Key points
- Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced a new Umrah visa on July 20, 2026 that allows repeat entries within a 365-day validity period.
- The total stay across all visits is capped at 90 days combined, drawn from a shared pool rather than a per-trip allocation.
- Before each trip, holders must buy a service package and secure an Umrah permit through the Nusuk platform.
- The visa goes dormant each year from 1 Dhu Al-Qadah through 13 Dhu Al-Hijjah for the Hajj season; the single-entry Umrah visa remains available.
A new multiple-entry option for Umrah pilgrims
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced a new Umrah visa category on July 20, 2026 that lets pilgrims enter the Kingdom repeatedly within a 365-day validity period. The total stay across all visits is capped at 90 days combined.
The visa is a significant shift from the previous single-entry option. Before this announcement, the standalone Umrah visa had to be used within 30 days of issuance, and returning pilgrims had to reapply entirely. The ministry had tightened that usage window from three months to 30 days in late 2025.
How the 90-day allowance works
Under the new system, the 90-day allowance functions as a shared pool rather than a per-trip allocation. A pilgrim who uses 25 days on a first visit keeps 65 days for later entries. The visa expires when either the 90-day allowance or the 365-day validity runs out, whichever comes first.
Steps required before each entry
Before every trip, visa holders must complete two actions through Saudi Arabia’s Nusuk platform:
- Purchase a service package from an accredited Nusuk provider
- Secure an Umrah permit through the Nusuk app
The service package duration must fit within the remaining visa validity; bookings that extend past expiration will not be approved. After each departure, the visa becomes inactive until the entry requirements are met again for a fresh trip.
Hajj-season blackout
The visa goes dormant every year from the 1st of Dhu Al-Qadah through the 13th of Dhu Al-Hijjah. No entries can be processed during this window, as infrastructure and security resources shift entirely toward Hajj operations. These Islamic-calendar dates move roughly 10 to 11 days earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar.
The single-entry visa stays
The original single-entry Umrah visa remains available for pilgrims expecting only one visit. It permits up to 90 days of stay after immigration clearance and must be used within 30 days of issuance.
The ministry framed the new visa as advancing Saudi Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Program, with the aim of streamlining arrivals and improving service quality. Travelers can review entry options on the Saudi Arabia visa hub.
