Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has quietly implemented the first increase in its single-entry visa-on-arrival (VoA) fee in more than a decade, lifting the charge from US$25 to US$30 with effect from 1 March 2026. Travel and Tour World confirmed the change on 9 March 2026 after multiple passenger reports from Cairo International Airport showed the addition of a “+$5 / Surcharge Entry Visa Fee” sticker to the traditional green visa label. France is one of Egypt’s top European source markets – nearly 700,000 French nationals visited in 2025 – and all continue to be eligible for the VoA.
![Egypt raises visa-on-arrival fee to US$30 – French tourists among those paying more]()
For French residents who prefer to organise their paperwork in advance, VisaHQ offers a straightforward online pathway to Egypt’s e-Visa as well as other global travel documents. Its dedicated France page (https://www.visahq.com/france/) provides step-by-step instructions, secure euro payments and live support, helping both holidaymakers and business travellers avoid airport queues and last-minute cash surcharges.
The modest US$5 hike may seem negligible, but tour operators say it adds roughly €20 to the cost of a typical French family of four visiting the Red Sea, and forces them to update package brochures, payment processes at arrival desks and client briefing notes. Importantly, the fee rise does not affect Egypt’s e-Visa platform or multiple-entry visas obtained in advance at consulates, giving organised business travellers an incentive to shift to the digital channel. French companies sending short-term technicians or auditors – who often rely on last-minute VoAs – are advised to switch to e-Visas to avoid reimbursement hassles and unexpected cash-handling on arrival. Industry groups such as Les Entreprises du Voyage welcomed the fact that rumours of a jump to US$45 proved unfounded, but called on Cairo to communicate future fee adjustments through official diplomatic channels to reduce confusion at airports. Airlines serving France-Egypt routes, including Air France, Transavia and EgyptAir, have issued travel-agent bulletins reminding passengers to carry the exact cash amount in US dollars.
For French residents who prefer to organise their paperwork in advance, VisaHQ offers a straightforward online pathway to Egypt’s e-Visa as well as other global travel documents. Its dedicated France page (https://www.visahq.com/france/) provides step-by-step instructions, secure euro payments and live support, helping both holidaymakers and business travellers avoid airport queues and last-minute cash surcharges.
The modest US$5 hike may seem negligible, but tour operators say it adds roughly €20 to the cost of a typical French family of four visiting the Red Sea, and forces them to update package brochures, payment processes at arrival desks and client briefing notes. Importantly, the fee rise does not affect Egypt’s e-Visa platform or multiple-entry visas obtained in advance at consulates, giving organised business travellers an incentive to shift to the digital channel. French companies sending short-term technicians or auditors – who often rely on last-minute VoAs – are advised to switch to e-Visas to avoid reimbursement hassles and unexpected cash-handling on arrival. Industry groups such as Les Entreprises du Voyage welcomed the fact that rumours of a jump to US$45 proved unfounded, but called on Cairo to communicate future fee adjustments through official diplomatic channels to reduce confusion at airports. Airlines serving France-Egypt routes, including Air France, Transavia and EgyptAir, have issued travel-agent bulletins reminding passengers to carry the exact cash amount in US dollars.
