(SAUDI ARABIA) Saudi Arabia has approved a sweeping Umrah reform for 2025 that opens the pilgrimage to all valid Saudi visa holders — tourist, transit, work, family visit, and other categories — provided travelers follow new booking rules and fixed deadlines. Officials say the move aligns with Vision 2030 goals to grow religious tourism while keeping crowd management strong ahead of the Hajj season.
The change applies to both e-visas and traditional visas, and it places the Kingdom’s digital ecosystem, especially the Nusuk platform, at the center of planning and approvals.
Key policy shift and digital requirements
Under the policy, any traveler with a valid Saudi visa can perform Umrah after completing mandatory steps. The most notable shift is the requirement to:
- Register and schedule through the Nusuk platform or licensed agents.
- Make advance hotel and transport bookings through Nusuk Masar before submitting an Umrah visa application.
Authorities are enforcing automated checks; visa requests without verified bookings are rejected, and non-compliant travelers risk being turned away at the border.
Two hard deadlines apply to those using the specific Umrah visa in 2025:
- Entry deadline: April 13, 2025
- Exit deadline: April 29, 2025
These dates are designed to control crowds ahead of Hajj and streamline departure flows. After the exit deadline, Umrah visa holders cannot remain in the country for the pilgrimage. Applications for Umrah visas restarted on June 10, 2025, with the new system and timing rules fully in effect.
Tourist visa confusion — confirm eligibility
The status of tourist visas has prompted confusion:
- Some travel agencies insist a dedicated Umrah visa is required in 2025 and that a standard tourist visa is not valid for Umrah.
- Other statements indicate certain tourist visa holders — especially from parts of Europe and the United States — may perform Umrah if they meet passport validity and document rules.
Bottom line: rules can differ by nationality and visa type. Travelers should confirm their status directly through the Nusuk platform or licensed agents before making plans.
Who benefits and what changes
This broadened access brings clear benefits:
- Workers already residing in the Kingdom, relatives on family visit visas, and travelers on transit visas can include Umrah in their trips if they complete the digital steps.
- The reform also reaches people who hold personal or business visas.
- For many families, the change cuts the need for separate pilgrimage-only paperwork and reduces uncertainty around timing.
However, the system raises the bar on pre-travel planning, with verified bookings and strict dates now central to compliance.
Health and document requirements
Health and document rules remain firm:
- Meningococcal vaccination is mandatory for Umrah pilgrims in 2025.
- COVID-19 and seasonal influenza shots are recommended.
- Pilgrims should carry a passport valid for at least six months.
- Pilgrims must have proof of accommodation and transport bookings that match their itinerary, and a confirmed return ticket.
There is a clear update for women: no male guardian (mahram) or no-objection letter is required to perform Umrah. Minors under 18 must travel with an adult.
Strategic rationale
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the move reflects the Kingdom’s larger goal to:
- Spread pilgrim arrivals over a longer season.
- Anchor the journey in a single digital path — the Nusuk platform — for planning, scheduling, and on-the-ground services.
This approach may reduce last-minute bottlenecks at airports and hotels, and help authorities match staffing and transport availability with peak times.
Step-by-step checklist for pilgrims (Nusuk-centered)
- Confirm you hold a valid visa type (tourist, transit, work, family visit, personal, or other).
- Create an account and register your itinerary through the Nusuk platform.
- Make hotel and transport bookings via Nusuk Masar before any Umrah visa application is submitted.
- For those using an Umrah visa, comply with the entry deadline (April 13, 2025) and the exit deadline (April 29, 2025).
- Prepare required documents and vaccinations well before travel.
Specifics for different visa holders
- Travelers who already hold non-Umrah visas (work or family visit visas) can perform Umrah if they complete registration and bookings through Nusuk.
- For tourist visa holders, conditions may vary by nationality. Some can perform Umrah under their existing visa; others may need the dedicated Umrah visa tied to verified bookings.
Because rules can change and be specific to a traveler’s country of citizenship and residence, confirming eligibility on the Nusuk platform is essential.
Policy changes overview (at-a-glance)
- Eligibility expanded: All valid Saudi visa holders can perform Umrah.
- Digital-first process: The Nusuk platform is required to register, schedule, and verify services.
- Bookings enforced: Hotel and transport must be booked through Nusuk Masar before an Umrah visa application is filed. Applications without verified bookings face automatic rejection.
- Fixed dates for Umrah visas: Enter by April 13, 2025; exit by April 29, 2025.
- Conflicting tourist visa guidance: Some travelers may use tourist visas to perform Umrah; others will need a dedicated Umrah visa. Check rules by nationality.
- Health requirements: Meningococcal vaccine is mandatory; COVID-19 and flu shots are recommended.
- Women and minors: No mahram or no-objection letter required for women; minors must be with an adult.
- Applications resumed: Umrah visa processing restarted on June 10, 2025.
These measures aim to expand access and improve predictability. By moving bookings and schedules into a single channel, authorities can track volumes and plan transport around expected peaks. For travelers, the system reduces guesswork but demands earlier commitments — some bookings may be non-refundable and incorrect entries can delay approval.
Impact on pilgrims and the travel industry
Positive impacts:
- Wide eligibility helps students, expatriate workers, and family visitors add Umrah to their plans.
- Families benefit from clearer timelines and a consistent booking path.
- Scheduled time slots and verified bookings reduce unscripted arrivals, improving crowd spacing at holy sites and transport hubs.
- Hotels integrated with Nusuk Masar may see steadier demand.
Challenges and cautions:
- Tight Umrah visa deadlines can be challenging for late-April visitors.
- The system leaves little room for spontaneous trips; the process must be completed in advance and documents must be exact.
- Booking or entry errors can lead to visa rejections.
- Airline staff may deny boarding if the digital profile is incomplete.
- Overstays or missed bookings can result in penalties or removal.
Practical tips to avoid problems
- Double-check that all names and passport numbers in Nusuk match travel documents.
- Keep vaccination records handy, especially proof of meningococcal vaccination.
- Confirm flight timings allow exit by April 29, 2025 when traveling on an Umrah visa.
- Review accommodation and transport vouchers inside the Nusuk account before departure.
- Rely on official channels and check nationality-specific guidance before paying deposits.
“If your country requires a dedicated Umrah visa, failing to secure it — or skipping the verified booking step — can derail the trip.”
Where to start
One official resource to begin with is the Nusuk platform: https://www.nusuk.sa. It provides registration, scheduling, and service booking tied to the 2025 rules.
From there, licensed agents can assist with complex cases, family groups, and travelers with special needs. People who work or study in the Kingdom may need to coordinate with employers or schools to fit within the fixed Umrah visa window.
Final summary
Saudi Arabia’s 2025 Umrah reform creates a wider doorway for pilgrims while setting clearer expectations. The path is open to a broader group of visa holders, but the tradeoff is strict timing and digital verification. Those who plan early, use the Nusuk platform as required, and keep documents ready will find the process smoother. Those who wait or rely on incomplete information may face rejections or delays — outcomes the new system is designed to prevent.
This Article in a Nutshell
Saudi Arabia’s 2025 Umrah reform expands eligibility to all valid Saudi visa holders — including tourist, transit, work and family visit visas — provided pilgrims register on the Nusuk platform and make verified hotel and transport bookings through Nusuk Masar before submitting an Umrah visa application. Automated checks will reject unverified applications. For Umrah visa holders, strict entry and exit dates apply: enter by April 13, 2025, and leave by April 29, 2025. Meningococcal vaccination is mandatory; COVID-19 and influenza shots are recommended. Women no longer require a mahram, but minors must travel with an adult. Travelers should confirm nationality-specific rules on Nusuk and plan bookings early to avoid rejections or denial at the border.
