Umrah visa options for any country: tourist eVisa, Umrah visa and Nusuk permits

Planning Umrah from the UK, the USA, Canada, Malaysia or the Gulf? You need two separate things. The first is a visa (or similar permission) that lets you enter Saudi Arabia. The second is a Nusuk permit, a free time slot for your Umrah, booked in Saudi Arabia’s official Nusuk app or website.

Which entry route fits depends on your passport and, sometimes, where you live. We checked every rule below on official pages on 6 October 2026.

Quick answer

• Tourist eVisa: citizens of the countries on the official list (including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, all EU countries, Malaysia, Singapore and Türkiye) can apply at visa.visitsaudi.com. The portal says it covers “Umrah (excluding Hajj)”. It is a one-year, multiple-entry visa with stays of up to 90 days.
• Passport not on the list? Saudi rules let you apply online if you hold a used US, UK or Schengen tourist or business visa with a physical entry stamp, permanent residence in the US, UK or EU, or a GCC residence permit valid for at least 3 months beyond your entry date. GCC residents must apply before travel.
• Umrah visa: issued through Nusuk or a Saudi mission, together with an accommodation and transport package from a Ministry-approved provider. The Ministry says it allows a stay of 90 days. Since July 2026 there is also a one-year, multiple-entry Umrah visa.
• Nusuk permit: everyone books an Umrah permit (a date and time slot) in the Nusuk app or website. The Ministry lists it as free. On the Umrah visa, it must be issued before you arrive.
• 2027 deadlines: for the current Umrah season, the Ministry says the last Umrah visa is issued on 9 March 2027, the last entry is 23 March 2027 and the last departure is 7 April 2027, subject to the moon sighting. Tourist visa holders may not perform Umrah during the Hajj season.
• Health: every pilgrim needs a meningococcal ACYW vaccine at least 10 days before arrival. Some countries have extra polio or yellow fever rules.

Who this applies to

Muslims planning Umrah from outside Saudi Arabia, whatever their nationality, including people living in the Gulf. It covers entry and permit logistics only. Where you live matters only for the routes Saudi Arabia lists, such as GCC residence or US, UK or EU permanent residence. If your family includes non-Muslims, note that the eVisa terms state non-Muslims are not permitted to enter the Holy Mosque in Makkah or the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and their premises.

Visa or Nusuk permit: two different things

A visa alone is not enough to perform Umrah, and a Nusuk permit alone does not let you enter the country. Nusuk asks pilgrims to arrive at the time shown on their permit. If you miss it, you can book again after the permit time has passed.

Rawdah permit: visiting the Rawdah Sharif in the Prophet’s Mosque needs a separate, free appointment, also booked through Nusuk.

The entry routes Saudi Arabia offers for Umrah

1. Tourist eVisa (eligible nationalities)

The official eVisa portal, visa.visitsaudi.com, belongs to the Ministry of Tourism, despite its .com address.

• Eligible passports: the portal lists 68 countries, including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, all 27 EU countries, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Türkiye and South Africa. Its two lists differ slightly, so check your nationality in the application form.
• What it allows: tourism, events, family visits, leisure “and Umrah (excluding Hajj)”. It does not allow work or study.
• Validity: one year from issue, multiple entries unless the visa says otherwise. The terms say the maximum stay is 3 months. GOV.UK describes this as 90 days in total across the 365-day period. It cannot be extended.
• Fee: the Tourist Visa Regulations set the tourist visa fee at SAR 300. The eVisa also includes mandatory health insurance, and the portal adds VAT, so the total is higher than SAR 300. The price shown when you pay is the one that applies. You cannot cancel or get a refund once you apply, even if you are refused.
• On arrival: GOV.UK says British citizens can also get the eVisa on arrival at any of Saudi Arabia’s international airports. Canada’s travel advice says the same for Canadians.
• No guarantee: the terms say an eVisa does not guarantee entry. The immigration officer decides at the border.

2. Not on the list? The US, UK, Schengen, permanent residence and GCC routes

Article 6 of Saudi Arabia’s Tourist Visa Regulations gives these travellers the same treatment as eligible nationalities. Visit Saudi sends them to the KSA Visa platform (ksavisa.sa) to apply online. You qualify if you:

• hold a valid tourist or business visa from the US, the UK or a Schengen country, used at least once to enter the country that issued it. Visit Saudi says it must have an entry stamp from that country in your passport, and digital entry stamps are not accepted. Schengen countries now record entries digitally (see our EES and ETIAS guide)
• hold permanent residence in the US, the EU or the UK
• hold a GCC residence visa valid for at least 3 months beyond your date of entry. The regulation mentions “professions published” on visitsaudi.com, but on 6 October 2026 the Visit Saudi visa requirements page listed no profession restriction

First-degree relatives travelling with you are included (and, for GCC residents, domestic workers travelling with their sponsors).

Visa on arrival: Visit Saudi lists one only for US, UK or Schengen visa holders and US, UK or EU permanent residents. For GCC residents it shows the eVisa and the transit visa, not a visa on arrival, so apply before you travel.

No qualifying visa or residence? Article 6 also lets you apply for a tourist visa through a Saudi mission or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs digital embassy, with a return ticket, an accommodation booking, an employment certificate and proof of funds. Visit Saudi’s separate tourist package visa excludes Makkah and Madinah, so it is not an Umrah route.

Example: an Indian citizen living in Dubai, or a Nigerian citizen with a used and stamped US tourist visa, may be able to apply online. An Indian citizen in India with neither would use an Umrah visa or an embassy tourist visa.

3. Umrah visa through Nusuk, an embassy or a licensed provider

Nusuk, the official platform of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, says Umrah has its own visa, issued electronically through Nusuk or through a Saudi embassy or consulate. On the KSA Visa platform it appears as a “visit visa for the purpose of Umrah”. Applicants pledge to follow the Ministry of Health requirements, including the meningococcal vaccine.

It comes with a package. The Ministry’s FAQ says an external agent cannot issue an Umrah visa without service packages (accommodation and transport). The Nusuk Umrah platform (umrah.nusuk.sa) says every provider on it is licensed by the Ministry. This is different from the tourist eVisa, which does not need a package.

Stay and fee: the Ministry’s FAQ says Umrah visa holders can stay 90 days, that you must enter within 3 months of the visa being issued, and that the issuing fee is estimated at SAR 300. Check the entry deadline printed on your visa, as it is the one that applies.

Multiple-entry Umrah visa: on 20 July 2026 the Ministry launched an Umrah visa valid for 365 days from issue, allowing several entries with a total stay of up to 90 days. According to the Saudi Press Agency:

• each visit needs a service package from an approved provider on Nusuk
• you must have a Nusuk Umrah permit before you arrive
• the visa is not activated during the Hajj season, from 1 Dhu al-Qi’dah to 13 Dhu al-Hijjah

Nusuk says an Umrah visa lets you travel between Makkah, Madinah and other Saudi cities during your stay.

4. Transit visa

Nusuk’s FAQ says anyone can get a transit visa. It is free but subject to administrative and medical insurance fees. It is valid for 96 hours from arrival, and you can apply up to 90 days before you travel. Holders can apply through Nusuk to perform Umrah during their stopover, but not Hajj.

5. British citizens: Saudi ETA and electronic visa waiver

GOV.UK lists two more options for travellers on a full British citizen passport. Both cover Umrah outside the Hajj season, and neither includes health insurance:

• Saudi ETA (Saudi Arabia’s own scheme, not the UK ETA): valid for 730 days, multiple entries, up to 180 days in total. Apply online before you travel.
• Electronic visa waiver: one entry, stay up to 180 days. Apply online at least 48 hours and up to 90 days before your flight, with your flight details.

6. Already in Saudi Arabia

Nusuk says visit, tourist and work visa holders can perform Umrah, and the KSA Visa platform says an active Saudi visa means no new visa is needed. You still need a Nusuk permit.

Hajj season restrictions

• Tourist visas: the Tourist Visa Regulations say tourists must not perform Umrah during the Hajj season, as determined by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
• Makkah closed to non-pilgrims: Nusuk says entry to Makkah is reserved for Hajj pilgrims during the Hajj season.
• Flights: GOV.UK says the Saudi authorities have stopped visitors who are not performing Hajj from flying to Jeddah, Madinah and Taif around Hajj.
• 2027 dates: the Ministry’s 1448 AH Umrah season calendar (published 17 May 2026) sets the last Umrah visa issue on 1 Shawwal 1448 (9 March 2027), the last entry on 15 Shawwal (23 March 2027) and the last departure on 30 Shawwal (7 April 2027). The Saudi Press Agency describes the Hajj season as 1 Dhu al-Qi’dah to 13 Dhu al-Hijjah, which is roughly 8 April to 19 May 2027. Canada’s travel advice expects Hajj itself from 14 to 19 May 2027. All dates depend on the moon sighting, so avoid non-refundable bookings close to them.

Umrah visa options by where you are travelling from

United Kingdom

British citizens can choose the eVisa (online or on arrival), the Saudi ETA or the electronic visa waiver. UK residents with a passport not on the eVisa list may qualify through a stamped UK visa or UK permanent residence. If you book a package, GOV.UK advises using an ATOL-protected operator and paying by credit card where possible.

United States

US citizens are on the eVisa list. US green card holders and holders of a used, stamped US tourist or business visa can use the Article 6 route. Check travel.state.gov for US-specific advice.

Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the EU

All are on the eVisa list. Canada’s travel advice says “Muslim tourists can perform Umrah with any type of visa”, and that women of any age may travel without a mahram for Hajj or Umrah.

GCC residents

If you live in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar or the UAE and your passport is not on the eVisa list, a GCC residence visa valid for at least 3 months beyond your entry date opens the online route. There is no visa on arrival for this route. If you plan to drive, GOV.UK warns that some visas only allow entry by air, so check that yours allows entry by land. See our Saudi eVisa guide for residents and visa holders.

India

India is not on the eVisa list. Options are an Umrah visa with a package, a tourist visa through a Saudi mission or the digital embassy, or the Article 6 route if you hold a qualifying US, UK or Schengen visa, permanent residence or GCC residence. The meningococcal rule applies; India is not in the polio or yellow fever tables.

Nigeria

Nigeria is not on the eVisa list, so the same options as India apply. Travellers from Nigeria need a meningococcal vaccination certificate, at least one dose of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) and a yellow fever vaccination. See the IPV timing under health below.

Indonesia and Malaysia

Malaysia is on the eVisa list. Indonesia is not, so Indonesian citizens use an Umrah visa or the Article 6 route. Travellers from Indonesia need at least one dose of IPV, ideally within the past 12 months and at least 4 weeks before arrival.

Pakistan

Pakistan is not on the eVisa list. Travellers from Pakistan need a polio dose (bOPV or IPV); the IPV timing under health below applies. See our Umrah from Pakistan guide.

Health and vaccination requirements

The latest Ministry of Health Umrah document we found is labelled 1447H (2026). Check moh.gov.sa for a 1448H update before you travel. It says:

• Meningococcal (all pilgrims, all countries): an ACYW conjugate (or ACYWX) vaccine within the last 5 years, or an ACYW polysaccharide vaccine within the last 3 years. Either must be given at least 10 days before arrival. If the certificate does not show the vaccine type, it counts for 3 years only.
• Polio: travellers from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mozambique, DR Congo and Guinea need at least one dose of bOPV or IPV. Travellers from a longer list, including Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Palestine and Yemen, need at least one dose of IPV. The document recommends the IPV dose within the previous 12 months and at least 4 weeks before arrival.
• Yellow fever: required for travellers older than 9 months arriving from listed countries in Africa and South America, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Brazil and Colombia.
• COVID-19: proof needed for higher-risk groups, such as people over 65, pregnant women and people with certain chronic conditions.

Insurance

• GOV.UK says the eVisa includes health insurance up to SAR 100,000, while the Saudi ETA and the electronic visa waiver do not.
• On the KSA Visa platform you buy medical insurance during the application. The platform says it “covers only emergency cases”.

Visa-linked cover may not include cancellations, missed flights or lost bags, so compare separate travel insurance.

Phone and data

You will need mobile data for the Nusuk app, maps and messages. See our guide to the best eSIM for Umrah and Saudi Arabia.

Common mistakes and scams

• Treating the visa as your Umrah permit. Book the Nusuk permit separately. On the Umrah visa, it must be issued before you arrive.
• Expecting an Umrah visa without a package. The Ministry ties it to accommodation and transport from an approved provider.
• Booking too close to the season deadlines, or during the Hajj season on a tourist visa.
• Getting the meningitis vaccine less than 10 days before arrival.
• Assuming any Schengen, US or UK visa counts. It must be a valid tourist or business visa, used at least once, with a physical entry stamp. Visit Saudi does not accept digital entry stamps.
• Short passport validity. Allow at least 6 months from your date of entry.
• Look-alike websites. Use visa.visitsaudi.com, ksavisa.sa, nusuk.sa and umrah.nusuk.sa. Nusuk notes that official Saudi sites end in .sa. The eVisa portal is the official exception on .com.
• Package scams. GOV.UK warns that organised crime groups target people planning Umrah, and many victims are over 65. Get everything in writing and keep payment records.
• Overstaying. GOV.UK warns of fines, detention, deportation and a re-entry ban.

How Voyfaro can help

• Visas, permits and packages: we point you to the official Saudi portals. We do not sell Umrah packages or apply for, issue or guarantee visas or Nusuk permits.
• Bookings: we help you compare flights, hotels, eSIMs and travel insurance from partners we reach through the Travelpayouts affiliate network. You book and pay directly with the partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
• Questions? Contact us with your passport, where you live, your dates and who is travelling.

FAQ

Can I do Umrah on a Saudi tourist eVisa?

Yes, outside the Hajj season. The official eVisa portal says the tourist visa covers Umrah (excluding Hajj). You still need a Nusuk permit.

What is the last date for Umrah in the 1448 AH season?

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah says Umrah visa holders must enter by 23 March 2027 and leave by 7 April 2027, subject to the moon sighting.

Is there a one-year Umrah visa?

Yes. Since July 2026 the Ministry offers a multiple-entry Umrah visa valid for 365 days, with up to 90 days in total. Each visit needs a package from an approved provider on Nusuk and a Nusuk permit before arrival.

I live in the UAE. Can I get a Saudi eVisa for Umrah?

For most nationalities, yes. A GCC residence visa valid for at least 3 months beyond your entry date opens the online route on ksavisa.sa. Apply before you travel, as Visit Saudi does not list a visa on arrival for GCC residents.

Can Voyfaro get my Umrah visa or Nusuk permit?

No. You apply yourself on the official portals, or through a licensed provider. We can help you compare flights, hotels, eSIMs and insurance for your trip.

Sources

Official pages we checked on 6 October 2026. Voyfaro is not affiliated with any government.

• Saudi eVisa portal (Ministry of Tourism), visa.visitsaudi.com (68 eligible countries; one-year multiple-entry visa, up to 90 days; Umrah excluding Hajj; not for study), checked on 6 October 2026
• Saudi eVisa portal, Terms and conditions (permitted countries; 6-month passport rule; VAT; no cancellation or refund; no guarantee of entry; 3-month stay; Holy Mosques entry), checked on 6 October 2026
• Visit Saudi, Saudi Arabia Visa Requirements (visa checker: GCC residence validity beyond entry date, no profession restriction shown, no visa on arrival for GCC residents; entry stamp rule and digital stamps for US, UK and Schengen visa holders; package visa excluding Makkah and Madinah), checked on 6 October 2026
• Ministry of Tourism, Tourist Visa Regulations (PDF, V012: Article 5 passport, insurance and under-18 rules; Article 6 embassy route and US, UK, Schengen, permanent residence and GCC routes; Article 9 SAR 300 fee; Article 10 no Umrah in Hajj season), checked on 6 October 2026
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, KSA Visa platform (Umrah visit visa, ETA and electronic visa waiver types; applicant conditions; active-visa note; Umrah health pledge; emergency-only medical insurance), checked on 6 October 2026
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Visa platform (visitor services, including the electronic visa waiver), checked on 6 October 2026
• Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Umrah Season Calendar for 1448 AH (published 17 May 2026: last visa issue, last entry and last departure dates), checked on 6 October 2026
• Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, FAQ (90-day stay; entry within 3 months of issue; fee estimated at SAR 300; no Umrah visa from external agents without service packages), checked on 6 October 2026
• Saudi Press Agency, Hajj Ministry Launches Multiple-Entry Umrah Visa Valid for One Year (20 July 2026: 365-day validity, 90 days in total, package and Nusuk permit before arrival, not activated 1 Dhu al-Qi’dah to 13 Dhu al-Hijjah), checked on 6 October 2026
• Nusuk (Ministry of Hajj and Umrah), Umrah journey (Arabic: Umrah visa via Nusuk or an embassy; other visa types; airports; travel between cities; Hajj season arrangements), checked on 6 October 2026
• Nusuk, Frequently asked questions (Arabic: transit visa rules and Umrah during a stopover; permit times), checked on 6 October 2026
• Nusuk Umrah, official package platform (providers licensed by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah), checked on 6 October 2026
• Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Umrah Permit Application (free, through Nusuk app and website, date and time slot), checked on 6 October 2026
• Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Rawdah Sharif permit (free, through Nusuk app and website), checked on 6 October 2026
• Ministry of Health, Health Requirements and Recommendations for Travelers to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, 1447H (2026) (meningococcal, polio including IPV timing footnote, yellow fever, COVID-19), checked on 6 October 2026
• GOV.UK (FCDO), Saudi Arabia: entry requirements (eVisa, Saudi ETA, electronic visa waiver, insurance up to SAR 100,000, overland entry by the Bahrain causeway, Hajj flight restrictions, overstaying), checked on 6 October 2026
• GOV.UK (FCDO), Saudi Arabia: pilgrimage (Umrah outside Hajj season, ATOL, scams, payment advice), checked on 6 October 2026
• Government of Canada, Travel advice and advisories: Saudi Arabia (tourist visa online or on arrival; Umrah with any type of visa; women travelling without a mahram; expected 2027 Hajj dates), checked on 6 October 2026