Egypt is moving ahead with a major upgrade to its airport entry process with the introduction of a new digital visa-on-arrival system at Cairo International Airport.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly oversaw the signing of two operational agreements between CyShield Technology and payment partners National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr as part of the country’s wider airport digitization strategy.
The new system is scheduled to be fully rolled out across all terminals at Cairo International Airport by August 2026. It is designed to simplify and speed up entry procedures for international travelers arriving in Egypt.
Under the new process, visitors will be able to obtain their visa through several digital channels, including airport self-service kiosks, the official visa-on-arrival website, mobile applications, and self-application portals. Travelers will pay visa and service fees electronically before receiving a QR code that acts as a digital visa stamp. The QR code will then be scanned by passport officers upon arrival, significantly reducing paperwork and processing times.
Egyptian authorities said the system will also allow visitors to secure their visas before departure, up to 48 hours prior to travel. Applications can be completed independently or through approved travel agencies and tourism companies.
The initiative follows a pilot program first announced in late 2025 at Terminal 2 of Cairo International Airport. It also comes shortly after Egypt’s Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed the cancellation of the paper passport card requirement for Egyptian passengers traveling through Cairo Airport terminals beginning in April 2026.
The government sees the project as a key part of its broader digital transformation and tourism growth plans. Egypt’s tourism sector has posted record growth over the past year, with the country welcoming nearly 19 million international visitors in 2025, a 21% increase compared with 2024, according to official figures from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Officials are targeting 30 million annual visitors by 2030, supported by airport modernization projects, expanded hotel capacity, and major new attractions such as the Grand Egyptian Museum.
