Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced a one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa, giving pilgrims the flexibility to visit the Kingdom several times within a single visa period. This is one of the most significant updates to Umrah travel in recent years, and it directly benefits frequent pilgrims, families with relatives working in the Gulf, and travellers who prefer performing Umrah more than once a year.
If you're planning multiple trips to Makkah and Madinah, here's a complete breakdown of how the new visa works.
What Is the New Umrah Visa?
The visa allows eligible pilgrims to enter Saudi Arabia multiple times over a 365-day validity period, with a maximum cumulative stay of 90 days across all visits combined. Instead of applying for a fresh visa every time you plan to perform Umrah, this single visa can be used repeatedly - as long as your regulatory requirements are met before each entry.
Key Features at a Glance
- Validity: 365 days from the date of issuance
- Maximum stay: Up to 90 days cumulative (not per visit)
- Entry type: Multiple entries within the validity period
- Not valid during: The annual Hajj season
- Booking requirement: A service package must be purchased through an approved provider on the Nusuk platform for every entry
How the Multiple-Entry System Works
Every time a pilgrim wants to travel, they must purchase a service package through an approved provider listed on Nusuk, Saudi Arabia's official digital platform for international Umrah applications. Importantly, the length of this package cannot exceed the number of days remaining on the visa - so the system tracks usage against your 90-day cumulative allowance.
Pilgrims must also secure an Umrah permit through the Nusuk app before each trip, separate from the visa itself.
Visa Deactivation and Reactivation
One unique aspect of this visa is how it behaves between trips:
- The visa deactivates automatically each time a pilgrim exits Saudi Arabia.
- It reactivates for the next visit only after the relevant regulatory requirements are met again.
This means the visa isn't simply "always on" for a year - each re-entry requires fresh compliance steps, even though a new visa application isn't needed.
Why Saudi Arabia Introduced This Visa
The move is part of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 strategy and its Pilgrim Experience Programme, both aimed at:
- 1. Making arrivals smoother for international pilgrims
- 2. Enriching the overall pilgrim experience
- 3. Improving service efficiency across the Umrah ecosystem
This follows last year's decision to allow Gulf citizens and residents to perform Umrah year-round, reflecting a broader trend of Saudi Arabia easing entry restrictions to welcome more Muslims to the Kingdom while diversifying its tourism and religious travel economy.
Umrah vs Hajj: A Quick Note
Umrah is a non-mandatory pilgrimage to Makkah that can be performed at any time of year, unlike Hajj, which occurs during a fixed period in the Islamic calendar. While shorter and less complex than Hajj, Umrah still holds deep spiritual significance for Muslims worldwide - which is exactly why flexible, multiple-entry access matters so much to frequent travellers.
Who Should Consider This Visa?
This visa is especially useful for:
- Pilgrims who wish to perform Umrah more than once within a year
- Families with relatives or business ties in the Gulf who combine visits with worship
- Frequent travellers who previously had to apply for a fresh visa for every trip
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long is the new Umrah visa valid for?
A: It is valid for 365 days from the date of issuance.
Q: Can I stay for 90 days on a single visit?
A: No - the 90 days is a cumulative limit across all visits during the visa's validity, not per trip.
Q: Do I need to apply separately for each visit?
A: You don't need a new visa each time, but you do need to buy a new service package via Nusuk and obtain an Umrah permit before every entry.
Q: Is this visa valid during Hajj season?
A: No, it cannot be used during the annual Hajj period.
Q: What happens to the visa when I leave Saudi Arabia?
A: It deactivates upon exit and reactivates for your next trip once requirements are met again.
Planning international travel and need help navigating visa requirements? Visto Route simplifies eVisa applications for destinations around the world - explore your options today.
No comments yet.