Saudi Arabia has introduced a new multiple-entry Umrah visa that allows eligible pilgrims to visit the Kingdom several times using the same visa. The visa remains valid for 365 days from the date of issuance, while the total permitted stay is limited to 90 days across all visits.
The new policy gives pilgrims greater flexibility to plan more than one Umrah journey during the year. However, every visit must comply with Nusuk package requirements, Umrah permit rules, entry eligibility and the remaining number of stay days.
Quick Answer
Saudi Arabia’s new multiple-entry Umrah visa is valid for one year from its issuance date. It permits several entries, but the visa holder may spend no more than 90 cumulative days in Saudi Arabia during the visa’s entire validity. A new approved service package and Umrah permit are required before each visit.
New Multiple-Entry Umrah Visa Policy at a Glance
| Policy feature | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Visa validity | 365 days from the date of issuance |
| Number of entries | Multiple entries |
| Maximum stay | 90 days in total across all visits |
| Stay calculation | Cumulative |
| Package requirement | Approved service package required for each visit |
| Umrah permit | Required through Nusuk before each visit |
| After departure | Visa status is reactivated after completing the next visit’s requirements |
| Hajj-season entry | Not activated from 1 Dhu al-Qadah to 13 Dhu al-Hijjah |
These rules were announced by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on 20 July 2026 as part of its efforts to provide pilgrims with more flexible options for visiting the Kingdom and performing Umrah.
What Is Saudi Arabia’s New Multiple-Entry Umrah Visa?
The new multiple-entry Umrah visa is a Saudi entry visa designed for pilgrims who may wish to visit the Kingdom more than once during a one-year period.
Instead of obtaining a completely new visa for every journey, an eligible visa holder can use the same valid visa for multiple visits. However, the holder must complete the required package, permit and entry procedures before every journey.
The visa becomes valid from the date it is issued, not from the date of the traveller’s first arrival in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, pilgrims should consider the issuance date when planning future visits.
Old vs New Umrah Visa Policy: What Has Changed in 2026?
Saudi Arabia’s new policy changes the dedicated Umrah visa from a mainly single-journey arrangement into a one-year multiple-entry option. Under the previous system, a pilgrim generally needed a new visa for every separate Umrah journey. The new visa can be reused for several visits, provided its validity, cumulative stay balance, approved package and permit requirements are fulfilled.
The following comparison explains the key differences between the previous and new Umrah visa policies.
Complete Comparison of the Old and New Umrah Visa Policy
| Policy Feature | Previous Umrah Visa Policy | New Multiple-Entry Umrah Visa Policy 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Visa category | Primarily a single-entry Umrah visa | Multiple-entry Umrah visa |
| Number of entries | One entry into Saudi Arabia | Multiple entries during the visa’s validity |
| Visa validity before travel | Immediately before the new policy, travellers generally had to enter within 30 days of visa issuance or the unused visa could be cancelled | Valid for 365 days from the date of issuance |
| Maximum permitted stay | Up to 90 days during a single journey after entering Saudi Arabia | Up to 90 days in total across all visits |
| How the 90 days are calculated | Applied to the pilgrim’s single permitted visit | Calculated cumulatively across every visit |
| Stay reset after departure | Not applicable because the visa could normally be used for only one entry | No. Leaving Saudi Arabia does not reset the 90-day allowance |
| Visa use after departure | The same visa could not normally be reused for another Umrah journey | The same visa may be used again after completing the next visit’s requirements |
| New visa for every journey | A fresh visa application was generally required for each separate journey | A new visa is not required for every trip while the multiple-entry visa remains valid |
| Service package | A package was arranged for the single approved Umrah journey | A new service package from an approved provider is required for every visit |
| Package duration | Based on the permitted duration of the single journey | Must not exceed the pilgrim’s remaining days from the cumulative 90-day allowance |
| Umrah permit | A valid Umrah permit was required for the journey | A fresh Umrah permit through Nusuk is required for each visit |
| After exiting Saudi Arabia | The single-entry visa was considered used after departure | The visa is deactivated after departure and may be reactivated after regulatory requirements are completed |
| Planning multiple Umrah trips | Separate visa processing was generally required for each trip | Several trips can be planned under one valid visa |
| Tracking used stay days | No cumulative balance across several entries | Every day spent in Saudi Arabia is deducted from the 90-day total |
| Hajj-season use | Subject to Hajj-season entry and Makkah restrictions | Also subject to Hajj-season restrictions and cannot be treated as a Hajj visa |
| Ability to perform Hajj | Not permitted without an official Hajj visa and permit | Still not permitted without an official Hajj visa and permit |
| Overall flexibility | Limited because the visa was linked to one journey | Greater flexibility for pilgrims planning several visits within one year |
How Long Is the Multiple-Entry Umrah Visa Valid?
The multiple-entry Umrah visa remains valid for 365 days from the date of issuance.
During this period, the traveller may enter Saudi Arabia several times, provided that:
- The visa remains valid.
- The traveller has available days remaining from the 90-day allowance.
- A new approved umrah package has been purchased for the visit.
- A valid Umrah permit has been issued through Nusuk.
- All travel and entry eligibility requirements have been completed.
The official KSA Visa platform also lists the multiple-entry Umrah visa with a one-year validity period and a stay duration of up to 90 days.
Is the 90-Day Stay Allowed on Every Visit?
No. The 90-day allowance is not provided separately for every entry.
It is a cumulative limit covering the entire one-year visa period. Every day spent inside Saudi Arabia is deducted from the available 90-day balance. Leaving and re-entering Saudi Arabia does not reset the allowance.
Example of the 90-Day Rule
Suppose a pilgrim receives the visa and completes three journeys:
| Visit | Days spent in Saudi Arabia | Remaining stay |
|---|---|---|
| First visit | 20 days | 70 days |
| Second visit | 15 days | 55 days |
| Third visit | 25 days | 30 days |
After these three visits, the traveller will have 30 days remaining. These days may be used in one further visit or divided across several visits, depending on visa validity and compliance with the applicable rules.
Once all 90 days have been used, the visa holder cannot receive a new 90-day allowance simply by leaving and returning.
How Many Times Can a Pilgrim Enter Saudi Arabia?
The policy permits multiple entries during the visa’s 365-day validity period. The official announcement does not state one fixed maximum number of visits.
In practice, the number of possible visits depends on:
- The remaining validity of the visa
- The remaining stay balance
- The length of each approved package
- The availability of the required Umrah permit
- Compliance with Saudi entry requirements
- Hajj-season restrictions
A traveller could therefore make several shorter visits, provided that the combined stay does not exceed 90 days.
What Is Required for the First Visit?
The first journey begins with the selection of an approved service package through a provider available within the Nusuk system.
The pilgrim must then complete the visa application and other required procedures. Before travelling, the applicant’s eligibility to enter Saudi Arabia may be checked by the relevant authorities.
The general first-visit process includes:
- Selecting an approved Umrah service package
- Submitting the multiple-entry Umrah visa application
- Completing the required processing and eligibility checks
- Obtaining an Umrah permit through Nusuk
- Ensuring the permit dates match the approved package dates
- Completing airline and entry verification
- Registering arrival details after entering Saudi Arabia
The Ministry states that entry under the visa is connected to obtaining the Umrah permit before arrival and aligning the permit with the approved package.
Is a New Package Required for Every Visit?
Yes. Holding a valid multiple-entry visa alone is not enough to travel again.
For every subsequent visit, the traveller must purchase a new service package from an approved provider in the Nusuk system. The duration of the package must not exceed the traveller’s remaining stay allowance.
For example, a pilgrim with only 12 days remaining cannot book a package requiring a 15-day stay.
Nusuk Umrah operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and displays packages from service providers approved by the Ministry. The platform offers comprehensive packages, visa-included options and packages without visas for eligible travellers.
Is a New Umrah Permit Required for Every Journey?
Yes. A new Umrah permit must be issued through the Nusuk application for each visit.
The permit should correspond with the dates of the approved package. Travellers should not assume that a permit issued during the first journey will remain valid for future visits.
A valid visa allows the traveller to complete the entry process, while the Umrah permit authorises the performance of Umrah according to the approved date and applicable regulations.
What Happens After Leaving Saudi Arabia?
After the pilgrim leaves Saudi Arabia, the entry and departure information is updated, and the days already used are deducted from the available 90-day balance.
The Ministry has explained that the visa status is deactivated after each departure. It can then be reactivated for the next visit once the traveller completes the required package, permit and eligibility procedures.
This does not mean that the visa is permanently cancelled after the first journey. It means that the conditions for the next visit must be completed before another entry is permitted.
Can the Visa Be Used During the Hajj Season?
Entry under the multiple-entry Umrah visa is not activated during the specified Hajj-season period, beginning on 1 Dhu al-Qadah and continuing until 13 Dhu al-Hijjah.
Pilgrims planning several visits should account for this restriction when arranging their travel dates. The Gregorian dates will change each year because the Hajj season follows the Islamic lunar calendar.
The multiple-entry Umrah visa should also not be treated as permission to perform Hajj. Hajj requires its own authorised visa, registration, package and permit process. Saudi Nusuk guidance states that Hajj cannot be performed using a tourist visa or another non-Hajj visa.
Is the New Visa Available to Pakistani Pilgrims?
Pakistan appears among the countries of residence available for selection on the official Nusuk Umrah platform. However, final access to packages and visa issuance remains subject to Ministry regulations, traveller eligibility, documentation and the availability of services for the applicant’s country.
Pakistani pilgrims should therefore confirm their current eligibility before purchasing non-refundable flights or making independent accommodation arrangements.
Requirements and operational procedures may also be updated by Saudi authorities, airlines or approved service providers.
What Are the Main Benefits of the New Policy?
The most important benefit is flexibility.
Pilgrims who expect to perform Umrah more than once within a year may not need to obtain an entirely new visa for every trip. They can plan several visits while using their available 90-day balance.
The policy may be particularly useful for:
- Families planning more than one spiritual journey
- Travellers visiting during different Umrah seasons
- Individuals wishing to accompany elderly parents on separate trips
- Pilgrims dividing their stay between shorter visits
- Frequent travellers who can fulfil the package and permit conditions each time
However, multiple entry does not mean unrestricted entry. Every journey remains subject to the required package, permit, remaining stay balance and eligibility checks.
Important Rules Pilgrims Must Remember
The visa starts from its issuance date
The one-year validity does not begin with the first entry. Delaying the first journey will reduce the remaining period available for future travel.
The 90 days are cumulative
Days do not reset after departure. The combined stay across every journey cannot exceed 90 days.
A new package is required for each visit
Every journey must be connected to an approved package provided through the authorised Nusuk ecosystem.
A fresh permit is required
The traveller must obtain an Umrah permit through Nusuk before every visit and ensure that the dates match the package.
Entry is restricted during the Hajj period
The visa is not activated for entry from 1 Dhu al-Qadah to 13 Dhu al-Hijjah.
The visa cannot be used for employment
Nusuk’s official terms state that working in Saudi Arabia is not permitted on an Umrah visa. Overstaying may also result in fines, deportation, imprisonment or restrictions on future entry.
What Should Pilgrims Do Before Booking?
Before confirming a multiple-entry Umrah journey, travellers should check:
- Their visa issuance and expiry dates
- The number of stay days already used
- The remaining stay allowance
- The approved package dates
- Their Nusuk permit
- Passport validity
- Travel and health requirements
- Airline eligibility checks
- Hajj-season restrictions
It is also advisable to keep copies of the visa, package confirmation, hotel booking, return ticket, insurance and Umrah permit while travelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Saudi Arabia’s new multiple-entry Umrah visa valid?
The visa is valid for 365 days from the date of issuance. It can be used for several visits during that period, subject to the applicable requirements.
Does the visa allow 90 days on every visit?
No. The 90 days represent the combined maximum stay across all visits during the visa’s one-year validity.
Does the 90-day allowance reset after leaving Saudi Arabia?
No. Each day spent in Saudi Arabia is deducted from the same 90-day balance.
Can I perform Umrah several times using the same visa?
Yes. The policy permits multiple visits and therefore allows the visa to be used for more than one Umrah journey, provided all requirements are completed for every visit.
Do I need a new Umrah package for every visit?
Yes. A new approved service package is required before each journey. The package must not exceed the number of stay days remaining on the visa.
Do I need a separate Nusuk permit every time?
Yes. A fresh Umrah permit must be issued through Nusuk for each visit and should correspond with the approved package dates.
What happens to the visa after I leave Saudi Arabia?
The used stay days are recorded and deducted. The visa status is then reactivated for the next visit after the required package, permit and entry conditions are fulfilled.
Can I enter Saudi Arabia using this visa during Hajj season?
The visa is not activated for entry from 1 Dhu al-Qadah until 13 Dhu al-Hijjah.
Can I perform Hajj using this visa?
No. An Umrah visa does not replace the official Hajj visa, permit and package requirements.
Is the visa automatically available to every applicant?
No. Applications remain subject to eligibility, documentation, Ministry regulations and service availability through approved channels.
Final Thoughts
Saudi Arabia’s new multiple-entry Umrah visa policy offers greater flexibility to pilgrims who wish to perform Umrah more than once during the year. The visa provides a 365-day validity period and permits several entries, but its 90-day stay allowance is cumulative rather than renewable after every journey.
The most important point is that the visa alone does not guarantee automatic re-entry. Pilgrims must arrange an approved service package, obtain a new Nusuk permit and complete the required eligibility checks before every visit.
For Pakistani travellers, careful planning will be essential. Keeping track of the visa expiry date, remaining stay days and Hajj-season restrictions can help prevent booking complications.
Uniworld Travel & Tours can assist pilgrims with current Umrah visa guidance, approved travel arrangements, flights, hotel accommodation and complete journey planning based on the latest applicable regulations.
