What changed in July 2026
Two updates. Saudi Arabia launched an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for British passport holders on 1 July 2026, allowing multiple entries and up to 180 days in the Kingdom per year. On 20 July 2026 the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah introduced a one-year, multiple-entry Umrah visa with a 90-day total stay.
If you are making one trip in the next few months, neither change affects you much. If you travel for Umrah more than once a year, both are worth understanding before you book anything.
The new Saudi ETA for British passport holders
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched this on 1 July 2026. It mirrors the UK’s own ETA scheme for Saudi citizens, and it is open to every type of British passport.
- Multiple entries on one authorisation.
- Up to 180 days in Saudi Arabia across one year, in one stay or spread over several trips.
- Covers tourism, business visits and short-term study.
- Does not cover work, residency or Hajj. Those still need their own visas.
One point we will not guess at. The official announcement lists tourism, business and short-term study. It does not mention Umrah. Some websites are already telling people the ETA can be used for pilgrimage. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed that, so we will not repeat it. Until the position is clear, we will put you on a route we know works for Umrah. Call us and we will tell you exactly where this stands on the day you ask.
The new one-year Umrah visa
Announced on 20 July 2026. Rather than applying again for every journey, eligible pilgrims can hold a single Umrah visa for a full year.
- Valid for 365 days from the day it is issued.
- You can enter as many times as you need within that year.
- Your total time inside Saudi Arabia is capped at 90 days for the whole year.
- You must buy a Nusuk service package from an approved provider for every entry, and that package cannot be longer than the days you have left.
- The visa switches off when you leave and switches back on for your next trip once you have met the requirements again.
- It cannot be used during the Hajj season, and it does not let you perform Hajj.
The 90-day cap is the part people misread. Those days are shared across every trip, not handed to you fresh each time. Stay 30 days in October and you have 60 left for the rest of the year. Once you reach 90 days, or the 365 days expire, whichever comes first, the visa stops working.
This suits pilgrims who go more than once a year, families splitting a long stay into shorter visits, and anyone combining Umrah with business travel. For a single journey, the ordinary routes are simpler and usually cheaper.
Which Umrah visa route do you need?
If you hold a British passport, you have a choice of electronic routes and can usually apply yourself. If you live in the UK on a non-British passport, you will normally need a traditional Umrah visa through a licensed agent. Everyone, on every route, still needs a Nusuk permit.
|
Route
|
Who it suits |
Entries and stay |
Cost |
Processing
|
|
Saudi ETA (from 1 July 2026)
|
British passport holders, any passport type |
Multiple entries, up to 180 days in total per year |
£35 |
Online, fast
|
|
Saudi Tourist eVisa
|
British passport holders and other eligible nationalities |
Single entry. 90 days to enter, then up to 180 days’ stay |
£100–£130, includes compulsory insurance |
24–72 hours
|
|
Traditional Umrah visa through an agent
|
UK residents on a non-British passport, or anyone wanting the whole trip handled |
Single entry. You must enter within 30 days of issue |
£145 |
A few working days, longer in Ramadan
|
|
One-year Umrah visa (from 20 July 2026)
|
Repeat pilgrims making several trips a year |
Multiple entries over 365 days, 90 days’ stay in total |
£149 |
Through Nusuk
|
|
Visa on arrival
|
Holders of a valid UK, US or Schengen visa or residency |
Single, short stay |
Ask us | the fee changes |
At the airport
|
Since the ETA launched on 1 July, it is not fully clear whether the EVW remains open to British passport holders. Check before you rely on it, or ask us and we will check for you.
Not sure which one fits? Tell us your passport and your plans and we will point you to the right route, even if that route is applying yourself.
How much does an Umrah visa cost from the UK?
The cost depends on your route:
- Saudi ETA: around £35 (government fee), for eligible British passport holders.
- Saudi tourist eVisa: roughly £100–£130, including compulsory medical insurance.
- Traditional Umrah visa through an agent: Saudi Arabia has largely removed the core government fee, so what you pay is mostly service, insurance and admin and it varies a lot between agencies.
- One-year Umrah visa: around £149.
Our visa service is £145 per person, which covers checking your application before submission, insurance and Nusuk registration. Always ask any agent for the full price in writing before you commit. If a quote is far below everyone else, ask what has been left out usually the insurance, the transfers, or the truth about which hotel you are actually staying in.
How long does an Umrah visa take from the UK?
Electronic routes are usually approved within 24 to 72 hours. A traditional visa through an agent takes a few working days, and up to two weeks in the run-up to Ramadan.
Apply at least three weeks before you fly, and earlier for Ramadan. That gap is not for our convenience. It is so that if something is wrong, you can fix it calmly instead of at midnight before your flight.
There is one timing trap worth knowing about. Since late 2025, a traditional Umrah visa must be used to enter Saudi Arabia within 30 days of being issued. It used to be three months. Miss that window and the visa is cancelled automatically, and you pay again. Confirm your flights before the visa is issued, not after.
How to apply for an Umrah visa, step by step
Choose your route, book accommodation through Nusuk, apply with your passport and photo, pay through a secure channel, save your approval, then register your Umrah permit on the Nusuk app before you fly.
- Work out your route. Passport first, then how many trips you are making this year.
- Book your accommodation. Since June 2025 a confirmed hotel booking logged on Nusuk is required before your visa is approved. On a package, we do this for you.
- Complete the application with your passport details, a recent photo and your travel dates. Every name must match your passport exactly, in the same order.
- Pay through a secure channel. Card or bank transfer to a company account. Never cash into someone’s personal account.
- Save your approval. It usually arrives as a PDF by email. Print two copies and keep one in your hand luggage.
- Register on the Nusuk app for your Umrah permit, and a Rawdah slot in Madinah if you want one. Do this at home and open the app once to check it works.
If we are handling your trip, we walk you through steps two to six and check everything before submission.
What documents do you need for an Umrah visa from UK?
A passport valid for at least six months from your arrival date, a recent passport-style photo, a confirmed hotel booking on Nusuk, return flight details, proof of the MenACWY vaccine, and Nusuk registration for your permit.
The passport rule catches people out because it is measured from the day you land, not the day you apply. If yours expires within about eight months, renew it first.
Travelling as a family with different surnames? Carry marriage or birth certificates. They are not always asked for, but they cost nothing to bring and they save an argument at a desk.
You must be 18 to travel and apply on your own. Younger pilgrims must travel with a parent or legal guardian.
Visa or Nusuk permit | what is the difference?
The visa lets you into Saudi Arabia. The Nusuk permit lets you perform Umrah and enter the holy mosques. You need both, on every route.
This is the most common misunderstanding among first-time pilgrims. Your visa will not get you into the Mataf around the Kaaba, and it will not get you into the Rawdah in Madinah.
How it works: download Nusuk, enter your visa number, choose a date and time for your Umrah, and you are issued a QR code. You show that code at the mosque. No code, no entry. The staff are polite about it and completely immovable.
Set it up at home. Learning a new app on three hours’ sleep in a crowded courtyard is nobody’s idea of a spiritual start.
Why do Umrah visa applications get refused?
Usually a passport too close to expiry, a name that does not match across documents, a missing Nusuk hotel booking, no vaccine proof, or an unlicensed agent. There is no appeal, so you simply reapply and pay again.
- Passport under six months’ validity from your arrival date.
- Name mismatches. If your passport carries three names, use all three. A missing middle name is enough to cause a refusal.
- No hotel booking logged on Nusuk.
- No MenACWY certificate.
- The wrong route for the trip, such as a transit permission when you plan a fortnight.
- Applying after the Hajj cut-off, or so late there is no time to correct an error.
- Using an agent who exists only on Instagram.
Because there is no appeal, the checking has to happen before submission. That is most of what we actually do for you.
Can women perform Umrah without a Mahram?
In most cases yes. Saudi Arabia has relaxed the Mahram requirement in recent years and many women now travel for Umrah independently. Some routes or agents may still ask for extra documents.
The detail varies by route and is updated from time to time, so we check the current position for your passport and your travel dates rather than quote you something that may have moved. Tell us your circumstances and we will tell you exactly what applies.
Vaccinations for Umrah
The MenACWY meningitis vaccine is required for all Umrah pilgrims aged one and over. Have it at least 10 days before you arrive and carry the certificate with you.
Book it with your GP or a travel clinic early. The 10-day rule is about the vaccine working, not about paperwork, so leaving it to the last week does not help you. Keep the certificate with your passport rather than in your suitcase.
When does Umrah close for Hajj?
Umrah visa issuance stops several weeks before Hajj each year, and pilgrims without a Hajj permit must leave Makkah by a published deadline.
In the 1447 season, Umrah visa issuance closed on 20 March 2026, the deadline to leave Makkah was 18 April 2026, and normal Umrah travel resumed on 31 May 2026. The 1448 dates have not been published yet. We will update this page as soon as they are, and we will tell you directly if you have a booking that falls near them.
If you are planning a spring trip, check the cut-off before you book flights. Overstaying carries heavy fines and a ban on returning.
How to avoid visa scams
Book through the official Saudi portal or a licensed UK agency you can verify. Check the ATOL number on caa.co.uk. Get everything in writing. Never pay cash into a personal account.
The Foreign Office warns every year that Hajj and Umrah fraud targets British Muslims, and it works because it is dressed in the right language. Protect yourself:
- Verify the ATOL number yourself at caa.co.uk. Ours is 12192.
- Get everything in writing, including your ATOL Certificate, hotel names and transfer details.
- Pay by card or bank transfer to a company account. Never cash, never a personal account.
- Be careful of agents who exist only on WhatsApp and social media, with no address and no landline.
- If it is dramatically cheaper than everyone else, it is not a bargain. Something has been removed.
Why arrange your Umrah visa with Islamic Travel Agency?
- ATOL 12192. Book your full trip with us and your money is financially protected.
- Visa, hotel, flights and Nusuk permit handled together, so nothing falls between two providers.
- We check everything before we submit, because there is no appeal against a refusal.
- A real office in Stratford, London. Seven days a week on 0208 178 8400, WhatsApp or email.
- 1000+ pilgrims since 2007.
And if it turns out you do not need us for the visa, we will say so. Plenty of British passport holders can apply themselves in twenty minutes. We would rather you came back to us for the package than felt sold something you did not need.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Umrah from the UK?
Yes. Every UK pilgrim needs permission to enter Saudi Arabia plus a Nusuk permit to perform the rituals. British passport holders have electronic routes available. UK residents on a non-British passport usually need a traditional Umrah visa through a licensed agent.
What is the new Saudi ETA?
An Electronic Travel Authorisation launched on 1 July 2026 for all British passport types. It allows multiple entries and up to 180 days in Saudi Arabia across one year, for tourism, business and short-term study. It does not cover work, residency or Hajj.
Can I use the Saudi ETA for Umrah?
The official announcement lists tourism, business and short-term study, and does not mention Umrah. Saudi Arabia has not confirmed either way. Until it does, we will put you on a route that is known to work for pilgrimage. Call us for the position on the day you ask.
What is the new one-year Umrah visa?
Announced on 20 July 2026, it is valid for 365 days and allows multiple entries with a total stay of 90 days across the year. You need a Nusuk service package for each entry, and it cannot be used during the Hajj season. The Price of one-year Umrah visa is £149 only.
Do the 90 days reset each time I enter Saudi Arabia?
No. The 90 days are a running total across the whole year. Every day inside Saudi Arabia comes off the same allowance, so a 30-day visit leaves you 60 days for the rest of the year.
How long do I have to travel after my Umrah visa is issued?
On the traditional Umrah visa you must enter Saudi Arabia within 30 days of it being issued. This was cut from three months in late 2025. If you do not travel in that window, the visa is cancelled and you must apply again.
How much does an Umrah visa cost from the UK?
The tourist eVisa is roughly £100 to £130 including compulsory insurance. The ETA is cheaper usually price is £35 per person. Prices move with Saudi rules and exchange rates, so confirm before you apply.
How long does an Umrah visa take to process?
Electronic routes are usually approved within 24 to 72 hours. An agent visa takes a few working days, and up to two weeks during Ramadan. Apply at least three weeks before you fly.
Can I apply for an Umrah visa myself?
If you hold a British passport, yes. There is no rule forcing you to use an agent. UK residents on a non-British passport usually do need one.
Do I still need a Nusuk permit if I have a visa?
Yes, always. The visa gets you into the country and the permit gets you into the mosques. Register on the Nusuk app, choose your Umrah date and time, and show the QR code at the gate.
What documents do I need for an Umrah visa?
A passport valid for at least six months from your arrival date, a recent photo, a confirmed hotel booking on Nusuk, return flight details, and proof of the MenACWY vaccine.
Why do Umrah visa applications get refused?
Most often a passport too close to expiry, a name mismatch between documents, a missing Nusuk hotel booking, no vaccine proof, or an unlicensed agent. There is no appeal, so you reapply.
Can women perform Umrah without a Mahram?
In most cases yes. Some routes may ask for additional documents, so we confirm the current position for your situation before you book.
Do I need a vaccine for Umrah?
Yes. MenACWY, at least 10 days before you arrive, with the certificate carried on you.
What is the minimum age to apply for an Umrah visa alone?
Eighteen. Younger pilgrims must travel with a parent or legal guardian.
Can I perform Umrah on a Saudi tourist eVisa?
Yes, outside the Hajj season. You still need to register on Nusuk for your Umrah permit.
How do I avoid Umrah visa scams?
Use the official Saudi portal or a licensed UK agency. Check the ATOL number on caa.co.uk, get everything in writing, and never pay cash into a personal account.
info@islamictravelagency.co.uk 
