Saudi tightens Umrah visa validity, keeps stay unchanged
“Saudi Arabia cut pre-entry Umrah visa validity to one month and will auto-cancel unused visas after 30 days.”
Key points
- Saudi Arabia cut pre-entry Umrah visa validity to one month and will auto-cancel unused visas after 30 days.
- The permitted stay once in the Kingdom is unchanged at up to three months.
- The update targets crowd management amid rising pilgrim volumes.
Saudi Arabia has amended Umrah visa rules, according to reports cited by Geo News. Visas will now be automatically cancelled if the holder does not enter the Kingdom within 30 days of issuance, reducing the pre-entry validity from three months to one. The allowable stay inside the country remains up to three months.
Advisers quoted in the coverage said the measure is aimed at managing seasonal surges and preventing overcrowding in Makkah and Madinah as pilgrim numbers rise. More than four million Umrah visas have been issued since the new season began in early June, the report added.
Authorities recently broadened eligibility, allowing multiple visa categories—including tourist, family visit and transit visas—to perform Umrah during their stay, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 facilitation push.
Corrections & clarifications
Spot an inaccuracy or need more detail? Email connect@newsnexus24.com. Significant updates are timestamped above.
