Saudi Arabia's New Umrah Visa Rules Explained (2026 Update)
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Saudi Arabia has updated its Umrah visa rules from July 2026.
Saudi Arabia has just changed the rules for the Umrah visa. From 20 July 2026, pilgrims can get a visa that lasts a full year and allows more than one trip. This is one of the biggest changes to Umrah travel in years.
If you’re planning Umrah from the UK, this guide explains the new visa rules in plain terms. It also covers health checks you’ll need before you fly. Alhadi Travel has helped UK pilgrims plan their journeys for years, and we keep this page updated every time Saudi authorities announce a change.
What Is An Umrah Visa?
An Umrah visa lets Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the minor pilgrimage. It is different from a Hajj visa. You can apply for it at any time of year.
The visa lets you visit Makkah and Madinah. It does not let you work or live in Saudi Arabia.
Before this update, most Umrah visas covered a single trip. If you wanted to go again later, you had to apply all over again.
The New Umrah Visa Rules (From 20 July 2026)
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced a new multiple-entry Umrah visa. Here is what changed:
- The visa now lasts 365 days (a full year) from the date it’s issued.
- You can enter and leave Saudi Arabia more than once during that year.
- Your total stay across all visits cannot go over 90 days.
- Before each visit, you must book a new service package and Umrah permit through Nusuk. The visa switches off when you leave the country and switches back on once you’ve done this for your next trip.
- You cannot use this visa during the Hajj season. Hajj still needs its own separate visa.
This new visa sits alongside the older rules. If you’re issued a standard, single-trip Umrah visa instead, the 30-day entry window from November 2025 still applies.
Three Visa Options for British Pilgrims
Dedicated Umrah Visa
Arranged through approved agents like Alhadi Travel. Since 20 July 2026, this can be issued as the new one-year, multiple-entry visa, or as a standard single-trip visa.
Tourist Visa
UK citizens can sometimes use a Saudi tourist e-visa for Umrah, as long as they follow Umrah-specific rules and avoid Makkah during the Hajj season.
Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW)
British passport holders may qualify for an EVW. It covers short visits for tourism, business or Umrah. We can check your eligibility.
How to Apply for an Umrah Visa
Booking through Alhadi Travel keeps this simple. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Choose Your Package and Dates
Pick a 3-star, 4-star, or 5-star Umrah package and confirm your travel dates. Our team will tell you about the new multi-entry visa suits you better than a standard one-time visa.
Step 2: Submit Your Documents
Send us your passport, photos, vaccination proof and any other paperwork. We submit everything through approved Saudi channels.
Step 3: Visa Issuance
Once approved, your visa is issued online. If it’s the new multi-entry visa, it includes 365-day clock starts from this date.
Step 4: Enter the Kingdom
Before each trip, you’ll need a service package and Umrah permit through Nusuk. We arrange your flights, hotel and transfers for every visit.
Step 5: Travel Again If You Wish
After each trip, your remaining days carry over for the rest of the year. Come back whenever suits you, book a fresh Nusuk package, and travel again, up to your 90-day limit or until the year is up.
Vaccination and Health Requirements
Saudi Arabia has strict health rules for all pilgrims. You must meet these before you can get your visa or board your flight.
Meningitis (ACWY) vaccine – required for everyone. This is the main vaccine every pilgrim needs. It protects against meningococcal disease since it spreads quickly in crowded places like the Grand Mosque. You’ll need it:
- At least 10 days before you travel.
- Recorded on an official International Certificate of Vaccination, signed by your travel clinic.
- Valid for 5 years if you had the conjugate vaccine, or 3 years for the older polysaccharide type.
Without this certificate, your visa can be refused, or you may be stopped at the airport.
Polio vaccine – required for some travellers. If you’re arriving from a country where polio is still present, you’ll need proof of a polio vaccine within the last 12 months.
Yellow fever vaccine – required for some travellers. If you’re arriving from a country where yellow fever is common, you’ll need proof of this vaccine too.
Other health advice. Saudi health rules can change close to busy travel periods, so always check current guidance from the Saudi Ministry of Health or the UK’s NHS travel health service (fitfortravel.nhs.uk) shortly before you fly. Alhadi Travel checks this for every group we send and will flag anything new well before your departure date.
Key Differences Between the Previous and New Umrah Visa Rules
Topic
- Umrah Visa Type
- Visa Validity
- Number of Entries
- Total Stay Allowed
- Repeat Umrah
- Hajj Season
- Nusuk Booking
- Best Suited For
Previous Rules (2025)
- Mainly for a single trip
- Linked to one travel period
- Usually one entry
- Set by visa conditions
- Needed a new visa each time
- Separate Hajj rules applied
- Needed for permits and services
- One-time travellers
New Rules (2026)
- New 1-year, multiple-entry visa
- Valid for 365 days from issue
- Multiple entries allowed
- Up to 90 days in total
- One visa covers multiple visits
- Still cannot be used for Hajj
- Still needed before every visit
- Families and repeat pilgrims
Importent Tips to Avoid Visa Problems
Check your passport
It must be valid for at least six months after you enter Saudi Arabia.
Book every trip through Nusuk
Even with a multi-entry visa you need its own approved package and permit.
Track your days
Know how many of your 90 days you’ve used before booking a return trip.
Avoid the Hajj blackout
The multi-entry visa can’t be used to enter during Hajj season.
Why Did Saudi Arabia Make This Change?
This update is part of the Kingdom’s Pilgrim Experience Programme and its wider Vision 2030 plan. The goals include:
- Cutting down repeat paperwork for pilgrims who travel more than once a year.
- Making it easier for families to plan shorter, more frequent trips.
- Nusuk app helps tracking arrivals and stays properly.
- Supporting steady and managed growth in Umrah visitor numbers.
Saudi Arabia has already welcomed close to a million Umrah pilgrims so far in 2026. That’s a clear rise on last year, so making return visits easier is a natural next step for the Ministry.
How to Check Your Umrah Visa Validity
It is simple. You can check your visa details as well from the official Saudi Ministry of Hajj & Umrah website.
- Go to visa.mofa.gov.sa.
- Select “Visa Application” or “Visa Validity Check.”
- Enter your visa number, passport number, and image code.
- You’ll see your issue date, your 365-day validity window (for multi-entry visas), and how many of your 90 days you have left.
Check this straight after your visa is issued, and again before booking each return trip.
Why Book Your Umrah Through Alhadi Travel?
Alhadi Travel is an ATOL-protected UK travel agency. We’ve supported UK pilgrims through every Saudi visa change over the years, including this latest update. Here’s how we help:
- Right visa for your plans. We help you choose between a single-entry or multi-entry visa.
- Verified hotels. Every package includes approved accommodation in the holy.cities
- Proper transfers. We book your transport from the authorised Nusuk channels.
- Day tracking. We keep track of your 90-day allowance so return trips stay compliant.
- Flexible packages. Choose 3-, 4-, or 5-star options, in a group or privately.
We follow every update from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah directly, so our pilgrims are never caught out by a rule change.
Final Notes
This new one-year, multiple-entry visa is good news. It is perfect for families and pilgrims who like to visit more than once a year. The main point to remember: one visa can now cover a full year of travel, as long as you stay within your 90 days and check your visa through Nusuk app each time.
Alhadi Travel handles every part of your trip, from choosing the right visa to your hotel check-in, so it fits smoothly into these new rules. Our UK-based team and Saudi partners take care of the details. Don’t worry, you just focus on your pilgrimage.
For any questions about custom Umrah packages or help with your visa, get in touch with our team today.
This page reflects Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announcements as of 20 July 2026. Always confirm the latest rules with an official source. However you can confirm from visa.mofa.gov.sa before you travel. Policies can be updated at short notice.
Update Sources:
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the new 2026 multiple-entry Umrah visa last?
A full year, 365 days, starting from the day it’s issued. During that year you can come and go from Saudi Arabia as many times as you need.
Does the 90-day limit start over with each trip?
Nope. It’s one shared total for the whole year. Every day you spend in Saudi Arabia gets added to the same running count. However, no matter how many separate visits you make but it counts the days.
Do I need to go through Nusuk before every single visit?
Yes. According to multi-entry visa doesn’t skip this step. You still need an approved Umrah package and the permit via Nusuk before each trip.
Can I use this visa to perform Hajj?
No. The visa switches off automatically once Hajj season starts. If you want to perform Hajj, you’ll need a separate Hajj visa and permit, no way around that.
What vaccines do UK pilgrims need for Umrah in 2026?
Anyone over two years old needs the Meningitis ACWY vaccine, and it has to be done at least 10 days before you fly. Bring the signed vaccination card with you, too, or you risk getting held up at the border.
Can British citizens use a Saudi Tourist eVisa for Umrah instead?
Yes. A tourist eVisa or an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) both work for Umrah, as long as it’s outside Hajj season and you still book your Umrah slot through Nusuk.
How early should I apply for my Umrah visa?
E-visas usually come through in 24 to 72 hours. But if you’re on a standard single-entry visa, remember you have to enter within 30 days of getting it, so applying 2 to 3 weeks before your flight is a safe bet.
What happens if I overstay in Saudi Arabia?
It’s not worth risking. You’re looking at steep fines, possible detention, and a ban on future entry. Before you book a return flight, check exactly how many days you’ve got left.