Saudi Arabia has introduced a one-year, multiple-entry Umrah visa that lets pilgrims travel to the Kingdom repeatedly over a single 12-month period. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirmed the new category in July 2026, describing it as a significant step to simplify travel for worshippers who wish to perform Umrah more than once in a year.
The visa is valid for 365 days from the date of issuance. Within that window, holders may enter the Kingdom several times, with a cumulative stay of up to 90 days across all visits. According to the Ministry, the facility is aimed primarily at expatriates and international pilgrims who previously had to apply for a fresh visa before each journey.
How the new visa works
The multiple-entry Umrah visa is issued and managed entirely through the official Nusuk platform. Applicants select a service package from an approved provider and choose the multiple-entry option when applying. The Ministry has stressed that Nusuk remains mandatory for all Umrah pilgrims, regardless of the visa type they hold.
The visa operates on an activation-and-deactivation model. After a pilgrim completes a visit and departs the Kingdom, the visa is deactivated. It can then be reactivated for the next trip once the traveller meets the required conditions again, including purchasing a new service package for that visit. Any remaining eligible days are carried forward automatically and can be used on later journeys, provided they fall within the 365-day validity period.
Each entry still requires a valid Umrah permit issued through the Nusuk application before arrival. The Ministry has repeatedly reminded pilgrims that a booked and verified stay, arranged through an authorised provider, is a condition of entry.
Key conditions pilgrims should note
There are important limits attached to the new visa. The most significant is that it cannot be activated during the Hajj season. The Ministry has specified that the visa is inactive from the first of Dhul-Qi'dah until the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah, the period surrounding the annual Hajj. Pilgrims holding this visa therefore cannot use it to enter Makkah during those dates.
The 90-day cumulative cap applies to total time spent in the Kingdom, not to a single visit. Pilgrims planning several trips should budget their days carefully so that later journeys are not cut short. The service package purchased for each visit must also not exceed the number of days remaining on the visa.
The visa is designed for Umrah and associated visits, including travel to Madinah to visit the Prophet's Mosque. It does not replace the Hajj visa, which remains a separate category with its own quota and application process managed by the Ministry.
Part of a wider modernisation drive
The Ministry has framed the multiple-entry visa as part of Saudi Vision 2030 and its Pilgrim Experience Program, which seeks to make arrival easier, enrich the spiritual journey, and raise the standard of services offered to worshippers. Officials say reducing repeat paperwork is intended to encourage more frequent visits and smoother planning.
The change comes as Umrah numbers continue to climb. Saudi authorities reported that the Kingdom welcomed roughly 931,500 pilgrims early in the current season, a 22.5 percent increase on the same period a year earlier, with large numbers arriving from Pakistan, Indonesia and Iraq. The digitisation of visas and permits through Nusuk has been central to managing that growth.
Practical tips for pilgrims
Pilgrims considering the new visa should keep a few points in mind. First, apply and manage everything through the official Nusuk platform or a licensed agent authorised by the Ministry, and avoid unofficial intermediaries. Second, track your cumulative days carefully, since the 90-day total is shared across every visit within the year.
Third, remember that a valid Umrah permit must be secured through Nusuk before each entry, and confirmed accommodation is required. Fourth, do not plan a trip on this visa during the Hajj season, as it will not be active between the first of Dhul-Qi'dah and the 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. Finally, ensure your passport has sufficient validity and that any required health measures, such as recommended vaccinations, are in order before you travel.
For those able to visit the holy cities more than once in a year, whether for repeated Umrah or to combine worship with visits to Madinah, the new visa removes a long-standing administrative hurdle. As always, pilgrims should verify the latest rules directly with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah before booking, as procedures and dates can be updated ahead of each season.