Qataris will no longer be able to obtain on-arrival visas to Egypt as of next Thursday and will instead have to apply for visas in advance from an Egyptian embassy abroad, an official source at Cairo International Airport told Ahram Online on Monday.

Exceptions to the new procedure include wives, husbands and children of Egyptian nationals, as well as Qatari nationals who are studying at Egyptian public universities.

Those in the exempted groups will be given three-month tourist visas and will be asked to legalise their status inside the country with the Passports Authority.

Holders of diplomatic or special passports will also have to obtain a visa from an Egyptian embassy prior to entering the country, the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet issued a statement confirming the change in visa rules.

Qataris wishing to enter Egypt are normally able to obtain an on-arrival visa at their port of entry. However, a recent spike in tensions between Egypt and Qatar has apparently led to a change in visa rules.

On 5 June, Four Arab states – Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt – severed diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing it of supporting Islamist militants and Iran, charges that Doha has denied. A number of other Arab and Muslim countries followed suit.

Egypt also delegated the the Greek embassy in Doha to take on the diplomatic representation of Egypt in Qatar.