Saudi Arabia Launches One-Year Multiple-Year Multiple-Entry Visa for Umrah: What Changes for Pilgrims

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Marta Skylar
Aviation News Editor
27.07.2026 22:13

Saudi Arabia Launches One-Year Multiple-Entry Visa for Umrah: What Changes for Pilgrims

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new multiple-entry visa for Umrah, valid for 365 days from the date of issue and allowing multiple entries into the country with a total stay of up to 90 days. For pilgrims, this means more flexibility in planning trips to Mecca and Medina, but it does not cancel key conditions: each entry must be linked to a confirmed package through the official Nusuk platform, and the visa itself cannot be used during the annual Hajj season.

The news became one of the most important tourism decisions of the week, as it concerns not only visa formalities, but also a large market of religious travel. Umrah, unlike Hajj, can be performed at different times of the year, so flexibility in dates, air tickets, accommodation, and ground logistics often determines how accessible the trip will be for families, groups, and independent travelers.

According to the Saudi Press Agency and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the new visa is intended to support the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Program: to simplify arrival, improve service quality, and make the organization of the pilgrimage less fragmented. The National also confirms the basic parameters: a one-year validity period, multiple entry, a total stay limit of up to 90 days, and the mandatory link of each entry to the requirements via Nusuk.

What Exactly Has Changed

The main change is that a pilgrim does not need to start the process as a single trip every time if they plan several visits during the year. The visa is valid for 365 days from the date of issue and can be used for repeated entries as long as the holder complies with the program conditions. The maximum total length of stay under such a visa is up to 90 days during its period of validity.

This is an important distinction between the validity period of the document and the permitted stay. A one-year visa does not mean that a pilgrim can live in Saudi Arabia for an entire year. It provides a wider time window for planning several trips, but the number of days in the country is limited by a total limit. That is why travelers should keep their own record of entry and exit dates and not rely solely on the general wording about 365 days.

Another important condition: for each entry, a service package must be purchased through an approved provider on the Nusuk platform. According to the official platform, Nusuk Umrah operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and combines services related to the visa, accommodation in Mecca and Medina, meals, transport, Rawdah booking, and guidance. In other words, the new regime is not an open multiple-entry tourist visa without additional conditions: it remains part of a managed system for organizing Umrah.

How the Role of Nusuk Works

Nusuk in this model is not just a reference site, but a central digital channel through which the pilgrim chooses or forms a package. The platform offers comprehensive packages with a visa component, packages without a visa request for those who already have a valid basis for entry, and the possibility of an individual request through approved providers. For the traveler, this is convenient because key elements of the trip are gathered in one place, but at the same time, it requires careful reading of the conditions of a specific package.

Particular attention should be paid to the fact that the duration of the chosen package must not exceed the number of days remaining available under the visa. If a pilgrim has already used part of the 90-day limit, the next trip must be planned taking into account the remainder. Also, according to Saudi sources, the visa is deactivated after departure and reactivated for the next entry after fulfilling current regulatory requirements.

In practice, this means that repeated entry should not be perceived as automatic. Before each trip, it is necessary to check the package, the Umrah permit, airline requirements, passport conditions, insurance, and current entry rules. For group trips, this is especially important: different participants may have different remaining permitted stays, different passports, and different visa support requirements.

Why the Visa Does Not Work During Hajj

A separate restriction concerns the Hajj season. The new multiple-entry Umrah visa is not intended for use during the annual Hajj, which has its own system of permits, quotas, and flow organization. This is a fundamental clarification, as from the outside, the one-year validity period may create a false impression that the document opens access to any religious season.

For pilgrims, this means that the trip calendar must be checked not only against air tickets and hotel prices, but also against the official religious calendar and the rules of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. If the purpose of the trip is specifically Hajj, a separate procedure is required. If the purpose is Umrah, it is advisable to avoid periods when special restrictions apply and check if packages are available for the required dates.

What This Means for Flights and Logistics

For the tourism industry, the new regime may shift demand from single short trips to more flexible scenarios. Some pilgrims will be able to plan two or more trips within a year: for example, one short trip during a less crowded period and another trip together with family. This may increase demand for flights to Jeddah and Medina, as well as connecting routes through regional hubs.

The most important air gateway for many trips to Mecca remains King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. Before booking, it is useful to check flights from Jeddah airport (JED), and for short connections or late evening arrivals - hotels near Jeddah airport. If the route includes an independent ground portion, transfers and taxis from JED airport may be appropriate; for those planning a wider route through the country, it is worth evaluating car rental at Jeddah airport in advance.

At the same time, pilgrims should not plan their route too tightly. Even if the visa has become more flexible, seasonal demand, group arrivals, document control, schedule changes, and traffic between cities can increase actual travel time. The safest strategy is to allow a buffer between arrival, check-in, transfer, and planned religious activities, especially if the trip takes place in peak months or during school holidays.

Why This Is Important for the Religious Tourism Market

Saudi Arabia has consistently developed the infrastructure for religious and cultural travel in recent years: digital services, new hotels, air routes, rules for service providers, and tourism products beyond classic pilgrimage. The one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa fits into this logic: the country aims not only to increase the number of arrivals but also to make the flow more even throughout the year.

For tour operators, this opens the possibility to create more flexible products. For example, instead of one standard package for fixed dates, several shorter trips, family scenarios, or combined routes visiting Mecca, Medina, and other cities can be offered. For airlines, this may mean more stable demand for pilgrimage-related destinations, not only during specific peak periods.

For the travelers themselves, the main advantage is choice. Previously, many people were forced to adapt to one convenient slot. Now, if they meet the conditions and correctly arrange each entry, they can compare flight prices, avoid the highest tariffs, choose less crowded dates, and better plan the trip for elderly relatives or children. However, this advantage works only under the condition of discipline: official channels, exact dates, verified packages, and a realistic time buffer.

What to Note Before Booking

  • Check if you are eligible to apply for the new multiple-entry Umrah visa, rather than another type of entry permit.
  • Remember that 365 days is the validity period of the visa, not a permit to stay in the country all year; the total limit is up to 90 days.
  • Before each entry, check Nusuk requirements, the Umrah permit, package conditions, and the remaining available days.
  • Do not plan a trip under this visa for the Hajj season, if official rules do not allow the use of such a document.
  • Book flights, hotels, and transfers with a time buffer, especially for Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina during peak periods.
  • Avoid intermediaries who promise guaranteed entry or bypassing official procedures; key actions must go through approved channels.

Conclusion

The one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa is a noticeable step in the development of religious tourism in Saudi Arabia. It makes planning more flexible, provides more room for repeated trips, and helps link the pilgrimage to the official digital ecosystem Nusuk. But this is not a simplification to the level of "buy a ticket and fly": stay rules, packages, permits, the Hajj season, and requirements for each entry remain critically important.

For pilgrims, the best practical advice is simple: consider the new visa as a tool for smart planning, rather than an automatic guarantee of access. If you check official conditions before each trip, count the days of stay, and organize flights, accommodation, and transfers in advance, the new regime can make Umrah significantly more convenient for those who wish to visit the holy sites more than once a year.

Previously, we also explained how the digital platform for Umrah changes the organization of pilgrimage trips. The new visa effectively continues the same trend: Saudi Arabia is moving more and more stages of the journey into managed online channels, where convenience for the traveler is combined with stricter control of rules and services.