Saudi Arabia has introduced a one-year, multiple-entry Umrah visa, allowing pilgrims to visit the Kingdom several times over a single year with a cumulative stay of up to 90 days. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced the new visa, with the Saudi Press Agency reporting the launch on July 20, 2026. Officials described the move as part of a wider effort to make travel to Makkah and Madinah easier and more flexible for Muslims around the world.

The visa marks a significant shift for pilgrims who previously needed a fresh visa for each Umrah journey. It is designed to serve worshippers who wish to return to the Two Holy Cities more than once in the same year, whether for repeated Umrah, extended spiritual retreats or visits combined with time to explore the Kingdom.

How the new Umrah visa works

According to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the visa is valid for 365 days from the date of issuance. During that period, the holder may enter Saudi Arabia multiple times. The total permitted stay is capped at 90 days, calculated cumulatively across all visits rather than per trip.

The process is built around Nusuk, the Kingdom's official digital platform for planning and booking pilgrimages. For each entry, the pilgrim must purchase a service package from an approved provider on Nusuk. The duration of that package must not exceed the number of days remaining on the visa.

Before each trip, pilgrims must also obtain an Umrah permit through the Nusuk app. The permit dates must match the dates of the approved service package. The Ministry said the visa is automatically deactivated each time a visitor departs the Kingdom, then reactivated for the next visit once the relevant regulatory requirements have been met.

Important restriction during Hajj season

The multiple-entry Umrah visa cannot be used to enter Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season. The Ministry confirmed the visa remains inactive for entry from the first of Dhul-Qi'dah until the thirteenth of Dhul-Hijjah.

This restriction is important for anyone planning trips in the second half of the Islamic year. Pilgrims intending to perform Hajj must still obtain a dedicated Hajj visa through the official channels for their country. The Umrah visa, no matter how many entries remain, will not grant access during that protected window.

Part of a wider push to welcome more pilgrims

The Ministry said the new visa aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 and the goals of the Pilgrim Experience Programme, which aim to facilitate arrival, enrich the pilgrim experience and improve the efficiency of services. The Kingdom has steadily eased Umrah access in recent years, including opening year-round Umrah to Gulf citizens and residents in 2025.

The change follows a strong Umrah season. The Ministry reported that Umrah visa arrivals rose by roughly 23 percent to more than 1.3 million between late May and mid-July 2026, compared with the same period a year earlier. The largest numbers of pilgrims came from Pakistan, followed by Indonesia and Iraq. Official figures also show that the total number of Hajj pilgrims in 2026 exceeded 1.7 million.

For pilgrims, the practical benefit is flexibility. A worshipper living far from the Kingdom can now plan two or three shorter journeys within a year on a single visa, provided the total time inside Saudi Arabia stays within the 90-day cap and each entry is backed by a valid Nusuk package and permit.

Practical tips for pilgrims

  • Download and set up Nusuk early. Every entry requires a service package booked through an approved provider on the platform, so create your account and verify your details before you travel.
  • Track your 90 days carefully. The stay limit is cumulative across the whole year. Keep a running total of the days you spend in the Kingdom on each visit so you do not exceed the cap.
  • Match your permit to your package. Obtain an Umrah permit through the Nusuk app before each trip, and make sure the permit dates line up with your approved service package.
  • Plan around the Hajj blackout. Remember the visa will not work for entry from 1 Dhul-Qi'dah to 13 Dhul-Hijjah. If you intend to perform Hajj, arrange a separate Hajj visa.
  • Confirm requirements before each entry. The visa reactivates only once regulatory conditions are met, so check current health and entry rules ahead of every journey.

Pilgrims are advised to rely on official sources such as the Nusuk platform and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for the latest details, as procedures and requirements can be updated ahead of and during each Umrah season.