Tell me, in 2026, is the visa to Egypt on arrival still issued on paper, as before, or now only electronic visas?

Yes, in 2026 you can still get a paper visa to Egypt right at the airport on arrival, as before. Electronic visas have been introduced in Egypt, but the paper option has not been completely abolished yet, and for most tourists it remains the main one.

The visa on arrival is a sticker-stamp that is placed in your passport at the counter before passport control. It costs 30 US dollars or 30 euros. This is a single-entry visa valid for 30 days. Payment is only in cash. Cards are not accepted at the airport, and change from a large bill may be given in local pounds, at a not very favorable rate.

If you arrive at Sharm el-Sheikh airport for up to 15 days and do not plan to leave the Sinai Peninsula, you do not have to buy a visa - at passport control you will be given a free so-called Sinai stamp. But remember: with it you cannot go on excursions to Cairo or Luxor.

As for the electronic visa, in 2026 Egypt began issuing a QR code instead of a paper sticker. So far, you can enter with this visa only through Cairo airport; in other airports the system is promised to be introduced later. You can apply for an electronic visa on the official website apps.visaonarrival.gov.eg. But there are two nuances: it costs 6 dollars more than the paper one, and Russian bank cards are not accepted for payment. Therefore, for tourists from Russia, the paper visa on arrival remains the simplest and most profitable option.

If you are already in Egypt on a Sinai stamp and want to go to Cairo, you can buy a paper visa sticker for 30 dollars: either on your own at the airport, or through a tour guide (but then it will be more expensive). The period of stay will be counted from the date of your first entry into Egypt.

So the "paper" visa to Egypt works in 2026, there is nothing to worry about. The main thing is to have a passport valid for at least 6 months, cash dollars, and your own pen to fill out the migration card. You can read more in our detailed guide: Visa to Egypt and visa-free entry in 2026.

Does everyone get a Sinai stamp in Sharm?
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