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

Published
0
Pilgrims perform prayers in the Grand Mosque during Haj in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on June 2, 2025. — AFP/File
Pilgrims perform prayers in the Grand Mosque during Haj in the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on June 2, 2025. — AFP/File

The Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah has launched a multiple-entry Umrah visa with one-year validity from the date of issuance, through which pilgrims will be able to enter the kingdom multiple times, with a cumulative stay of up to 90 days each year, state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Monday.

As per the conditions of the visa, each visit would require the purchase of a service package from an approved provider on the Nusuk platform — a digital platform that lists several Umrah packages for various economic tiers.

The report added that the packages’ durations should not exceed the “remaining days available on the visa”.

“Entry is also contingent on issuing an Umrah permit via the Nusuk application prior to arrival,” the report added.

It further detailed that the visa would be deactivated after each departure and reactivated upon meeting regulatory requirements for the next visit.

However, the report said, the visa cannot be availed during the Haj season, from the first of Ziqad to the 13th of Zilhaj.

The SPA reported that the Haj ministry “affirmed that the visa enhances flexibility in planning visits and supports the integration of digital and operational services throughout the pilgrim’s journey”.

Nearly 43 million pilgrims performed Umrah in 2025, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics.

Opinion

Editorial

Kashmir unresolved
Updated 30 Sep, 2026

Kashmir unresolved

The just solution lies in India addressing the issue through a trilateral dialogue involving the legitimate representatives of the Kashmiri people and Pakistan.
Water shortage
30 Sep, 2026

Water shortage

THAT the country is entering the Rabi season with an anticipated water shortage of nearly 25pc, the lowest carryover...
Young hearts
30 Sep, 2026

Young hearts

THE observance may have passed, but the message of World Heart Day should not fade with it. The occasion is a useful...
Terror and politics
Updated 29 Sep, 2026

Terror and politics

There is an urgent need to tone down the rhetoric and tackle terrorism as a collective challenge for both the affected provinces and the federation.
Watching the glaciers
29 Sep, 2026

Watching the glaciers

THE latest signs from Pakistan’s mountains are worrying. Suparco says the number of unfrozen glacial lakes it...
Dangerous agenda
29 Sep, 2026

Dangerous agenda

AS the world remains fixated on the US-Iran conflict, elsewhere in the Middle East, Israel is consolidating its grip...