Umrah Visas
Umrah applicants applicants to check with authorized Umrah
travel agencies for the beginning and end of the annual Umrah seasons. Umrah
visas are valid for 15 days and not valid for work or residence. We
would like to bring to all applicants’ attention that Umrah visas are granted
gratis. Each applicant for an Umrah visa must apply through an authorized,
licensed travel agency. These agencies must have signed contract with Saudi
companies or establishment to provide Umrah visas services. Umrah visas are not
valid for work or residency.
- Umrah visas are provided free
of charge.
- Validity of Visa will be 15
Days
- Umrah visas do not give the
right to work or reside in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
- Each applicant for an Umrah
visa must apply through a licensed travel agency, which must
have signed a contract with a Saudi company or establishment to provide
Umrah visa services.
Applications
for Umrah visa will not be considered if the following
requirements are not met:
1. The
applicant must have a passport with a validity of at least six (6) months and
acceptable both for entry to Saudi Arabia and entry to the next destination;
the passport should have at least two empty visa pages adjacent to each other.
2. Each applicant must submit one (1) recent passport size color photograph
with a white background. The photograph must be a full-face view in which the
visa applicant is facing the camera directly. Side or angled views are NOT
accepted.
3. A completed application form filled-out with black ink or printed; the form
must be signed and stamped by the authorized travel agency.
4. The Mahram should write his complete information on the application forms of
his spouse and children or any relative with whom he is traveling. He should
also provide copies of marriage or birth certificates; if these documents were
issued outside the US, he should then provide copies translated and notarized
by a certified translation office.
5. All women are required to travel for Umrah with a Mahram. Proof of kinship
must be submitted with the application form. Women over the age of forty-five
(45) may travel without a Mahram with an organized group, They must, however
submits a no objection letter from her husband, son or brother authorizing her
to travel for Umrah with the named group. This letter should be notarized.
6. The applicant must be in possession of a non-refundable roundtrip ticket
with confirmed reservations.
7. The applicant must submit proof of vaccination for meningitis and ACYW135.
For infants and children up to fifteen (15) years of age, a vaccination report
is required for polio as well as meningitis and polio. Children over
fifteen (15) years of age should present the same vaccinations requested for
adults.
a.
meningitis and ACYW135.
b. The
seasonal (or common) flu, which should be taken two weeks before applying for
the visa.
c. The
H1N1 flu, if a vaccine is made available before Hajj season, and should be
taken two weeks before applying for the visa.
d. Infants
and children up to fifteen (15) years of age should provide a vaccination
report for meningococcal and polio.
e.
Children above fifteen (15) years of age should present the same vaccinations
requested for adults.
f. Health
experts advise the following groups to postpone their plans for Hajj and Umrah
this year for their own safety:
The elderly, the terminally ill, pregnant women, and children.
8. Umrah
visas will only be granted once the competent authorities in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia have approved the applicant’s request.
9. The validity of the Umrah visa is one month. The length of stay in the
Kingdom will depend on the duration of the Umrah program chosen by the
applicant.
10. Any applicant visiting the United States who has legally spent more than
two (2) months in the United States country may apply for an Umrah visa through
an authorized travel agency.
11. Minors (under 18 years of age) will not be granted an Umrah visa if not
accompanied by their family and travelling with one parent must submit a
notrized letter of authorization, in either in Arabic or English, signed by
both parents or legal guardians.
12. If the applicant has converted to Islam, he/she should provide an Islamic
certificate notarized by an Islamic Center.
For more
information about licensed Saudi companies and different offers for performing
Umrah and visiting Madinah, please visit the Ministry of Hajj’s website at http://www.haj.gov.sa/
General
Guidelines for Umrah Pilgrims:
- Travelers must carry vaccination certificates with them
for inspection by the Saudi Authority at port of entry.
- No food products are allowed into the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia.
- Pilgrims will be authorized to visit any city besides
the Holy Sites, if they request permission from the Authorized Saudi
Passport Offices.
- Their travel agency should be informed of such
intention. The travel agency should then provide and arrange for
transportation.
- Umrah pilgrims should not overstay their visas.
- Umrah pilgrims are urged to declare all currencies in
their possession and to exchange currencies only through authorized
currency exchange establishments.
Umrah Visa General
Guidelines for Travel Agencies:
- Travel agencies must submit all contracts and financial
guarantee letters before Umrah visas are issued.
- Passports will be returned if the information submitted
is not compatible with the information sent electronically by the Ministry
of Hajj.
- The Embassy reserves the right to inform the Ministry
of Hajj about travel agencies that submit inaccurate or incomplete
applications.
- Travel agencies should affix on each passport a sticker
showing the travel agency’s name, address and telephone number.
- The Ministry of Hajj will void Umrah visas if
applicants do not submit applications within fifteen (15) days from the date
of issuance of visa.
- Travel agencies must make sure that all Umrah pilgrims
they send leave the Kingdom by 15 Shawwal of every year.
- If a travel agency wishes to submit any question or
complaints to the Ministry of Hajj, they may do so through the company or
agency they deal with in Saudi Arabia or through the official routes in
their country.
Source:Saudi Embassy