Egypt has extended its free 96-hour transit visa for international travellers, allowing visa-free stays of up to four days while transiting through Cairo, Luxor, or Aswan.
Summary: Egypt has extended its free 96-hour transit visa until April 2027, allowing passengers flying with Egyptian carriers to stay visa-free for up to four days in Cairo, Luxor or Aswan. The country has also renewed a free emergency entry visa for Luxor and Aswan for the summers of 2026 and 2027.
Egypt has prolonged its free 96-hour transit visa programme, enabling international travellers to remain visa-free for up to four days while transiting through Cairo, Luxor or Aswan. The measure — available to passengers flying with Egyptian airlines — has been extended through April 2027, offering a simpler route for short stopovers at some of the country’s most visited sites.
Key details of the extension
The 96-hour transit visa is offered free of charge and permits a maximum stay of four days. It targets travellers transiting via Egypt’s primary air hubs, helping to convert layovers into short visits that showcase Egyptian heritage and culture without the need for a full tourist visa.
- Visa type: Free 96-hour transit visa (up to 4 days)
- Applies to: Passengers flying with Egyptian airlines
- Locations: Transit through Cairo, Luxor or Aswan
- Duration of extension: Through April 2027
Where travellers can explore during layovers
Cairo offers a compact introduction to Egypt’s millennia of history. From Cairo International Airport, visitors can reach the Pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum and the Khan El Khalili market within a short drive — making a day or two in the capital feasible under the transit visa.
Luxor, described as an open-air museum, provides access to the Valley of the Kings and the temples at Karnak and Luxor. The transit visa makes it easier for travellers to include these archaeological highlights during brief stopovers along Nile routes.
Aswan presents a calmer counterpoint, with attractions such as the Philae Temple and the nearby Abu Simbel complex. The extended visa simplifies short visits to Egypt’s southern sites for those connecting to other regional or long-haul flights.
Emergency entry visa renewed for Luxor and Aswan
Alongside the transit visa extension, Egypt has renewed a free emergency entry visa for tourists arriving by air at Luxor and Aswan airports during the summer seasons of 2026 and 2027. This initiative aims to increase arrivals to the country’s southern destinations during peak travel months.
Why the government is easing visa rules
The measures form part of a wider effort to boost international visitation and accelerate tourism sector recovery. By removing procedural barriers for short visits, Egyptian authorities hope to expand visitor numbers, support local businesses and stimulate economic activity across key tourism hubs.
- Encourages layover tourism and longer itineraries
- Supports spending in hotels, restaurants and local services
- Aims to create jobs and strengthen tourism infrastructure
What travellers should know
Travellers planning to use the transit visa should confirm eligibility with their carrier; the policy is intended for passengers flying with Egyptian airlines and requires transiting through the named airports. Using this option can turn routine connections at Cairo International Airport and other hubs into short, low-hassle visits to Egypt’s highlights.
Why this matters: The extension makes Egypt more accessible for quick cultural stopovers and supports tourism recovery by attracting visitors who might not otherwise plan a dedicated trip. So what? For travellers, the policy reduces visa friction and opens low-cost opportunities to see Egypt’s major sites during brief connections; for the industry, it promises additional visitor spending and wider geographic distribution of tourism benefits.
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