Egypt Launches A Revolutionary Digital Visa-On-Arrival System To Supercharge Airport Operations And Provide Tourists With A Faster, More Efficient Way To Enter The Country

Published on November 22, 2025

Egypt is revolutionizing the travel experience with the introduction of its new digital visa-on-arrival system, aimed at enhancing the ease and efficiency of airport entry. This innovation allows international tourists to obtain their visas digitally upon arrival, significantly reducing waiting times and streamlining the process. As the country looks to attract more visitors, especially with the opening of major attractions like the Grand Egyptian Museum, this new system is a crucial step in modernizing Egypt’s tourism infrastructure, ensuring that travelers enjoy a smooth and hassle-free experience from the moment they land.

Egypt Launches Digital Visa-On-Arrival System to Enhance Tourist Experience at Airports

Egypt has officially embarked on testing its new digital tourist visa-on-arrival system, a significant step in modernizing the country’s travel infrastructure and streamlining airport entry procedures. This digital initiative aims to simplify the visa application process for international visitors, enhancing the overall travel experience in Egypt.

As of Thursday, November 20, 2025, Egypt initiated the first phase of the pilot program, which introduces a QR code-based system designed to make obtaining a visa quicker and more efficient. This move is part of Egypt’s broader efforts to improve its tourism sector by reducing bureaucratic hurdles and integrating digital technologies into its service offerings.

The new system will allow travelers to obtain their visas directly upon arrival at Egyptian airports. The process will be entirely digital, with payment for the visa fees made through an online platform before the QR code is issued. This initiative is expected to significantly reduce waiting times for international tourists, making entry to Egypt faster and more seamless.

The rollout of the new system began at Cairo International Airport’s Terminal 2. The trial phase will monitor the performance and reliability of the system, ensuring that it works effectively before it is expanded to other airports across the country. This gradual approach will allow Egypt to iron out any technical issues and fine-tune the system’s efficiency, making it easier for tourists to visit in the future.

Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities held a meeting on November 20 to review the progress of this new system. The session was attended by senior officials who assessed various aspects of the project, including its technical, procedural, and design elements. The meeting also focused on the integration of the QR code system across different services, such as immigration checks, airport services, and other tourism-related platforms.

One of the primary topics of discussion was the timeline for activating the system and ensuring all stakeholders were properly linked into the process. These stakeholders include airport authorities, tourism ministry services, immigration officials, and the digital platforms responsible for processing payments and generating QR codes. The goal is to ensure that everything is fully operational at the outset of the trial phase, providing a smooth and efficient experience for travelers.

The digital visa system is a major component of Egypt’s ongoing efforts to modernize its tourism infrastructure. This initiative is part of a broader governmental push to modernize the visitor entry process and meet the growing demands of the country’s tourism sector. The goal is to make Egypt’s airports more modern and efficient by 2026, equipping them with the capacity to handle both electronic and emergency visas.

In addition to the digital visa program, the Egyptian government has been working on upgrading its border infrastructure to better accommodate the anticipated influx of tourists. The recent opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum is expected to drive a surge in visitor numbers, making it crucial for Egypt to improve its border control systems to ensure a smooth entry process.

To this end, the Egyptian Prime Minister convened a high-level meeting earlier in the week, which included the ministers of Tourism, Communications, Finance, and Interior, as well as civil aviation officials and technology company representatives. The objective of the meeting was to review the country’s efforts to digitize its airports and ports, as well as to discuss the capacity of the new electronic visa system to handle an increasing number of international arrivals.

In the same meeting, insights were shared regarding the progress made in modernizing the country’s airports. The discussions covered the integration of the electronic visa system and the steps being taken to reduce wait times and simplify procedures for travelers. Additionally, the government is investing in necessary infrastructure upgrades to ensure that Egypt’s airport facilities meet international standards for efficiency and reliability.

The meeting provided insights into the progress made in modernizing the country’s airports. The discussions included details about the integration of the electronic visa system and the measures being put in place to reduce wait times and simplify procedures for travelers. Additionally, the government is investing in the necessary infrastructure upgrades to ensure that Egypt’s airport facilities meet international standards for efficiency and reliability.

The ongoing modernization of Egypt’s tourism infrastructure reflects a broader commitment by the government to position the country as a leading travel destination in the region. By improving airport procedures and embracing digital technologies, Egypt aims to offer a more convenient and pleasant experience for tourists. These changes are expected to benefit not only international visitors but also contribute to Egypt’s broader economic goals by increasing tourism revenue and improving the country’s global standing.

As the testing phase of the digital visa system progresses, Egypt’s tourism officials remain optimistic about the potential impact on the visitor experience. Once fully implemented, the QR code-based visa system will be a key part of Egypt’s tourism modernization efforts, aligning the country’s infrastructure with global trends in digital travel services.

Egypt’s digital visa-on-arrival system represents a significant step toward modernizing the country’s tourism infrastructure. The digital platform promises to streamline the entry process for tourists, reduce wait times, and enhance the overall experience at airports. As the system is tested and gradually expanded, Egypt is positioning itself to offer a more efficient, modern, and tourist-friendly environment, boosting its appeal as a global travel destination in the years ahead.