Planning for an Umrah trip from the UK? At Al Zowar Travel, we sort out your visa, flights and accommodation, while keeping a close eye on any official policy changes so everything runs smoothly for your trip.
The latest change is the introduction of a new type of Umrah visa and it’s a genuinely useful change for anyone who travels for Umrah more than once a year. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched a multiple-entry Umrah visa valid for a full 365 days from the date it’s issued, allowing up to 90 days of total stay across as many visits as you make within that year.
Whether you are planning your first trip or looking to perform Umrah again later this year, here is a straightforward breakdown of how the new visa works, what has changed and how to apply through Al Zowar Travel.
What Is an Umrah Visa?
An Umrah visa is an official travel authorization issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia specifically allowing Muslim pilgrims from around the world to perform the minor pilgrimage (Umrah) in Makkah and visit the Holy City of Madinah.
Unlike the Hajj visa, which is bound to specific days in the Islamic lunar calendar, an Umrah visa allows you to perform pilgrimage rituals at any time of the year (excluding the official Hajj blackout period). While it provides full access to sacred sites and general tourism within Saudi Arabia, it strictly prohibits gainful employment, business trading or long-term residency.
Latest Saudi Umrah Visa Updates (2026)
In mid 2026, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah updated its visa rules to help manage pilgrim flows and improve digital bookings through the Nusuk app.
Quick Summary of Key Policy Rules
- Your visa lasts 365 days from the date it’s issued.
- You can enter and exit Saudi Arabia as many times as you like during that 12-month window.
- You can spend up to 90 combined days in the country across all your trips within the year.
- For each visit, you need to purchase an approved service package on Nusuk and issue your Umrah permit (tasreeh) before you arrive.
- The visa automatically pauses during the Hajj season (from 1st Dhu al-Qi’dah through 13th Dhu al-Hijjah) and cannot be used during this period.
What Is the New 1-Year Multiple-Entry Umrah Visa?
The multiple-entry Umrah visa is valid for 365 days from its issue date and allows holders to enter Saudi Arabia several times during that period. The total stay across all visits is capped at 90 days, calculated cumulatively rather than per trip, so a pilgrim might spend three weeks in Makkah in one visit and a further two weeks later in the year, with the days simply adding up against the 90-day total.
Each entry still requires its own service package purchased through an accredited Nusuk provider, and the package length can’t exceed whatever days remain on the visa. The visa deactivates when you leave Saudi Arabia and reactivates for your next visit once the relevant conditions are met. It’s important to note this visa cannot be used during the Hajj season itself which runs roughly from the 1st of Dhul Qadah to the 13th of Dhul Hijjah each year, and it cannot substitute for a Hajj visa.
How is a Multi-Entry Umrah Visa different from the Previous Umrah Visa?
The standard Umrah visa most UK pilgrims are familiar with is single-entry: one visa, one trip, with a 30-day window to enter the Kingdom after issuance and up to 90 days of stay once you’ve arrived. Once that visa is used or expires, a fresh application is needed for the next trip.
The new multiple-entry visa changes that by covering an entire year under one approval.
| Umrah Visa Rule | Previous Umrah Visa | New Multiple-Entry Visa |
| Validity | 30-day entry window after issuance | 365 days (1 year) from issuance |
| Number of entries | Single entry | Multiple entries within the year |
| Stay allowance | Up to 90 days per visit | Up to 90 days total, shared across all visits |
| Reapplication | Required for every new trip | Not required within the 1-year validity |
| Hajj season use | Not applicable | Not valid during Hajj season |
Who Can Benefit from the New Visa?
This new visa policy isn’t necessarily the better option for everyone; it depends on how often you go for Umrah.
- Pilgrims who perform Umrah more than once a year save the inconvenience of having to reapply and undergo document checks each time they travel.
- Families with relatives abroad can combine an Umrah visit with other travel plans across the same year without needing separate visa approvals.
- UK residents planning Umrah across different seasons, such as once in winter and again during a school holiday, get one approval that covers both.
- Regular pilgrims and community group leaders who organise multiple smaller trips benefit from not restarting the process each time.
If you’re planning a single Umrah trip this year with no other visits in mind, the standard single-entry visa is usually the simpler and more suitable route.
Umrah Visa Requirements
Whether you are applying for the standard or the multiple-entry visa, the core requirements stay broadly the same:
- A passport valid for at least six months from your date of entry
- Passport-sized photographs meeting Saudi visa specifications
- Proof of any required vaccinations
- A confirmed service package purchased through an accredited Nusuk provider
- An Umrah permit obtained via the Nusuk app before travel, confirming your specific entry dates
For the multiple-entry visa specifically, each individual visit still needs its own service package and Nusuk-confirmed permit, even though the underlying visa itself doesn’t need renewing for a full year.
How Long Does Umrah Visa Processing Take?
Processing times vary depending on the season and the completeness of your documents when submitted. During quieter months, approvals can take just a few hours though things do slow down during peak Umrah seasons and holiday periods.
We at Al Zowar Travel submit applications through authorised channels and keep clients updated at each stage so there are no surprises close to a planned departure date.
How to Apply for Your Umrah Visa with Al Zowar Travel
We keep our booking process simple.
Select Your Travel Package
First, you pick the package that works best for your dates and budget. You can choose from a 3, 4, or 5 star hotel stay with flights out of London, Manchester, Birmingham, or Luton.
Submit Your Documents
Next, you send us a scan of your passport, a recent photo and your UK residence proof (a BRP or digital status). Before we submit anything through official channels, our team goes through every document by hand. Catching missing details early is what keeps your application moving without unexpected holds.
Receive Your Digital Visa and Secure Your Nusuk Permit
After the approval of your application by Saudi authorities, we email your digital visa directly to you. From there, we walk you through setting up the Nusuk app on your phone so you can lock in your Umrah slot and your permit for the Rawdah in Madinah.
Begin Your Pilgrimage
By the time you head to the airport, your flights, hotels, visa and permits are completely sorted and our team stays available if you need any support while you are away.
Why Apply Through Al Zowar Travel?
Saudi Arabia changes the visa rules to make the Hajj and Umrah process easier for pilgrims and keeping up with which rule applies to which visa type isn’t something most travellers want to manage alongside booking flights and hotels.
We track every policy update directly from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, so you’re always working from current, accurate information rather than outdated guidance.
We help you choose the right visa type whether that’s a single-entry visa for one trip or the new multiple-entry option for pilgrims planning more than one visit this year.
We coordinate timing carefully, particularly important under the multiple-entry visa where each visit’s package length is tied to the days remaining on your visa.
Our packages include Saudi approved accommodation in Makkah and Madinah and dedicated support from our UK team throughout your trip.
Practical Tips to Avoid Visa Issues
- Check your passport; it must be valid for at least six months from the entry date.
- Don’t apply too early; request your visa close to travel to avoid the 30-day window expiring.
- Book flights and hotels together so the approval process goes smoothly.
- Carry health documents and any required vaccination proof.
- Plan your return before visa expiry because overstays can attract fines or restrictions.