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05 Nov, 25
by Muslims Holy TravelSaudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced new amendments to Umrah visa regulations, reducing the period for visa holders to enter the Kingdom from 3 months to one month. However, the stay period after the pilgrim’s arrival remains unchanged at three months as per the sources quoted by Al-Arabiya. What could be the purpose of tightening Umrah visa rules, and what travellers now need to know about the new policy? Read ahead for more details!
According to the new policy, the Umrah visa will now be automatically cancelled in case a pilgrim is not able to get access to Saudi Arabia within 30 days of its issuance. This means that anyone who fails to travel within these days will lose the validity of their visa. The leading purpose of bringing such a change is to make visa management for pilgrims as organised as possible. Saudi Arabia hopes to ensure a more timely entry process for visitors carrying out the act of the Umrah pilgrimage. Not only this, but it also helps maintain better control over travel schedules. This, in turn, ensures that pilgrims can plan their religious journey more efficiently.
Many people are wondering if this move by Saudi Arabia is for security or is a strategy. Saudi officials say that the amendment is made to manage the growing number of pilgrims arriving every year. This is when the demand for visits increases in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. These rules aim to provide pilgrims with an improved service quality during the trip.
On top of that, they also prevent hotel and transport fraud, ensuring that travellers are staying in compliant hotels. The new policy is a preventive measure to limit unauthorised entries for Umrah. It is claimed that many multi-entry visas were being misused by visitors under business or tourism visas. They were secretly taking part in pilgrimages without any official permission from the authorities, which is not good. So, it was necessary to take action against such a thing.
Since there are new eligibility rules for an Umrah visa, every pilgrim should be aware of them. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirmed last month that holders of all types of visas can now perform the pilgrimage. This may include personal, electronic tourist, family visit, transit, and work visas. The Saudi Press Agency reported that the move is a part of unwavering efforts to make the Umrah journey stress-free to the brim for every Muslim in the world. One of the other aspects of this change is to expand access to Umrah services in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.
The new Saudi visa rules mainly affect travellers from 14 different countries. Some of those are;
The travel and tourism industry is pushing back the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hard. They are urging authorities that they need to reconsider the decision. Business organisations and travel groups are asking for adjustments to soften the impact. While Saudi Arabia’s aim is firm, the officials may be forced to the revision of this move. Some analysts suggest that new visa arrangements or pilgrimage travel arrangements may be made to cope with this rising problem.
With the new policy, pilgrims must show proof of accommodation and transport bookings. It simply means getting an Umrah visa now starts with planning your stay and travel. The following is a checklist of some of the leading steps that pilgrims are recommended to follow.
Booking a verified hotel stay is very important under the new Umrah visa rule. It helps prevent scams while ensuring your visa is approved. One of the other ways pilgrims can get a much better Umrah experience is with pre-arranged and monitored accommodations. This eliminates previous problems with low-quality lodges, fraud, and overbooking, enhancing the experience.
Both airport transfers and in-country transport are a vital part of the checklist. It is now a mandatory requirement for the approval of an Umrah visa. Pre-booking confirmed transport ensures that pilgrims have a completely safe plan for the sacred trip of Umrah. Not only this, but it also complies well with the pilgrimage movement management plan of the Saudi authorities.
Documents are a crucial requirement when applying for an Umrah visa. Pilgrims must provide the required documents to the Saudi authorities, as it prevents visa rejection. Some of the important documents are a valid passport with 3 to 6 months of validity, a completed application form, and 2 passport-sized photos. Confirmed flights and hotel bookings are a must.
The next step is to submit your visa request directly through the Nusuk portal. You can also do so via official channels such as the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). This is where your hotel and transport details will be cross-checked automatically. Once you’ve submitted your visa application and paid the fee, wait until the e-visa is emailed to you. Then, you can start a travel.
There are many reliable travel agencies operating in the UK, like Muslims Holy Travel, assisting with Umrah service. They provide exclusive Umrah packages that not only cover visa processing but also include flights, hotels, and transport assistance to ensure a smooth experience. Make sure to go to a trusted tour operator to manage the visa process and get it approved in no time.
Last but not least, the recent changes in the Umrah visa aim to control pilgrimage movement in an efficient manner. Another leading purpose is to prevent fraud and unauthorised access to the country. But the opinions on this decision are not the same in different countries. It has sparked worries about the economy, travel access, and diplomacy. The future effects are still uncertain.
