Saudi Arabia reduces the duration of an Umrah entrance visa to one month.

The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has shortened the duration of the Umrah entry visa from three months to one month from the date of issuance. For pilgrims from all over the world, including Pakistan, the validity time for the stay after arriving in Saudi Arabia is still three months.

Since the 2018 Umrah season began in early June, more than four million visas have been granted to overseas pilgrims. Thus, in comparison to past seasons, this year’s Umrah season is breaking the record for the number of international pilgrims in just five months.

In this context, the ministry has modified the rules governing Umrah visas. The revised rules state that if the pilgrim does not register to enter Saudi Arabia, the Umrah visa would be revoked 30 days after it is issued. According to the sources, the new rules would take effect starting the following week.

“The decision is part of the ministry’s preparations for the anticipated surge in Umrah pilgrims, especially after the end of summer and the drop in temperatures in Makkah and Madinah,” said Ahmed Bajaeifer, advisor at the National Committee for Umrah and Visit. The goal is to keep the two sacred cities from becoming overcrowded.