Saudi govt launches multiple-entry Umrah visa with one-year validity

Saudi Arabia has launched a new multiple-entry Umrah visa, offering pilgrims greater flexibility. The visa is valid for one year from the date of issuance, allowing individuals to enter the Kingdom multiple times. During each visit, pilgrims can stay for up to 90 days, accumulating a total annual stay of 90 days.

To utilize this visa, pilgrims must purchase a service package from a provider approved on the Nusuk digital platform. The duration of each visit is capped by the remaining validity of the visa. Furthermore, obtaining an Umrah permit through the Nusuk application before arrival is a mandatory requirement.

The visa operates on a system where it is deactivated after each departure and reactivated upon meeting the necessary regulatory conditions for subsequent visits. However, a significant restriction is that this visa cannot be availed during the Hajj season, which typically runs from the first of Dhu al-Hijjah.

This initiative by the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah aims to streamline the pilgrimage process and encourage more visitors to perform Umrah throughout the year, excluding the Hajj period. The introduction of the visa, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency, reflects the Kingdom's efforts to enhance the experience for religious tourists.