New Saudi visa lets Umrah pilgrims visit multiple times within a year

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia has announced a new multiple-entry visa for Umrah pilgrims.

With the newly launched visa, valid for 365 days from the date of issuance, visitors can enter the holy cities multiple times to perform Umrah for a cumulative stay of no longer than 90 days.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), this move “aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Program’s goals of facilitating arrival, enriching the pilgrim experience and improving service efficiency”.

Pilgrims are eligible to use the new visa only if they purchase an Umrah service package from an approved provider through Saudi’s Nusuk Umrah platform for each visit. The platform is the Kingdom’s self-styled digital “one-stop-shop” offering visa issuance, accommodation, transportation and flight bookings for pilgrims.

The package duration must also not exceed the number of days remaining on the visa and travellers must secure an Umrah permit via Nusuk before arriving in Saudi Arabia.

“The ministry affirmed that the visa enhances flexibility in planning visits and supports the integration of digital and operational services throughout the pilgrim’s journey,” SPA added.

After finishing the pilgrimage and upon departure, the visa deactivates. It can be reactivated for the next time the pilgrim wants to visit, once they have met the regulatory requirements. It also remains inactive during the annual Hajj season.

So far in 2026, Saudi Arabia has welcomed 931,500 pilgrims with Umrah visas, marking a 22.5% increase compared to the same period in 2025, with the top international visitors hailing from Pakistan, Indonesia and Iraq.

What is the difference between Umrah and Hajj?

Unlike Hajj, which is performed only during the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah annually, Umrah is a voluntary pilgrimage that can be undertaken throughout the year at any time – hence why it is often referred to as a “lesser” or “minor” Hajj.

On the other hand, Hajj is a once-in-a-lifetime religious obligation for Muslims who are financially and physically able. Its core rituals take about five to six days to complete, while Umrah can typically be completed within a few hours in a day.

In 2025, Saudi Arabia hosted more than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims for Hajj alone, who arrived from outside of the country through various entry points, according to data from the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). Including domestic pilgrims, the total was more than 1.6 million people.