Pilgrims planning more than one Umrah in a single year now have a more flexible option. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced a multiple-entry Umrah visa valid for a full year, allowing repeat visits to the Kingdom without applying for a new visa each time.

The visa was launched by the ministry as part of the Kingdom's drive to ease arrivals and improve the experience of pilgrims. It reflects a wider shift toward digital, service-based travel built around the Nusuk platform, and it is designed to suit those who wish to return for Umrah several times across the year.

How the visa works

According to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the visa is valid for 365 days from the date it is issued. Within that year, the holder may enter Saudi Arabia multiple times, with a cumulative stay of up to 90 days in total.

The 90 days are important to understand correctly. They are a pooled balance for the whole year, not a fresh allowance for each trip. Every day spent inside the Kingdom is deducted from the total, so pilgrims planning several visits need to budget their days carefully across the validity period.

Each visit also requires its own arrangements. According to the ministry, the traveller must purchase a service package from an approved provider on the Nusuk platform for every trip, and the package duration cannot exceed the number of days remaining on the visa. Entry additionally depends on issuing an Umrah permit through the Nusuk application before arrival.

An important restriction during Hajj

The multiple-entry Umrah visa carries one key limitation. It cannot be used to enter Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season. Pilgrims intending to perform Hajj must follow the separate, dedicated Hajj registration and permit process rather than relying on an Umrah visa.

This distinction matters because performing Hajj without the correct permit is not permitted, and the authorities apply strict entry controls to Makkah in the run-up to the pilgrimage. The Umrah visa is intended for Umrah and ziyarah visits outside the Hajj window.

The ministry has described the visa as part of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Pilgrim Experience Program, whose goals include facilitating arrival, enriching the visit, and improving the efficiency of services offered to the guests of the Two Holy Mosques.

What it means for pilgrims

For frequent visitors, particularly those living within the region or travelling for work as well as worship, the year-long visa removes the need to reapply before every journey. It offers planning certainty across a full year while keeping each individual trip tied to a booked package and a valid permit.

Pilgrims considering the visa should keep a few practical points in mind:

  • Track your 90 days. The cumulative limit covers the whole year, so record each stay and plan future trips around the days you have left.
  • Book a package for every visit. A new Nusuk service package and Umrah permit are required for each entry, not just the first.
  • Do not rely on it for Hajj. The visa cannot be used to enter during the Hajj season; use the dedicated Hajj channel instead.
  • Apply through official channels. Use the Nusuk platform and approved providers to avoid unlicensed agents.
  • Check passport validity. Ensure your passport remains valid well beyond your planned final trip.

As the 1448 AH Umrah season gets under way, the multiple-entry option gives eligible pilgrims a simpler path to return to Makkah and Madinah more than once, provided they stay within the visa's rules and complete each booking through the official system.