Saudi Arabia changed several Umrah visa rules for the 1448 AH season. Some changes come from the ministry and were reported by the press, while others are described only by travel platforms. This guide separates the two, and the labels above show which is which.
The routes, side by side
| Route | Suits | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi tourist eVisa plus a Nusuk permit | Residents who want to organise flights and hotels themselves, or who already hold a multiple-entry tourist eVisa. | Umrah is allowed on it outside the Hajj season, but the Nusuk permit is still required. Check Nusuk for your exact dates. |
| Umrah visa through a licensed provider | People who want one provider to handle the visa, hotels and transport. | Entry must happen within 30 days of issue. Reports say confirmed Nusuk bookings are needed before the visa is issued. |
| One-year multiple-entry Umrah visa | People who expect to make more than one trip in a year. | The 90 days of stay are shared across all trips. Every trip needs its own accredited package and permit, and it can't be used in Hajj season. |
| Stopover visa on Saudia or flynas | People already flying a qualifying route. | Reported as a 96-hour stopover. Confirm the route and the rules with the airline. |
What to prepare before you apply
- A passport valid for at least six months from your travel date, a figure commonly quoted by UAE-focused guides.
- A UAE residence permit with enough validity left. Guides typically say about three months.
- Your meningitis vaccination booked, or done, at least 10 days before you travel.
- Hotel and transport bookings for the full stay, if you are applying for an Umrah visa.
- A Nusuk account, set up before you need it.
Treat the passport and residence figures as common guidance, not official requirements. The application form is the final word.
Timing mistakes that cost people money
- Applying too early. With a 30-day entry window, a visa issued months before your trip can lapse.
- Assuming a visa replaces the permit. It does not. The Nusuk permit is separate.
- Booking flights before checking visa status. Confirm your visa and permit in Nusuk first.
- Using an Umrah visa for anything else. The ministry has warned that it is for pilgrimage only, not for work.
About fees. We don't print a visa fee here. The figures we found ranged widely and disagreed on what they included, which is exactly when you should read the number on the official page instead.