Since last December, our phones at the agency have been ringing off the hook. «Has the visa for Egypt really doubled?», «What's all this about a 45$ visa?». From our offices in Nantes, where we manage entry formalities for travellers from all over the world, we've seen dozens of contradictory articles.
Today, February 23, 2026, the suspense is over: the official decision came down yesterday. A copy of the Chamber of Egyptian Travel Agencies (ETAA) landed on our desks this morning. The visa fee is indeed going up, but the press was dead wrong about the amount. Here's everything you need to know to prepare for your departure without unpleasant surprises.
Concrete changes on March 1
The official ETAA document (circular no. 37) clears up any ambiguity on the subject.
It has been decided to increase the fee for emergency entry visas at Egyptian ports to US$30 instead of US$25, effective March 1, 2026.(Translation from the Arabic of the directive signed by Osama Emara, ETAA Executive Director)
If you land in Cairo, Hurghada or Luxor without having made your consular arrangements in advance, you will need to pay an additional $5. This fee applies to all international travellers eligible for a visa on arrival.
Why did everyone believe in the 45$ visa?
If you keep up to date with travel formalities, you'll remember the panic at the end of 2025. Almost every media outlet was reporting that the Egyptian visa had just shot up to 45$. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism had to row to deny the rumor.
The explanation is quite simple. Last November, Law no. 175 of 2025 simply set a “ceiling” on the maximum increase to finance the renovation of embassies, without actually implementing it.. The press got carried away, confusing the legal ceiling with the actual rate. In the end, the authorities settled yesterday with a small increase of 5$. A much easier pill to swallow for your vacation budget.
Our agency's advice: secure your entrance
The visa on arrival, known administratively as the “emergency visa“It's all very well. Except that our teams see the daily hassles at immigration counters: interminable queues in the middle of the night, customs officers who don't have change, or worse, denied boarding for certain nationalities who thought they were eligible on the spot, or even baksheesh.
For our customers, especially non-European travelers subject to stricter control regulations, anticipation is the only real guarantee. Request a e-Visa before departure makes perfect sense today. You receive your document in PDF, go straight to passport control and avoid the cold sweat of sudden changes in tariff policy at the border.
Does this increase affect multiple-entry visas?
The February 22 circular specifically targets single-entry emergency visas issued at border crossings. For multiple-entry visas (historically at 60$), we await confirmation from the authorities in the next few days, but expect a proportional adjustment.
Can I pay for my visa in euros?
Yes, Egyptian customs generally accept euros or pounds sterling. The catch is that the conversion rate is at the discretion of the agent, often to your disadvantage. The best tip for seasoned travellers is to have the exact amount in U.S. dollars to hand.
Does the free Sinai stamp still exist?
Totally. If your stay is less than 15 days and you are staying in Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba, the free “Sinai Only”does the job. Beware, with this stamp, you are strictly forbidden to leave the east coast (you can forget about visiting the Pyramids of Giza).
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