Saudi Arabia creates an annual multiple-entry visa for Umrah

Riyadh has just introduced a new visa valid for 365 days, allowing Umrah pilgrims to enter the holy cities multiple times, for a cumulative stay capped at 90 days.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has officially announced this unprecedented measure: a one-year, multiple-entry visa allowing pilgrims to return to perform Umrah without having to apply for a new residence permit for each trip. However, the total duration of stays cannot exceed 90 days within the validity period.

Each visit remains subject to a strict condition: the pilgrim must purchase a service package from an authorized provider for each entry via the Nusuk Umrah digital platform. This online portal centralizes visa issuance, accommodation bookings, transportation, and flights. Authorization for Umrah must be obtained through this platform before even arriving in Saudi Arabia, and the duration of the purchased package cannot exceed the number of days remaining on the visa.

The visa operates on an activation and deactivation system: it is suspended upon each departure and reactivated upon the next visit, provided that the regulatory conditions are met. It also remains inactive during the annual Hajj season.

Riyadh presents this measure as a lever of Vision 2030, the kingdom's economic diversification program. The stated objective is to "facilitate arrival, enrich the pilgrims' experience, and improve the efficiency of services," according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The ministry also highlights the "flexibility in planning visits" and the integration of digital services throughout the pilgrim's journey.

The figures show a sharp increase in attendance: since the beginning of 2026, Saudi Arabia has welcomed 931,500 pilgrims holding Umrah visas, an increase of 22,5% compared to the same period in 2025. Pakistan, Indonesia and Iraq are among the main countries of origin of visitors.

The Umrah differs from the Hajj in several fundamental ways. A voluntary pilgrimage, it can be performed at any time of year and generally takes only a few hours. The Hajj, on the other hand, is one of the five pillars of Islam: a religious obligation to be fulfilled at least once in a lifetime for Muslims who are able. It takes place exclusively during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah, and its rites last five to six days. In 2025, more than 1,6 million pilgrims, both residents and foreigners, participated in the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.