Saudi Arabia announced on Friday that all types of visa holders will be allowed to perform Umrah, including those with tourist and commercial visas who can perform the pilgrimage during their stay in Saudi Arabia.
The facility is available to citizens of 49 countries around the world. They can secure their visas online through the “Visit Saudi Arabia’ portal or immediately on arrival at Saudi airports, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said while noting that the decision has been taken to facilitate as many people as possible to perform the pilgrimage.
The ministry stated that those who qualify to perform Umrah also include holders of US, UK and Schengen visas.Â
The system allows people to obtain a tourist visa, valid for a period of 12 months, upon arrival at one of the Saudi airports without the need for prior application, and the visa holders will be allowed to visit the cities and regions all over the Kingdom.Â
The visa applicants shall be from those countries that are included among the countries eligible for obtaining the electronic visa.Â
Family visit visa holders from different nationalities can also perform Umrah by booking an appointment through the Eatmarna application via their relatives in the Kingdom during their visit, by applying through the National Unified Visa Platform.
To perform Umrah, it is required for visitors to obtain comprehensive health insurance, which includes coverage of treatment costs of coronavirus infection; accidents resulting in death or disability; and expense due to flight delays or cancellations, and other matters.
Those who wish to perform Umrah from nations other than those countries, which are currently qualified, should apply for visas at the Kingdom’s embassies in their respective countries.
