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Egypt will scrap the paper “passport card” used by arriving and departing passengers at its airports, Civil Aviation Minister, Pilot Sameh El-Henafy said, with the change due to take effect at the end of January as authorities shift to a fully digital alternative.
In a televised phone-in on Sunday evening, the minister said the move is part of the state’s plan to streamline travel and arrival procedures at Egyptian airports and reduce waiting times at passport control.
The “passport card” was a paper form typically handed out on planes or at arrival and departure halls, requiring travelers to fill in basic personal details and trip information such as name, passport number, nationality, flight number and destination, and sometimes a local address or purpose of visit.
Foreign tourists and other non-Egyptian travelers tended to encounter it frequently because it was tied to completing passport control procedures, though many viewed it as an extra hassle, especially during peak arrival times.
El-Henafy said the alternative digital system is fully ready for operation and will rely entirely on the information electronically recorded in the passport, ending the use of traditional paper forms that travelers were required to fill out by hand.
The minister said the upgrade is part of broader efforts to improve services for travelers and tourists, noting that the Cabinet, at its Sunday meeting chaired by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, reviewed the latest developments in the pilot rollout of the integrated e-visa issuance system.
The decision follows a series of recent upgrades at Egyptian airports, including expanded installation of e-gates and improvements to security systems and connectivity with the Passports Authority.
The new system is expected to be fully rolled out across all of Egypt’s international airports in February, starting with Cairo International Airport and extending to tourism hubs in Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh.
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