Egypt will apply a US$15 charge to entry and transit visas from 1 January 2027, under a government decision that also covers visas and some consular services provided by Egyptian diplomatic missions abroad.
The measure is contained in Prime Ministerial Decree No. 2553 of 2026, issued by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.
Under the decision, the charge will be US$15, or its equivalent in foreign currency where applicable, for each entry or transit visa issued by Egyptian authorities at ports of entry.
The same amount will also apply to visas and certain consular services handled by Egyptian embassies and consulates overseas.
What changes from January 2027?
The decree introduces a standard US$15 charge for the services covered by the decision.
It takes effect on 1 January 2027, replacing any earlier provisions that conflict with the new rules.
Ahram Online reported that the decision brings together charges for entry and transit visas and some consular services that had previously been governed by different rules.
That means the change is not limited to travellers arriving at Egyptian airports or other border points. It also reaches some services provided through Egyptian diplomatic missions abroad.
Does this mean an Egyptian visa will cost US$15?
Not necessarily.
This is the part travellers should pay closest attention to.
The decree sets a US$15 charge for the services it covers, but that does not automatically mean every traveller will pay only US$15 in total for an Egyptian visa.
The final amount may still depend on the type of visa, the traveller’s nationality and how the application is made.
For that reason, people travelling in 2027 should check the requirements that apply to them rather than treating the US$15 figure as a universal final price.
Why this matters for African travellers
Egypt is one of Africa’s major tourism destinations and an important link between Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
The change therefore has wider importance beyond leisure travel.
Business travellers, conference delegates, students, families and members of the diaspora may also need Egyptian visas or use the country as part of wider international journeys.
For those travellers, the practical question is not simply whether Egypt has announced a US$15 fee. It is how that fee will fit into the total amount they eventually pay.
The Trivane angle: the headline figure is only part of the story
The US$15 number is easy to report.
The more useful question is what travellers will actually pay once the new system takes effect.
That distinction matters because a headline saying “Egyptian visas will cost US$15” could easily give readers the wrong impression.
What has been confirmed is narrower: Egypt has set a US$15 charge for entry and transit visas issued at ports of entry and for visas and certain consular services provided through its missions abroad.
The full cost for individual travellers may still vary.
What travellers should do
Anyone planning to visit Egypt after the new rules begin should check the official requirements for their nationality before travelling.
That includes confirming whether a visa is needed, how it must be obtained and what the full amount payable will be.
With the measure not taking effect until 1 January 2027, travellers, airlines and travel companies still have time to adjust to the new rules.
For now, the position is clear: Egypt has set the relevant visa charge at US$15 from January 2027, but travellers should not assume that figure will always be their complete visa cost.
Source: Ahram Online, 30 August 2026 — Egypt sets $15 fee for entry, transit visas and consular services from 2027.
Facts first. Not frenzy.
