Egypt has extended its free 96-hour transit visa program for another year, now set to expire at the end of April 2026, the Cabinet announced on Thursday. The decision is part of broader efforts to enhance travel facilities and attract more international visitors.
The initiative, which allows travelers to stay in Egypt for up to four days without paying visa fees, supports the country’s national tourism strategy aimed at increasing tourist arrivals from a wider range of global markets.
Tourism remains one of Egypt’s most vital sources of foreign currency. As part of its strategic vision, the government is targeting 30 million annual visitors by 2028. To accommodate this projected growth, Egypt plans to add around 250,000 new hotel rooms to its existing capacity of over 220,000 as of February 2024.
In 2024, Egypt recorded a historic high of 15.7 million tourist arrivals, generating $14.1 billion in revenue—surpassing the previous record of 14.9 million visitors set in 2023. The visa extension is seen as a key step in maintaining this upward momentum and reinforcing Egypt’s position as a leading travel destination.