Latest Update – Saudi Umrah Visa Rules
The Saudi Umrah visa now gives UK pilgrims 30 days to enter from the date of issue and allows a 90-day stay once inside the Kingdom. This change, introduced in November 2025, is part of a larger plan by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to manage growing crowds and make every pilgrim’s journey smoother.
At Let’s Fly Now, we understand that every hour of preparation counts. Our mission is to help British pilgrims navigate the new umrah visa rules easily, handling applications, confirming hotel bookings, and ensuring your trip follows every guideline from the Saudi authorities.
Understanding the Updated Umrah Visa for 2025
The Umrah visa UK is a short-term entry permit for Muslims who wish to perform the minor pilgrimage. It grants access to Makkah and Madinah, but it does not authorise work or long-term residence.
Before 2025, once approved, your visa remained valid for 90 days to enter. Now, under the new umrah visa rules, that window is 30 days, though the stay after arrival remains the same, three months.
This adjustment allows Saudi Arabia to control travel flow and keep accommodation, transport, and services synchronised with real arrivals. It makes the journey more predictable and more comfortable for everyone involved.
Key Changes in Saudi Umrah Visa Rules 2025
Visa Aspect | Old Policy | New Rule (2025) |
Entry Validity | 90 days from issue | 30 days from issue |
Entry Deadline | Within 90 days | Within 30 days |
Stay Duration | Up to 90 days | Unchanged (90 days) |
Cancellation | After 90 days | After 30 days, if unused |
Objective | Flexible scheduling | Improved crowd management |
The change means travellers must be more precise with timing.
It doesn’t shorten your stay, it simply ensures you travel promptly after your visa is issued.
Why Saudi Arabia Updated the Umrah Visa Process
The Saudi government’s goal is clarity and coordination.
By refining the umrah visa rules, it can:
- Prevent congestion in Makkah and Madinah.
- Simplify booking systems for hotels and transport.
- Link visas to verified itineraries.
- Offer pilgrims a safer, more organised experience.
This reform forms part of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s long-term strategy to modernise religious travel while keeping its sacred spirit intact.
Step-by-Step Process to Apply for Your Visa
Planning Umrah is simpler when every step is mapped clearly.
1 – Choose Your Travel Dates
Decide when you want to travel and how long you wish to stay. Our specialists at Let’s Fly Now will schedule your visa application close to your departure, ensuring you make full use of your 30-day entry window.
2 – Submit Your Documents
Provide a valid passport, recent passport-sized photographs, vaccination records, and personal details. We’ll review everything before submission to prevent delays.
3 – Visa Issuance
Once approved, your visa will be issued electronically, and the 30-day countdown begins. We monitor that date carefully so nothing lapses before you travel.
4 – Enter the Kingdom
Travel to Saudi Arabia within 30 days of issuance. Your hotel booking, transfer, and internal travel will already be arranged through approved operators.
5 – Perform Umrah and Stay Up to 90 Days
Inside the Kingdom, you can remain for up to three months. That gives you time for spiritual devotion, rest, and your visit to Madinah before returning home.
Whether you plan to use the umrah visit visa or another approved category, our team ensures every application meets Saudi requirements.
Visa Options for UK Pilgrims
Visa Type | Purpose | Ideal For |
Umrah Visa | Dedicated pilgrimage permit through licensed agents. | Travellers performing Umrah only. |
Tourist E-Visa | A general visit visa that also permits Umrah outside the Hajj season. | Pilgrims combining worship and sightseeing. |
Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) | Short-term entry for British passport holders. | Quick, flexible travel plans. |
Choosing the right option depends on your travel goals.
We’ll explain which visa suits your itinerary and process it quickly and accurately.
Applying for an Umrah Visa Online
UK travellers can now easily apply Umrah visa online through licensed agencies like Let’s Fly Now. The process is simple, transparent, and fully digital:
- Fill out the online application form with accurate details.
- Upload the required documents, passport, photograph, and vaccination proof.
- Receive your digital confirmation and travel itinerary.
- Once approved, you can check your visa status anytime on the official Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal, visa.mofa.gov.sa.
We track every stage, ensuring you stay within all umrah visa rules and deadlines.
How the 30-Day Validity Works
If your visa is issued on 1 April 2025, you must enter Saudi Arabia by 30 April 2025. Entering even one day later invalidates the visa.
However, once inside, you can still stay up to 90 days, the same duration as before. Our consultants make sure your flights and bookings align with this timeline so you never risk cancellation.
Checking Your Visa Status
You can verify the validity of your umrah visa online in minutes:
- Visit visa.mofa.gov.sa.
- Select Visa Validity Check.
- Enter your visa number, passport number, and image code.
- Confirm issue date, entry deadline, and permitted stay.
This quick check ensures your travel remains perfectly timed with the new umrah visa rules.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Even the most experienced travellers can make simple errors under the revised Umrah visa rules. Here’s what to avoid:
- Applying too early, the visa may expire before you fly.
- Forgetting passport validity, it must be valid six months beyond entry.
- Booking unlinked flights, keep hotels and transfers tied to your visa.
- Ignoring health updates, stay current with vaccination requirements.
- Overstaying, leaving even a day late, can cause penalties.
Our support team ensures none of these issues affect your journey.
Why Book Through Let’s Fly Now?
We specialise in Umrah travel for UK residents and understand what British pilgrims need:
- Perfect Timing: We apply for your visa at the right moment, never too early, never too late.
- Verified Accommodation: All hotels are approved by the Saudi authorities for pilgrims.
- Dedicated Assistance: Our UK and Saudi teams are available throughout your stay.
- Flexible Packages: From economy to premium, each package includes full visa and travel management.
With Let’s Fly Now, you focus on your worship; we focus on your arrangements.
Broader Purpose of the New Umrah Visa Rules
These updated umrah visa rules are part of a thoughtful restructuring of religious tourism. They’re not about restriction; they’re about rhythm.
By linking each visa to a real, confirmed journey, Saudi Arabia ensures every pilgrim’s experience remains safe, calm, and well-organised. For travellers from the UK, it means a simpler, faster process, as long as the visa is applied for correctly and used within its timeframe.
Essential Information at a Glance
Detail | Information |
Entry Validity | 30 days from visa issue |
Stay Duration | Up to 90 days after entry |
Eligible Visas | Umrah Visa, Tourist E-Visa, EVW |
Main Purpose | Organised travel and pilgrim comfort |
Key Thoughts
The 2025 update to the umrah visa rules marks a new era for modern pilgrimage.
It replaces uncertainty with structure, offering pilgrims more confidence and clarity.
Once you understand the timeline, 30 days to enter, 90 days to stay, everything becomes simple. At Let’s Fly Now, we turn those dates into seamless schedules, from visa approval to return flight.
Your journey deserves precision and peace. With us, you receive both.
When travel is planned correctly, devotion flows freely. That’s the promise behind every package we arrange for our UK pilgrims.
Sources:
https://www.saudiembassy.net/hajj-and-umrah-visa
https://soulofsaudi.com/umrah-for-all-visa-holders/
https://saudivisa.com/saudi-umrah-visa/
https://www.funadiq.com/blog/Saudi-Arabias-New-Umrah-Visa-Rule-And-Connection-With-Umrah-Packages
