Umrah Visa Requirements: Complete Guide to the Saudi Tourist eVisa, Nusuk, and Agency Routes

The Umrah visa landscape changed completely between 2019 and 2024. What used to require booking through a licensed Saudi-affiliated agency in your home country can now, for most pilgrims, be done online through the Saudi government's Nusuk platform or through a one-year multi-entry tourist eVisa that includes Umrah rights. The old "Umrah-only visa via a registered agent" route still exists, but it is no longer the default path for the majority of international pilgrims.

This guide covers who is eligible, the three visa routes available, the step-by-step application process, documents required, costs, processing times, the mandatory meningitis vaccination, the current mahram rules for women, and the most common reasons applications get rejected. It complements our broader Umrah travel planning guide and the Saudi Arabia country profile.

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The Three Visa Routes for Umrah in 2026

There is no longer a single "Umrah visa." Depending on your nationality and circumstances, one of three routes will apply:

1. Saudi Tourist eVisa — the default for nationals of around 60 eligible countries (UK, USA, EU/Schengen, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, plus several Central Asian, Latin American, and GCC-resident permit holders). Valid for one year from issue, multiple entry, up to 90 days per visit, and explicitly permits Umrah. Apply at visa.visitsaudi.com.
2. Umrah Visa via Nusuk — the Saudi-issued Umrah-specific visa that you apply for directly on the Nusuk platform (formerly known as Maqam and Eatmarna). This is the route for nationals not eligible for the tourist eVisa, and for many pilgrims travelling as part of an organised group.
3. Agency-Arranged Umrah Visa — the traditional route through a licensed Saudi-affiliated Umrah operator in your home country. Still common in Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Egypt, and parts of Africa where the visa is bundled into a full package (flights, hotels, transport, and visa together).

For most pilgrims from the UK, Europe, North America, Australia/New Zealand, and East/Southeast Asia, the tourist eVisa is the fastest and most flexible path. For those not eligible, Nusuk or agency-arranged are the only options.

Country Eligibility for the Tourist eVisa

The tourist eVisa — which is the most common Umrah route as of 2026 — is open to nationals of roughly 60 countries. Major eligible nationalities include:

• Europe: United Kingdom, all 27 EU member states, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Andorra, Ukraine, Georgia, Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia
• Americas: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Panama
• Asia-Pacific: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, China (selected categories), Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mauritius, Maldives, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan
• Africa: South Africa, Seychelles
• GCC residents: Holders of valid residence permits (iqama) from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, or UAE — regardless of nationality — can apply for the tourist eVisa.

Eligibility lists update periodically. Verify your nationality is currently included at visa.visitsaudi.com before assuming the tourist eVisa is open to you. Nationals of countries not on the eVisa list (the largest groups are Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Egypt, Nigeria, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan) must apply through Nusuk directly or through an authorised agency.

Applying for the Saudi Tourist eVisa Step by Step

The tourist eVisa is issued through the official Visit Saudi portal. The process is fully online and typically takes a few minutes to complete, with approval often returned within minutes to hours (some applications take up to a few days).

1. Go to visa.visitsaudi.com. Use only the official URL — there are many third-party sites that mark up the price significantly. The Saudi government does not charge through intermediaries.
2. Create an account with your email, then start a new application.
3. Upload your passport bio page. Passport must have at least 6 months validity remaining beyond your intended date of departure from Saudi Arabia. Two blank pages are required.
4. Upload a recent passport-style photo. White background, full face, no glasses, no head covering except for religious reasons. JPEG, around 200KB.
5. Fill in personal details: full name as on passport, date of birth, nationality, marital status, occupation, employer, and previous travel history.
6. Provide travel details: intended date of arrival, port of entry (Jeddah, Madinah, Riyadh, Dammam), and accommodation. Booking confirmation is helpful but not always demanded at this stage.
7. Pay the visa fee and insurance. The combined cost is approximately SAR 535 to 605 (around USD 145 to 165) depending on the current insurance premium, paid by international credit or debit card.
8. Receive the eVisa by email. Print it and travel with both the printed copy and the digital PDF on your phone. Saudi border officers will scan the QR code.

Verify current fees on the official portal — Saudi tourism authorities have adjusted both visa and insurance pricing several times since the tourist visa launched.

Applying for the Umrah-Specific Visa via Nusuk

For pilgrims not eligible for the tourist eVisa, the Nusuk platform is the official Saudi route for Umrah visa applications. Nusuk consolidated several earlier services (Maqam for Umrah operators, Eatmarna for prayer permits at the Haramain) into a single platform launched in 2022.

1. Download the Nusuk app (iOS or Android) or use the web portal at nusuk.sa.
2. Register an account using your passport details and create a Nusuk profile.
3. Select an authorised Umrah service provider from the in-app marketplace. Nusuk surfaces Saudi-licensed Umrah operators that bundle the visa with accommodation, transport between Makkah and Madinah, and meal plans.
4. Choose your package and dates (most operators offer 7- to 21-night packages, with budget options starting around USD 1,000 to 1,500 per pilgrim ex-airfare).
5. Upload documents and pay. The visa is issued as part of the package booking, not separately. Processing is typically 3 to 10 working days.

The Nusuk route is also used by Saudi residents wishing to perform Umrah for visiting family members (the "Umrah for visitors" pathway).

The Traditional Agency Route

For pilgrims from Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Egypt, and several African and Central Asian countries, the agency route remains the dominant path. Here the country-licensed travel agent — who has a Saudi-licensed partner Umrah operator — handles everything: visa, flights, hotels, transport, and a designated muthawwif (group leader) for the journey. Indonesian Umrah operators are regulated by Kemenag (the Ministry of Religious Affairs), Malaysian operators by Tabung Haji, Pakistani operators by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and so on.

This bundled route is more expensive than self-arranged tourist eVisa Umrah, but it removes friction: the agent handles paperwork, you don't need to negotiate with Saudi hotels directly, and the muthawwif handles the practical logistics on the ground. For first-time pilgrims, the language barrier, or those wanting a guided experience, this is often the better path even when the tourist eVisa is available. Our cheap Umrah packages guide covers what to look for when comparing agency offers.

The Mandatory Meningitis Vaccination

Saudi Arabia requires every pilgrim (Umrah or Hajj, regardless of age above one year) to present a valid certificate of vaccination against meningococcal meningitis. This is the single non-negotiable health requirement that catches travellers off-guard most often.

• Vaccine type: ACWY quadrivalent (covers serogroups A, C, W, and Y). Single-strain vaccines do not satisfy the requirement.
• Validity: the certificate must be at least 10 days old before arrival in Saudi Arabia (to ensure immunity has developed) and not more than three years old for the conjugate vaccine (or two years for the older polysaccharide vaccine).
• Where to get it: in the UK, GP surgeries and travel clinics. In the US, most pharmacies offering travel immunisations. In Malaysia/Singapore, private clinics and government polyclinics. Cost varies from free (NHS travel for those eligible) to around USD 100 to 150.
• Documentation: bring the original yellow international vaccination certificate or a digital equivalent. Saudi border officials check this at arrival.

Additional vaccinations may be required depending on your country of origin: polio (for travellers from countries with active transmission), yellow fever (for those arriving from yellow-fever endemic countries — mainly sub-Saharan Africa and tropical Latin America), and COVID-19 requirements have changed several times — verify current rules at MoH Saudi Arabia (moh.gov.sa) close to your travel date.

Women Travelling Without a Mahram

The mahram rule — that a woman must travel with a male relative — was significantly relaxed in 2021. As of 2026, the rule is:

• Women aged 18 and over can apply for an Umrah visa and travel to Saudi Arabia without a mahram. This applies to both the tourist eVisa and the Nusuk Umrah visa.
• Women in organised groups were the original test case in 2021 — groups of women travelling together did not require a male relative as long as there was a recognised group leader.
• Solo women travel is now permitted under the same framework — although many Umrah operators still offer mahram-grouped tours by default, and a number of conservative scholars continue to advise that the religious obligation of mahram travel still applies even where the Saudi government no longer requires it. This is a matter of personal religious practice.
• Girls under 18 must travel with a parent or guardian, and the visa application must reflect this relationship.

Practically, women travelling solo on the tourist eVisa do not face additional documentary requirements at the visa-application stage — the change is in the policy, not the paperwork.

Cost Breakdown

Visa-only costs (excluding flights, accommodation, and packages):

• Tourist eVisa: approximately SAR 480 visa fee + SAR 88 mandatory insurance + SAR 27 VAT and service fee = around SAR 595 (USD 160). Some markets see slightly higher fees due to local processing.
• Nusuk Umrah visa: bundled into the operator package. The visa-equivalent component is typically SAR 300 to 500 of the total package cost.
• Agency-arranged Umrah visa: bundled into the package. Country-licensed agents add a markup over the Saudi-government visa cost, typically USD 50 to 150 of the total package price.

The Saudi government does not charge for re-issue or correction of an eVisa, but third-party "fast-track" services do. Avoid intermediaries — the official portal is straightforward.

Processing Time

• Tourist eVisa: typically minutes to 24 hours. Some applications are flagged for manual review and can take up to 72 hours.
• Nusuk Umrah visa: 3 to 10 working days, depending on the operator and the time of year (longer during Ramadan and pre-Hajj season).
• Agency-arranged visa: typically 2 to 4 weeks. Agencies hold "visa slots" allocated by Saudi authorities and may have black-out windows close to Hajj when no Umrah visas are issued.

Apply at least 4 to 6 weeks before your intended departure if you are going during Ramadan or the period just before Hajj. Apply at least 2 weeks before for off-peak travel.

Visa Validity and Multi-Entry Rules

The tourist eVisa is generous compared with the older Umrah-only visa:

• Validity period: 1 year from the date of issue (not from first entry).
• Multiple entry: yes — you can enter Saudi Arabia multiple times within the validity period.
• Maximum stay per entry: 90 days.
• Total stay per year: 180 days cumulative.
• Re-entry restriction: none on the eVisa itself, but expect questioning at immigration if entering multiple times in a short period without clear purpose.

The Nusuk Umrah visa is more restrictive — typically single entry, 30 days maximum stay (sometimes extended to 90 days under the post-2019 reforms), and only valid for the dates of the booked package.

Common Rejection Reasons

Tourist eVisa rejections are rare but they happen. The most common causes:

• Passport validity under 6 months from your intended departure date from Saudi Arabia (not arrival date).
• Photo does not meet specifications — wrong background colour, glasses on, head covering not for religious reasons, or wrong dimensions. The portal will usually flag this immediately.
• Inconsistent personal details between the application and the passport (name spelling, date of birth, place of birth).
• Recent immigration violations in Saudi Arabia or other GCC countries.
• Insufficient information about employer or occupation — leaving these blank is a frequent cause.
• Travel from a high-risk country without the required additional vaccinations recorded.

If rejected, you can reapply after correcting the issue. There is no automatic ban on re-application.

What the Visa Allows — and What It Doesn't

The Saudi tourist eVisa explicitly permits Umrah and visits to the Two Holy Mosques. It also permits general tourism: visiting AlUla, the Red Sea coast, Diriyah, Riyadh, Jeddah's old town (Al-Balad), and the increasingly developed Saudi heritage and entertainment destinations. Many pilgrims combine Umrah with a few days of leisure travel.

The tourist eVisa does not permit:

• Hajj. Hajj requires a separate visa, only available through your country's officially authorised Hajj operator, and subject to your country's annual quota allocated by Saudi authorities. See our Hajj visa and cost guide.
• Paid employment. The eVisa is for tourism and Umrah only. You cannot work — including remote work that involves any Saudi-based client.
• Long-term residence. 180 days cumulative per year is the maximum.

Practical Timing Advice

Apply for your visa once your flights and accommodation are confirmed. The tourist eVisa system is fast enough that there is no benefit to applying months in advance — and if your plans change, you cannot transfer the visa.

The exception is Ramadan: the last 10 days of Ramadan are the busiest Umrah window of the year. Processing times slow, hotel rates spike to 3 to 5 times normal, and Nusuk operator availability tightens. If you are travelling during the last 10 nights of Ramadan, apply 6 to 8 weeks in advance and book accommodation first.

The other restricted window is the 4 to 6 weeks before Hajj (Dhul Qa'dah through early Dhul Hijjah). The Saudi government suspends Umrah visa issuance during the Hajj approach to free up capacity for Hajj pilgrims. Avoid this window unless you have firm confirmation that Umrah visas are still being processed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for an Umrah visa at the Saudi embassy in my country? No — the Saudi embassy network does not process Umrah visas directly anymore. All applications go through Nusuk, an authorised agency, or the tourist eVisa portal.

Can I extend my Umrah visa once in Saudi Arabia? The tourist eVisa allows multiple 90-day stays per year, so extension is rarely needed. The Nusuk Umrah visa is harder to extend — request an extension through your operator before the original visa expires.

Do I need to book my hotel and flights before applying? Not for the tourist eVisa. The Nusuk Umrah visa is bundled with operator packages, so by definition accommodation is part of the application.

What if my country's currency restrictions make online payment difficult? Most major eVisa applicants pay by international card. If your local currency is restricted, the agency route (which charges in local currency) may be more practical.

Can children get an Umrah visa? Yes — children of all ages can be added to a parent's application (Nusuk) or have their own eVisa if travelling with a parent. The meningitis vaccination is required for children one year and older.

Will my Umrah visa be stamped in my passport? The tourist eVisa is electronic — entry is recorded digitally at the border. You receive an entry stamp on arrival, not a visa sticker.

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For the broader picture of pilgrimage planning — best times to travel, hotel choice near the Haram, transport between Makkah and Madinah, and budget planning — see our complete Umrah travel planning guide. For the ritual itself, see our step-by-step Umrah rites guide. For value-focused packages, see our guide to finding affordable Umrah packages.