Egypt imposes new departure fee for travellers

Egypt has introduced new fees for people leaving the country and for cement production under amendments to the state’s financial resource development law.

The amendments were published in the country’s official gazette 28 July 2026 through a presidential decree and will take effect the day after publication.

Under the new law, a fee of 100 Egyptian pounds will be charged on departures from Egypt. The measure exempts Egyptian and foreign drivers of public passenger and freight vehicles, as well as workers on cross-border truck routes.

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The law also introduces a fee of 35 Egyptian pounds for every tonne of cement produced, regardless of type. Cement manufacturers will be required to pay the fee to the Egyptian Tax Authority.

The previous law, introduced in 1984, imposed a departure fee of five Egyptian pounds.

Separately, Egypt is preparing to launch a new electronic visa system as part of efforts to improve the competitiveness of its tourism sector and achieve its target of attracting 30 million tourists by 2030.

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy said the new system will use a QR code instead of the traditional visa-on-arrival stamp. He said it is scheduled to be officially launched in August after technical preparations are completed.

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