New Saudi visa lets Umrah pilgrims explore greater flexibility
Usagevpn.com – The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia has officially introduced a new multiple-entry visa designed specifically for Umrah pilgrims. This innovative travel document allows faithful visitors to enter the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah several times throughout a single calendar year. Valid for 365 days from the date of issuance, the visa permits a cumulative stay of no more than 90 days across all visits. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), this initiative “aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Program’s goals of facilitating arrival, enriching the pilgrim experience and improving service efficiency” for international travelers.
How the new visa system works
Pilgrims are eligible to use the new visa only if they purchase an Umrah service package from an approved provider through Saudi’s Nusuk Umrah platform for each visit. The platform serves as the Kingdom’s digital “one-stop-shop” offering visa issuance, accommodation, transportation and flight bookings for pilgrims. The package duration must not exceed the number of days remaining on the visa, and travellers must secure an Umrah permit via Nusuk before arriving in Saudi Arabia. This streamlined process ensures that every visit is properly documented and authorized.
“The ministry affirmed that the visa enhances flexibility in planning visits and supports the integration of digital and operational services throughout the pilgrim’s journey,” SPA added.
After finishing the pilgrimage and upon departure, the visa deactivates. It can be reactivated for the next time the pilgrim wants to visit, once they have met the regulatory requirements. It also remains inactive during the annual Hajj season, ensuring that resources are properly allocated during the major pilgrimage period. This dual-functionality makes the visa particularly valuable for families and individuals who wish to perform Umrah at different times of the year, perhaps during more favorable weather conditions or to avoid peak travel periods.
So far in 2026, Saudi Arabia has welcomed 931,500 pilgrims with Umrah visas, marking a 22.5% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The top international visitors hailing from Pakistan, Indonesia and Iraq demonstrate the growing global appeal of this new visa system. Unlike Hajj, which is performed only during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah annually, Umrah is a voluntary pilgrimage that can be undertaken throughout the year at any time – hence why it is often referred to as a “lesser” or “minor” Hajj.
On the other hand, Hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime religious obligation for Muslims who are financially and physically able. Its core rituals take about five to six days to complete, while Umrah can typically be completed within a few hours in a day. This fundamental difference explains why the new Saudi visa lets Umrah pilgrims maximize their spiritual journey without the time constraints associated with the major pilgrimage. In 2025, Saudi Arabia hosted more than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims for Hajj alone, who arrived from outside of the country through various entry points, according to data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).
Including domestic pilgrims, the total was more than 1.6 million people. The introduction of this new visa represents a significant step forward in Saudi Arabia’s efforts to modernize pilgrimage services and accommodate the growing number of international visitors seeking to perform Umrah multiple times within a single year.
