Egypt expanded in late February its visa-free entry to new countries in an attempt to boost tourism growth. The move was timely clever as simplified entries would help cushion the potential negative effect of the Gulf war on arrivals.
The move is part of the country’s “Visa Open Egypt” strategy, launched in 2023, which aims to simplify entry procedures and make Egypt more competitive with regional tourism destinations such as Turkey, Morocco, and the UAE.
Under the expanded policy, travelers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, European Union member states, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and several Latin American countries can now enter Egypt without obtaining a visa in advance or paying visa-on-arrival fees. Eligible visitors are permitted tourism stays ranging from 30 to 90 days, depending on nationality.
The new rules eliminated the current USD 25 visa-on-arrival fee for many visitors and helped reducing airport processing times while encouraging more short-break, cruise, and multi-destination travel bookings.
Egyptian authorities see the visa liberalization as a key driver in achieving ambitious tourism targets. The country welcomed approximately 14.9 million visitors in 2025, a 12% increase compared with 2024, generating around USD 15 billion in tourism revenue. Egypt is targeting 30 million annual visitors by 2030 as it seeks to support major infrastructure and development projects, including the New Administrative Capital.
The policy expansion comes as the sector continues to deliver strong financial results. According to a government statement, tourism revenues increased 14.9% year-on-year to USD 14.4 billion during the first nine months of the 2025/26 fiscal year, covering the period from July 2025 to March 2026. Revenue during the same period a year earlier totaled approximately USD 12.5 billion.
Europe remains Egypt’s largest source market, accounting for 69.2% of total arrivals during the period. Russia was the leading source country, followed by Germany.
Industry stakeholders expect the new visa exemptions to further strengthen demand from North America and Europe, with forecasts suggesting visitor numbers from those markets could increase by 10% to 15% from 2026 onward.
The easier entry requirements are also expected to benefit Egypt’s hotel sector, airlines, cruise operators, and tourism businesses. EgyptAir is already expanding its route network, while tour operators anticipate greater demand for combined itineraries linking Egypt with neighboring destinations such as Greece, Jordan, and Israel.
