Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has introduced new amendments to Umrah visa regulations, reducing the period for visa holders to enter the Kingdom from 3 months to one month. However, the stay period after the pilgrim’s arrival remains unchanged at three months as per the sources quoted by Al-Arabiya. What could be the purpose of tightening Umrah visa rules, and what travellers now need to know about the new policy? Read ahead for more details!
Visa Cancelled if Not Used After 30 Days
According to the new policy, the Umrah visa will now be automatically cancelled in case a pilgrim is not able to get access to Saudi Arabia within 30 days of its issuance. This means that anyone who fails to travel within these days will lose the validity of their visa. The leading purpose of bringing such a change is to make visa management for pilgrims as organised as possible. Saudi Arabia hopes to ensure a more timely entry process for visitors carrying out the act of the Umrah pilgrimage. Not only this, but it also helps maintain better control over travel schedules. This, in turn, ensures that pilgrims can plan their religious journey more efficiently.
Saudi Arabia’s Justification - Security or Strategy?
Many people are wondering if this move by Saudi Arabia is for security or is a strategy. Saudi officials say that the amendment is made to manage the growing number of pilgrims arriving every year. This is when the demand for visits increases in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. These rules aim to provide pilgrims with an improved service quality during the trip.