Egypt to launch QR code visas at airports and border crossings in August

The Egyptian Chamber of Travel Agencies and Tourism Companies stated that the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is preparing to launch a new system for obtaining tourist visas on arrival in Egypt. This system relies on digitizing visa issuance procedures, replacing paper visa stamps, and allowing tourists to obtain a QR code through various channels, including a dedicated website, a mobile application, or self-service kiosks to be installed in airport arrival halls, starting from August 1 of next year.

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities also announced a set of rules and procedures for licensed travel companies organizing Umrah trips for the 1448 Hijri season. These regulations include prohibiting the collection of Umrah program fees in any currency other than the Egyptian pound, forbidding the dispatch of pilgrims to departure gates before a pre-determined deadline, and requiring that all necessary procedures for sending pilgrims, whether as individuals or groups, be completed well in advance of their dispatch.

Meanwhile, Minister of Labor Hassan Radad announced the commencement of payments for the second and third installments of the exceptional grant for irregular workers registered in the Ministry’s database, distributed through the outlets of the Egyptian National Post.

He added that the total value of the two installments amounts to 737.715 million Egyptian pounds, benefiting 245,905 irregular workers, with each worker receiving a total of 3,000 Egyptian pounds across both installments.

Furthermore, a recent report issued by the Egyptian Plant Quarantine Authority revealed that citrus fruits lead agricultural exports, with shipment volumes surpassing 2.2 million tons since the start of the current export season. This record figure reflects growing demand from European, Asian, and Arab markets for Egyptian produce.