Egypt to Launch Emergency Visa-on-Arrival System

Egypt is set to roll out a pilot program of its new digital emergency visa in mid-June at Cairo International Airport. 

Under the directives of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, led a strategic interministerial meeting at the ministry’s headquarters to discuss the details of issuing emergency visas to travelers from various countries upon arrival at Egyptian airports. 

Several representatives from the Ministries of Civil Aviation, Finance, and Communications and Information Technology were present at the meeting, along with the company in charge of the technical aspects of the project. 

Minister Fathy explained that the system will streamline the entry procedures for obtaining emergency visas and reduce congestion and overcrowding at airports. This new pilot program is part of Egypt’s larger efforts to enhance the experience of tourists, improve the efficiency of the entry process, and expand Egypt’s capacity to accommodate higher tourist arrivals.

According to the Ministry’s statement, travelers would easily obtain their visa on arrival under the new system using a QR code in different airports participating in the program. They will also be able to quickly make a payment for the visa electronically. 

To make the process more efficient, self-service machines will be set up in several locations in the arrival area, and a dedicated mobile application has been designed. Travelers can upload required documents and make payment using the app.

The ministers and representatives at the meeting also discussed potential challenges that may arise with this system. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities will work closely with relevant authorities in the period leading up to the pilot phase starting in mid-June. 

The aim of the pilot phase is to analyze the logistical challenges and improve the system to roll it out to all Egyptian airports in subsequent phases. 

Minister Fathy highlighted that this initiative is part of Egypt’s goal to modernize the tourism infrastructure and enhance the country’s tourism appeal.