RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has clarified that holders of the newly introduced one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa will still have to complete certain procedures before each visit to perform Umrah, despite being permitted to enter the Kingdom multiple times during the visa’s validity.
According to foreign media reports, Saudi authorities introduced the 365-day multiple-entry Umrah visa in July, allowing eligible pilgrims to enter Saudi Arabia more than once during the validity period.
However, the authorities have clarified that the visa itself does not give pilgrims an automatic right to travel to the Kingdom whenever they wish.
Fresh service package, Umrah permit required for every trip
Under the new procedure, pilgrims holding the multiple-entry visa will be required to obtain a new service package and an Umrah permit before each trip.
This means that a pilgrim intending to perform Umrah for a second or third time during the same year will have to complete the relevant procedures again before travelling.
The clarification is aimed at preventing visa holders from assuming that the one-year multiple-entry visa alone is sufficient for repeated Umrah journeys.
While the visa permits multiple entries during its 365-day validity, each new Umrah trip remains subject to the required service arrangements and approval through the prescribed process.
The Saudi clarification is also intended to provide greater certainty to pilgrims regarding travel and payment arrangements and prevent confusion over the distinction between visa validity and permission to perform Umrah.
The development is particularly relevant for Pakistani pilgrims, who have consistently accounted for the largest share of Umrah visitors to Saudi Arabia.
According to figures previously cited from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, nearly 200,000 Pakistani pilgrims travelled to the Kingdom during the opening weeks of the current Umrah season.
Saudi authorities have advised pilgrims to complete all required procedures before each visit and follow the applicable rules governing Umrah travel and permits.
