The Umrah is a small, voluntary religious journey for followers of Islam. In Saudi Arabia, to be precise. Except for Kuwait, Oman, or Bahrain citizens, you need a visa to participate in this pilgrimage. While the Hajj, which is Umrah’s mandatory counterpart, takes at least a few weeks to complete, Umrah can be finished in a matter of hours. The steps for obtaining an Umrah visa are listed below.
Five types of visas can be used for Umrah:
- A visa for the pilgrimage of Umrah (valid for 2 weeks),
- Electronic visa for an Umrah trip (valid 2 weeks),
- A visa for leisure travel (multiple entry visa, valid for one year, which allows travelers to enter and travel to Saudi Arabia for up to 90 days each time),
- An e-visa for tourists (multiple entry visa, valid for one year, which allows travelers to enter and travel to Saudi Arabia for up to 90 days each time),
- Hajj Card (available within 24 hours, can be extended for up to 3 months).
Mecca and Medina are off-limits to non-Muslims with a valid Saudi Arabia electronic tourist visa, so plan accordingly.
How to Get an Umrah Visa?
It is still required to identify Saudi Arabia-approved Umrah Travel Agents and submit the relevant travel documentation to apply for an Umrah visa under the old-fashioned method. After that, it would take a few days for the visa application to be processed and accepted before one could go to Saudi Arabia.
Essential Documents for Umrah Visa Application
- It must be an authentic version of the Umrah visa application.
- A recent white-background passport-sized color picture,
- A non-refundable and confirmed plane ticket. If you’re planning to leave Saudi Arabia, you should do it within two weeks after arriving.
- There should be a vaccination certificate for Meningococcal Meningitis on file.
For more details, consult the official website.
Hajj Card
A Hajj card can serve as an Umrah Visa if you meet certain eligibility requirements.
- A passport-sized photo.
- As long as the passport has at least six months to go before it expires.
- The presence of a spouse or father is required for women and children.
STEP 1: Go to the Umrah Application website.
STEP 2: Find a travel agency to work with.
STEP 3: Enter your itinerary information.
STEP 4: Booking rooms and flights is the final step.
STEP 5: It’s time to send in your application.
Your Umrah visa will be provided to you electronically, without the assistance of a third-party intermediary.
Electronic Umrah Visa
However, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made it simpler for Umrah candidates from many countries to get travel visas from Saudi Arabia. Fill out a form on the online application portal, upload the necessary travel permission documents, pay a service fee and then wait for 1 to 5 days. They can go to Saudi Arabia with their electronic tourist visa.
Here is the list of documents required for an electronic Umrah visa application:
- A valid passport
- A recent passport photo
- Personal information
- Current email address
- Debit or credit card
How Much Does an Umrah Visa Cost?
The visa is free if this is your first Umrah of the year. If your last Umrah were less than a year ago, Saudi Arabia would charge you an extra tax of 5,400 DH, which is about 495.50 euros.