Egypt 2026: e-Visa and VoA Fee Increases Take Effect

Egypt, the Mediterranean and Red Sea giant, is retooling its 2026 tourism entry policy as international demand—especially from India, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan—spikes sharply. Immigration authorities have announced sweeping changes to both electronic and on-arrival visa charges.

The e-visa tariffs go up by US$5 across the board. The pre-2026 rates were US$25 for a single-entry tourist e-visa and US$60 for a multi-entry variant.

Egypt e-Visa Portal – Official Portal of the Arab Republic of Egypt

On-arrival Visa (VoA) set at US$30 from 1 March 2026

From 1 March 2026, Egypt’s government has formally raised the visa-on-arrival fee for tourist visas.
New fee: single-entry visa rises from US$25 to US$30.

Eligible travellers—EU, U.S., Canadian and selected Asian and Latin-American nationals—will still receive the familiar green vignette, now stamped with an additional sticker stating “+US$5 / Surcharge Entry Visa Fee.”
Proceeds (expected to reach an extra US$50 million) will be funnelled into “Smart Airport” upgrades at Cairo, Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada intended to speed border checks.

Agency tip: Egyptians airports no longer accept Emirati dirhams, Indian rupees or credit cards for this fee. Travellers must present the exact amount in US$ cash (US$30).

VoA vs. e-Visa: what changes in practice

To dodge last-minute queues and stress at immigration counters, our agency now recommends the online e-visa route. A handy comparison table outlines the new landscape.

Regardless of format, all tourism visas issued by the Ministry of Tourism remain subject to the same validity rules:

Tourist Visa Validity – 90 days from date of issue
Single entry: maximum 30 consecutive days per stay
Multi-entry: up to 30 days per entry; ideal for side trips into Jordan or marine excursions en route back to Egypt.

Transit eases prolonged stopovers

Travellers on extended layovers—especially those connecting via EgyptAir—are in luck. The free 96-hour transit visa has been extended through April 2027, allowing quick dashes to the Pyramids of Giza or the Grand Egyptian Museum between international flights.

Why the surge from India, UAE and Jordan?

Egypt’s new travel boom is anchored in three key source markets:
Indian expatriates in the UAE (Dubai/Abu Dhabi): proximity, abundant direct flights and school-holiday timing make Egypt the go-to family escape during Ramadan and long weekends.
Jordanian and regional travellers: combined Egypt-Jordan-Israel itineraries fuel demand for multi-entry flexibility.
Gulf business mobility: companies send technicians or auditors to Egypt on short notice, routinely facing long VoA queues.

Quick-check list for a stress-free arrival

Prepare ahead to breeze through Egypt’s gates:

• Passport: at least six months’ validity beyond intended arrival plus one blank page.

• e-Visa timing: submit your online request 7–10 days before departure. Average processing is three to five business days, but expect delays during peak travel (Gulf holidays and year-end festivities).

• Supporting documents: print a copy of the approved e-visa, hotel confirmation and return ticket. Travellers from select nationalities (particularly outside the EU/ North America) may face stricter screening.

• Travel insurance: not formally mandatory for everyone, yet consular authorities strongly recommend a policy with at least US$30,000 medical coverage.

Need a flawless e-visa package? Our agency can handle the entire Egyptian e-visa process, double-check every document, and secure fast-track approval for you.