Egypt quietly increased its single-entry visa-on-arrival fee from US $25 to US $30, effective March 1, 2026, according to trade association confirmations cited by ProPakistani. The March 3 report advises that the $5 hike applies at all airports and seaports; travelers who secure an e-visa in advance are unaffected. While the absolute increase is modest, the cumulative effect on large incentive groups and family travel is notable. A 200-person corporate meeting will now cost an extra $1,000 in arrival-fees alone, prompting U.S. MICE planners to rethink package pricing or encourage pre-travel e-visa applications to avoid border-queue uncertainty. Tour operators must update brochures and automated booking flows immediately to avoid client sticker shock. Airlines and global distribution systems that display “taxes and fees” inclusively will need to refresh fare data. For expatriate assignment managers, the change underscores a broader trend of incremental fee increases worldwide that can erode relocation budgets if left untracked. U.S. citizens remain eligible for the visa-on-arrival, but the State Department continues to recommend online applications where possible. Firms with frequent Cairo itineraries should brief travelers to carry crisp U.S. cash and allow extra processing time amid expected adjustment-period queues.
Source: ProPakistani
