Saudi Arabia launches one-year Umrah pilgrimage visa

The government of Saudi Arabia has launched a new, one-year, multiple-entry visa to allow Muslim pilgrims to make repeated visits to the country’s holy sites.

The visa, valid for 365 days from the date of issuance, is intended to allow visitors to go on the Umrah pilgrimage for a cumulative stay of up to 90 days.

Pilgrims can use the new visa only if they purchase an Umrah service package from an approved provider, via the Saudi government’s Nusuk Umrah digital platform.

The Umrah visa cannot be used during the annual Hajj pilgrimage season.

Saudi Arabia welcomes millions of pilgrims each year looking to visit the major holy sites of Islam that it is home to. Pilgrimages to the country have continued despite recent falls in general flight demand to the Middle East due to the US’s ongoing war with Iran.