Egypt Joins Morocco, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Other African Nations in Facing a Significant Hike in Visa Fees and New Travel Charges to US Under One Big Beautiful Bill: Everything You Need to Know

Published on November 23, 2025

Egypt joins Morocco, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and other African nations in facing a significant hike in visa fees and new travel charges to the U.S. under the One Big Beautiful Bill. This bill introduces a $250 Visa Integrity Fee, which will apply to most non-immigrant visa applicants, including tourists, students, and exchange visitors. Along with this fee increase, the bill raises several existing travel-related charges, such as the ESTA fee, and introduces inflation-based adjustments for certain fees. Additionally, the bill allocates funding for stricter border enforcement, potentially leading to longer processing times and more rigorous entry checks for travelers from these key African markets.

Overview of the One Big Beautiful Bill

The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBBA) represents a comprehensive update to U.S. visa and travel regulations, introducing several significant changes that will impact both U.S. travelers and international visitors. One of the most notable provisions is the introduction of a $250 Visa Integrity Fee, which will apply to most non-immigrant visa applicants, including tourists, students, and exchange visitors. Additionally, the bill increases several existing travel-related fees, such as the ESTA fee for Visa Waiver Program countries, and mandates inflation-based adjustments for certain fees. In terms of enforcement, the bill allocates funding to hire more Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, aiming to reduce wait times at U.S. ports of entry. However, the bill has raised concerns among tourism officials, who argue that these changes may deter international visitors, especially with major global events like the World Cup and Olympics approaching. Below is a summary of the key changes:

Impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill on Travelers from Key Tourism Markets

Morocco: Moroccan travelers will be impacted by the $250 Visa Integrity Fee, increasing the overall cost of obtaining a U.S. tourist visa. Along with stricter border enforcement measures, Moroccan travelers may experience longer processing times and more rigorous entry checks at U.S. ports.

Egypt: Egyptian nationals will face the $250 Visa Integrity Fee for most non-immigrant U.S. visas, raising travel costs. The bill’s increased funding for border enforcement may result in stricter entry procedures at U.S. ports of entry, potentially discouraging some Egyptian visitors.

South Africa: South African travelers will see a significant impact due to the $250 Visa Integrity Fee, which adds to the cost of obtaining a U.S. tourist visa. With the bill’s emphasis on enhanced border enforcement, travelers from South Africa may also face longer visa processing times and tighter scrutiny at U.S. entry points.

Nigeria: Nigerian nationals, not part of the Visa Waiver Program, will be directly affected by the $250 Visa Integrity Fee, raising the cost of traveling to the U.S. The additional border enforcement funding may lead to stricter entry checks, causing delays for Nigerian travelers.

Kenya: Kenyan travelers will experience the $250 Visa Integrity Fee, increasing the cost of U.S. non-immigrant visas. The bill’s allocation for enhanced border enforcement could result in longer processing times and more stringent entry checks at U.S. ports for Kenyan nationals.

Uganda: Ugandan travelers will face the $250 Visa Integrity Fee, making U.S. tourist and student visas more expensive. Stricter border enforcement, along with potential delays in visa processing, may deter some Ugandan nationals from traveling to the U.S.

Zimbabwe: Zimbabwean travelers will be impacted by the $250 Visa Integrity Fee, raising the cost of obtaining a U.S. visa. The bill’s increased funding for border enforcement could result in more stringent processing measures and delays for Zimbabwean visitors entering the US.

Egypt joins Morocco, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and other African nations in facing a significant hike in visa fees and new travel charges to the US under the One Big Beautiful Bill. This bill introduces a $250 Visa Integrity Fee.

Conclusion

Egypt, along with Morocco, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and other African nations, will face a significant hike in visa fees and new travel charges to the U.S. under the One Big Beautiful Bill. This bill’s introduction of the $250 Visa Integrity Fee will increase the overall cost for travelers from these countries, making it more expensive to obtain U.S. visas. The bill’s provisions also include higher ESTA fees, increased border enforcement funding, and stricter entry checks, all of which may result in longer processing times and more complex travel procedures. These changes are expected to impact travel from key African markets, potentially discouraging some visitors while raising concerns among tourism officials.