The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia has introduced a multiple-entry Umrah visa with a validity period of one year. The new visa allows holders to enter the country multiple times within 365 days. However, the total duration of stay in Saudi Arabia must not exceed 90 days within the year.
According to the Ministry, the 90-day period is calculated cumulatively. That is, the days the pilgrim spends in Saudi Arabia during each visit are deducted from the total 90-day allowance.
The new visa is subject to a number of conditions. In particular, for each visit, it is required to purchase a service package from a service provider officially approved on the "Nusuk" platform. The validity period of the package must not exceed the number of days remaining on the visa.
Additionally, before entering Saudi Arabia, the pilgrim must obtain a permit to perform Umrah through the "Nusuk" mobile application.
The one-year multiple-entry visa will be temporarily deactivated after the pilgrim leaves Saudi Arabia. The visa will be reactivated once the Umrah permit is issued and the specified requirements are fulfilled.
According to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the new visa allows pilgrims to plan their trips more flexibly. It is also aimed at integrating digital and practical services provided to pilgrims into a single system.
This visa will not be valid during the two-week period of the annual Hajj season. Saudi officials have not provided information on the price of the new visa.
For reference, since August 6, 2023, Saudi Arabia has introduced the possibility of obtaining an electronic visa for citizens of Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries. Through this, citizens of Uzbekistan can independently apply for tourist and Umrah visas.
