Egypt is swapping its paper visa sticker for a QR code. The Digital Visa-on-Arrival System launches August 1, 2026, starting as a pilot at Cairo International Airport, and the early coverage is treating it as a straightforward convenience upgrade. It is one — but underneath the QR code, it's still a visa-on-arrival. Indian passport holders have generally not been on the list of nationalities eligible for that, and none of the announcements say whether this pilot changes it.
Here's what's actually launching, and what it means if you're applying from India.
What's Actually Launching
From August 1, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities begins piloting a new entry process at Cairo airport: instead of a paper visa sticker glued into your passport, eligible arriving travelers get a Visa QR code instead. Paper visas remain valid and continue to be issued during this period — nothing is being withdrawn, only added alongside it. Other Egyptian airports will trial the system later, in a phased rollout; for now, it's Cairo only, and it's officially still a pilot.
How the QR Code Works
There are three ways to get the code: Egypt's official online portal (which opens 48 hours before the pilot begins), the official app, or self-service machines at Cairo airport after landing. However you get it, the code is valid for 48 hours from issuance — which means it can be generated before you fly, or even mid-flight, instead of only after you land. At the border, you show the QR code alongside your passport; both an emailed copy and a printed one are accepted.
What It Costs
The digital version isn't free, and it isn't cheaper than the paper process it replaces:
| Visa type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Digital Visa-on-Arrival (QR, Cairo pilot) | $36 total ($30 fee + $6 issuing) |
| Standard e-visa (the route most Indians use) | ~$25, commonly cited around ₹2,100–2,800 |
Egypt has revised visa pricing more than once in the past year, and figures quoted by agents vary. Treat the e-visa number as a ballpark and confirm the exact fee on Egypt's official e-visa portal before you pay.
The Catch for Indian Travelers
Here's the part every early write-up skips: this is a digital version of the visa-on-arrival process, and Indian passport holders have not generally been eligible for Egypt's standard visa-on-arrival. The usual route from India is an e-visa applied for in advance — typically a few days to a couple of weeks before departure, through Egypt's official e-visa portal or a travel agent. A narrow exception exists for travelers on a group tour of at least two people, arranged through an Egypt-certified agency with a signed Letter of Guarantee — but that's not the average solo trip or family holiday.
Egypt's own announcement doesn't say whether the new QR system changes this eligibility list, or simply digitizes the same on-arrival process for the same pool of nationalities who already qualified. Until that's confirmed, the safe assumption is that nothing changes for most Indian travelers. Keep applying for the e-visa in advance, the way you always have.
What To Do Before You Book
Planning a Cairo trip after August 1? Don't restructure your plans around the new QR system unless you've confirmed eligibility on the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities' official visitor info page first. Apply for your e-visa the normal way, with your usual lead time, and don't count on picking up a QR code at the airport instead. If Egypt does extend eligibility to Indian travelers as the rollout continues, we'll update this page — for now, treat the QR system as Cairo airport getting faster lines for the nationalities who already qualified, not a new option for Indian passports.
FAQ
When does Egypt's new digital visa launch?
August 1, 2026, as a pilot at Cairo International Airport only. Other Egyptian airports will trial the system later in a phased rollout.
Does the new QR code replace the e-visa Indian travelers currently use?
Not confirmed. It digitizes Egypt's visa-on-arrival process, which Indian passport holders have generally not been eligible for. Until Egypt clarifies otherwise, Indian travelers should keep applying for the e-visa in advance, as before.
How much does Egypt's new digital visa cost?
USD $36 total — a $30 visa fee plus a $6 issuing fee — per Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
How long is the Visa QR code valid?
48 hours from the time it's issued, so travelers can generate it before departure or mid-flight rather than only after landing.