depending on the airport and the time of day.
Both cost the same and grant the same entry rights. The e-visa is worth considering if you want to avoid any risk of queue delays — particularly at Cairo International Airport during peak season (late December, Easter week, Eid al-Adha). Apply at least 72 hours before your flight; processing is often faster but delays do occur. For last-minute trips, or if you simply prefer the simplicity of handling everything on arrival, the visa on arrival works reliably for eligible nationalities.
Which countries are on Egypt’s visa on arrival eligible list for 2026?
As of 2026, over 40 nationalities qualify for visa on arrival at Egyptian airports; the table below covers the most commonly searched countries grouped by region, but it is not an exhaustive official list — always confirm your specific passport’s current status before booking your flights.
| Region | Notable Eligible Countries (as of 2026) | Key Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| North America | United States, Canada | Single entry, 30 days; extendable inside Egypt |
| Western Europe | All 27 EU member states, United Kingdom, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland | Standard $25 USD fee (subject to change — verify before travel); Egyptian law lists each country individually regardless of Schengen membership |
| Oceania | Australia, New Zealand | Standard terms apply |
| East Asia | Japan, South Korea | Eligible under standard terms; other East Asian nationalities vary — verify individually |
| Gulf / Arab States | Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman | GCC citizens may enter visa-free or with visa on arrival depending on purpose of visit; check current rules |
| Latin America | Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and some other Latin American countries | Eligible under standard terms; confirm with the Egyptian consulate for your specific passport |
| Not currently eligible (VOA) | Many African, South Asian and some East Asian passports | Typically require a pre-arranged embassy visa; check Egypt’s official immigration authority for the current list |
If your nationality does not appear above, or if you hold dual citizenship, contact the Egyptian Embassy in your home country or check the official Egyptian immigration authority’s portal before booking. Visa policy can be updated at short notice, and a written confirmation from an official source is always worth having before you fly.
How much does the Egypt visa on arrival cost in 2026?
The standard Egypt tourist visa on arrival fee is $25 USD per person for a single-entry, 30-day visa — a figure that has remained consistent for several years as of 2026, though fees are set by the Egyptian government and could be adjusted, so verify if you are travelling in the second half of the year.
Payment is made at a dedicated bank window (typically operated by Banque Misr or Egypt’s Bank of Alexandria) positioned just before the main immigration booths — you must pay here before joining the passport control queue. US dollars are the most widely accepted currency; euros and British pounds are generally accepted as well, but change may be returned in Egyptian pounds. Card payment is not consistently available at these counters, so carry cash.
Bring at least two $25 notes per traveller, ideally in smaller denominations. The bank counters process cash only, queues move quickly during a busy arrival wave, and asking for change slows everyone behind you. Do not exchange currency at the visa counter itself — use the ATMs or official exchange bureaux in the arrivals hall after clearing immigration, where rates tend to be better.
Which Egyptian airports offer visa on arrival, and what is each one like?
Visa on arrival is available at all of Egypt’s main international airports, but the speed and atmosphere vary significantly — knowing which airport you are arriving into sets the right expectations.
Cairo International Airport is Egypt’s busiest hub and the one most likely to generate longer queues. Terminal 3 is the main international terminal, handling EgyptAir and the majority of international airlines — most visitors arriving on international flights will land here. Terminal 2 can also see significant congestion when several wide-body flights land within the same hour, while Terminal 1 handles fewer international services and generally clears faster. Arriving early morning (before 07:00 local time) or during the mid-afternoon window (roughly 14:00–17:00) tends to mean noticeably shorter queues at both the visa counter and passport control.
Hurghada International Airport and Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport primarily serve charter and package-holiday traffic, so the immigration staff are well-practised with high volumes of arriving tourists. Most travellers clear the entire arrivals process — visa counter, passport control and baggage — in 20–35 minutes even during the busy winter season from November through February.
Luxor International Airport is a smaller facility; visa on arrival here is straightforward, though the number of open counters is limited and flight schedules tend to cluster in the evening, so patience helps when several charters land simultaneously.
Borg El Arab Airport in Alexandria also issues tourist visas on arrival for international arrivals. If you are planning an overland entry — for instance, crossing at Taba from Israel — note that the Sinai-only stamp available at certain land borders is a different, more restricted product with a 14-day limit confined to the Sinai Peninsula. See section six for more on this.
What is the step-by-step process for getting your visa on arrival at an Egyptian airport?
The process is straightforward and takes most travellers under 30 minutes outside of peak congestion: follow the airport signs for “Visa” before reaching the immigration booths, pay the fee at the bank window, receive your visa sticker, then join the passport control queue.
- Step 1 — Follow the “Visa on Arrival” signs immediately after disembarking. These appear shortly after you leave the jet bridge or bus transfer. Do not join the passport control queue first; you need the visa sticker before reaching the immigration officer.
- Step 2 — Pay the $25 USD fee at the bank counter. Hand over your cash and receive a receipt and/or a visa sticker that is affixed to your passport.
- Step 3 — Complete any arrival card if required. Egypt periodically requires a disembarkation card, available on the aircraft or near the visa counter. Write your accommodation address in Egypt — the hotel name alone is sufficient.
- Step 4 — Join the passport control queue. Present your passport open to the visa sticker, your arrival card, and your onward or return flight confirmation. The officer will stamp your entry.
- Step 5 — Clear customs and exit to arrivals. Your guide, driver, or transfer representative will be waiting in the arrivals hall beyond the customs area, normally holding a sign with your name.
Want everything arranged before you land?
Ahmose Travel is an Egyptian tour operator based in Alexandria that organises Egypt tours, Nile cruises, and private day trips directly — no third-party markup, no guesswork. We can advise on visa requirements specific to your nationality, arrange airport transfers, and have a guide waiting in arrivals so your holiday begins the moment you step outside customs.
What are the most common visa on arrival mistakes, and how do you avoid them?
Egypt’s visa on arrival works smoothly for the vast majority of eligible travellers, but a handful of predictable mistakes cause unnecessary stress at the immigration counter — these are worth knowing before you fly.
Passport validity that is too short
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date from Egypt. A passport that expires in four months will likely be refused at immigration regardless of your nationality’s visa eligibility. Check your document before you book flights, not on the way to the airport.
Accepting a Sinai-only stamp by mistake
If you arrive overland through Taba (from Israel) or via certain ferry routes, you may be offered a free Sinai-only stamp valid for 14 days, which restricts your movements to the Sinai Peninsula. This is not a full tourist visa. If you plan to visit Cairo, Luxor, Aswan or anywhere on the Egyptian mainland, explicitly request and pay for the standard tourist visa at the point of entry — do not accept the Sinai stamp assuming it covers the whole country.
Losing the payment receipt
Keep any receipt issued at the visa bank counter until you have passed through passport control. Officers occasionally ask to see it as confirmation you paid through the official channel, and having it readily available avoids any delay.
Overstaying the 30-day visa
An overstay attracts fines, potential detention at departure, and future entry difficulties. If your plans change and you need more time in Egypt, extend your visa legally at a Mogamma immigration office or a major passport office in your city — begin the process a few days before your current visa expires rather than leaving it to the last moment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, as of 2026, British passport holders are eligible for visa on arrival at Egyptian international airports. The standard $25 USD fee applies (verify the current fee before travel) and the visa is valid for 30 days, single entry. Egypt’s visa policy can change, so confirm the current position with the Egyptian Embassy in London or the official Egyptian immigration authority before you travel — particularly if booking for late in the year.
The standard visa on arrival is single-entry. If you plan to leave Egypt and return during the same trip — for example, taking a day excursion into Jordan or Israel — you will need to purchase a new visa on re-entry, or apply at an Egyptian consulate in advance for a multiple-entry visa before departing your home country. Discuss your full itinerary with your tour operator before finalising bookings.
Yes. The 30-day tourist visa can be extended for a further period at a Mogamma immigration office — most notably at Cairo’s Tahrir Square location — or at a major passport office in other cities. Extensions involve a modest fee and some paperwork. Begin the process a few days before your current visa expires to avoid any overstay penalties; the Egyptian authorities do enforce this at departure.
If your passport is not on the visa on arrival or e-visa eligible list, you will need to apply for a tourist visa at an Egyptian embassy or consulate in your home country before travelling. Processing times vary, so start at least four to six weeks before your intended departure. A tour operator in Egypt can issue a formal invitation letter if the consulate requires one — contact Ahmose Travel well in advance if you need this documentation arranged.