Saudi Arabia has introduced a new 365-day multiple-entry visa for the sacred Umrah pilgrimage. This will help all Muslims across the globe to perform this pilgrimage more than once a year without any hassle. The new visa is expected to benefit travelers from several countries, including India, Pakistan, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. Under this new system, all eligible pilgrims can enjoy multiple entries to Saudi Arabia within 365 days, but there is an important catch they must know.
What Is Saudi Arabia’s 365-Day Multiple-Entry Umrah Visa?
Saudi Arabia’s 365-Day Multiple-Entry Umrah visa is basically a Nusuk-managed travel document. It allows eligible pilgrims to enter the kingdom more than once in a year. The visa allows a stay of up to 90 days in total across all visits.
Travelers must keep in mind that their total time spent in the country cannot exceed the 90-day rule. This means that the new visa validity refers to the period during which multiple entries will be allowed and not how much time a pilgrim can stay in the kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has clarified that holding this visa does not mean the pilgrims or travelers can visit whenever they want. The catch is that the pilgrims will need to repeat the permit process and booking if they plan to travel more than once a year.
This move is to boost tourism in Saudi Arabia and also encourage more international visitors to the kingdom as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
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What Pilgrims Should Check Before Travelling To Saudi Arabia?
Before each trip, pilgrims must visit the Nusuk platform and book an approved service package through a licensed Umrah service provider as per the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. They must make sure that the package dates match their planned travel dates and must end before the visa expires.
Pilgrims must also obtain a separate Umrah permit. They can download it using the Nusuk application before traveling to Saudi Arabia. These permit dates must match the dates of the approved service package. This means that even if your visa is valid, it is not enough for performing Umrah again.
If you are a first-time applicant, make sure you visit the Nusuk platform to purchase an approved service package. You can submit the visa application, which will take you to the next steps: checks and other procedures.
Make sure you are thorough with these entry and travel eligibility requirements. You can check the Nusuk requirements before your visit for hassle-free travel.
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Summing Up
Umrah is an important pilgrimage in Islam and is performed at any time of the year. It is known as a chance to strengthen pilgrims’ relationship with Allah. This new system will surely offer a lot of flexibility to all the pilgrims who book and plan their trip well in advance.
