Umrah Visa Validity Cuts to One Month Ahead of Pilgrim Surge

(MAKKAH AND MADINAH, SAUDI ARABIA) Saudi Arabia will cut the Umrah visa validity for entry to one month from next week, a sharp change aimed at easing pressure on the holy cities as a surge in pilgrims builds with cooler weather. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said visas will now be valid for entry for one month from the date of issuance, and any visa not used to register entry into the Kingdom within 30 days will be automatically cancelled. The permitted stay after arrival remains unchanged at three months, meaning pilgrims who make it into the country on time can still complete their visit without a shorter stay window.

The Ministry confirmed the policy will take effect in the first week of November 2025, narrowing the previous three-month entry window to a single month. Officials say the change is designed to manage crowding at peak times and prevent bottlenecks as more people plan trips to Makkah and Madinah during the late autumn and winter months. The move comes during one of the busiest starts to an Umrah season in recent memory, with over four million Umrah visas issued to international pilgrims since early June 2025.

Ahmed Bajaeifer, adviser to the National Committee for Umrah and Visit, said the policy was calibrated to keep arrivals flowing smoothly into the holy sites.

“The move is meant to prevent overcrowding and streamline pilgrim arrivals,” he said,
adding that the decision forms part of preparations for a surge in pilgrims expected as temperatures drop in the Hijaz region. Local authorities say crowd control is particularly sensitive around the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, where the influx of groups can spike dramatically during weekends, school holidays, and religious dates.

The Ministry’s instruction clarifies that while the Umrah visa validity for entry has been cut to one month, those who do arrive within that period are not affected in terms of how long they can stay.

“Once a pilgrim arrives in the Kingdom, the permitted stay remains three months,” the Ministry stated.
That distinction is central to the change: it compresses the planning window for entry, but does not shorten the time available to worship and visit the holy sites once inside the country.

The timing underscores the scale of demand building this season. The General Authority for Statistics reported that 15,222,497 pilgrims performed Umrah between January and March 2025, a tally that points to sustained high volumes throughout the year. In the Hijri month of Rabi Al Thani alone, 11.7 million worshippers performed Umrah, with over 1.5 million coming from outside Saudi Arabia. For tour operators and travel planners, those numbers signal tighter scheduling and a premium on precise booking as the new entry limit takes hold next week.

Pilgrims typically plan Umrah—a non-Hajj pilgrimage performed year-round—around affordable flights, group packages, and available hotel rooms near the two holy mosques. Under the previous rule, a three-month visa validity allowed ample leeway to juggle dates, shift itineraries, and still enter within the window. The new one-month limit will demand firmer timetables. Agents say those who secure visas should be ready to travel shortly after issuance to avoid automatic cancellation on day 31. Missed entry will likely mean reapplying and rescheduling travel, adding costs and time for those coming from far-flung countries.

Officials say the policy is part of a wider effort to keep service levels high amid a surge in pilgrims, with particular emphasis on arrival sequencing and capacity at key chokepoints such as immigration counters, transport hubs, and the areas surrounding the Grand Mosque. Overcrowding risks ripple through the system: backed-up arrivals can overwhelm shuttle services, delay hotel check-ins, and create unsafe conditions on narrow streets leading to prayer areas. Bajaeifer’s comment reflects concerns voiced by operators in recent seasons when large waves of late arrivals squeezed in just before a visa window closed, leading to uneven flows on the ground.

The Ministry has coupled the change with reminders that holders of all visa types—personal, family visit, electronic tourist, transit, and work visas—are eligible to perform Umrah. That stance, consistent with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goal of widening access to religious travel, broadens the pool of visitors who might opt for a short pilgrimage when they are in the Kingdom for other purposes. It also means that while the dedicated Umrah visa’s entry clock tightens, many travelers already in Saudi Arabia on other visas will continue to have a route to perform Umrah without running into the one-month entry deadline.

Digital tools are central to the plan. The Nusuk Umrah platform is geared to help pilgrims book packages, obtain permits electronically, and select flexible timings that align with new entry constraints. Local authorities say digital scheduling can smooth spikes by staggering flows into prayer areas and service points. The Ministry has also urged travelers to use authorized operators and electronic systems that confirm bookings and permits before flights are booked. That is especially important for people traveling in large family groups or from countries where flight availability can be volatile.

Numbers from the current season underline why officials moved now. Over four million Umrah visas issued since early June 2025 marks a record within roughly five months, according to local reporting referenced by the Ministry. The trend suggests the holy cities could face weeks of sustained pressure as winter approaches and more pilgrims seek the comfort of cooler temperatures for rituals that are physically demanding. In recent years, authorities have added transport capacity, expanded prayer areas, and tightened permit controls during peak days to keep movement safe around the Grand Mosque’s courtyards and upper floors.

Travel planners expect immediate changes in behavior once the policy starts. Many will submit visa applications closer to their intended travel dates, rather than applying months in advance. That could reshape air travel demand curves, pushing bookings into tighter waves and raising prices on popular routes into Jeddah and Madinah. Hotels near the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque may see booking patterns shift toward shorter lead times, with properties holding inventory for guests who can confirm arrival dates within weeks, not months.

For pilgrims, the most practical adjustment will be treating the Umrah visa validity as a hard entry countdown. A family that receives visas on the first of the month will need to arrive before the thirtieth day to avoid cancellation; arriving on day 31 will not be possible without reissuing visas. Once inside the Kingdom, though, the three-month stay period offers flexibility to complete rituals and visit historic sites without compressing the stay. That balance—tight on entry, unchanged on stay—aims to keep the front-end of the journey orderly while preserving the spiritual experience.

Authorities have emphasized that official channels carry the most up-to-date conditions and that travelers should verify requirements before booking. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s website provides policy updates, system links, and advisories for the current season. Pilgrims and operators can consult the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for the latest guidance on entry validity, permits, and recognized service providers.

The decision lands at a time when data show consistent growth in religious travel. The GASTAT figure of 15,222,497 Umrah performers in the first quarter of 2025 illustrates a base level of traffic that has remained high even outside traditional peaks. The Rabi Al Thani count—11.7 million worshippers, including over 1.5 million from abroad—points to a global appetite that could test infrastructure if arrivals bunch too tightly. Cutting the entry window to one month is a logistical lever: it discourages speculative early visa applications and encourages travel when pilgrims are ready to fly.

Bajaeifer’s remarks reflect a broader policy message from the Ministry about calibrating access with safety.

“The move is meant to prevent overcrowding and streamline pilgrim arrivals,” he said, a goal that fits seasonal patterns in Makkah and Madinah where temperatures now invite outdoor movement across long promenades, pedestrian tunnels, and bus corridors feeding the Two Holy Mosques.
“Once a pilgrim arrives in the Kingdom, the permitted stay remains three months,” the Ministry said,
seeking to reassure travelers who worried that a shorter visa validity might force a rushed pilgrimage.

For now, the clearest guidance is practical. Those applying for Umrah visas should plan to travel soon after approval, watch for the automatic cancellation trigger at 30 days, and confirm permits and accommodation before departure. Operators will likely tighten payment and confirmation timelines to align with the new entry clock. And with a surge in pilgrims expected to continue through the winter months, authorities are betting that a shorter entry validity will smooth the flow without cutting into the time pilgrims spend at Islam’s holiest sites.