Planning Umrah from the UK this year? Two things have changed that you need to know before you book. In July 2026, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah launched a one-year, multiple-entry Umrah visa, and on 1 July 2026 the old Electronic Visa Waiver was replaced by the Saudi Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Your hotels and transport now have to be confirmed on the official Nusuk system before a visa is approved, and getting into Masjid al-Haram needs a digital permit, not just the visa. Here is what a British passport holder needs to sort out.
What changed in 2026: the short version
● A new multiple-entry Umrah visa is valid for 365 days and lets you enter more than once, up to 90 days in the Kingdom in total.
● Since 1 July 2026, British passport holders use the Saudi ETA. The old Electronic Visa Waiver has been discontinued.
● Accommodation and transport must clear Nusuk verification before you apply, or the application is declined automatically.
● A visa on its own is not enough. You also need an Umrah permit from the Nusuk app to enter Masjid al-Haram.
● Women aged 18 and over can apply and travel without a mahram.
● A MenACWY meningitis certificate is mandatory, issued at least 10 days before you arrive.
How long is an Umrah visa valid in 2026?
An Umrah visa is now valid for 365 days, a full year, from the date it is issued. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah launched this multiple-entry visa on 20 July 2026, so UK travellers can enter the Kingdom several times within the year, up to 90 days in total across all trips. The days count only while you are there. For each entry, book a Nusuk service package (hotels and transport) and get your Umrah permit on the Nusuk app first. The visa cannot be used during Hajj.
Your visa routes in 2026
There is more than one way in, and the right route depends on how you travel.
|
Route |
Good for |
Validity |
Entry |
Umrah allowed? |
Typical turnaround |
|
Multiple-entry Umrah visa (Nusuk or operator) |
Package pilgrims and repeat visitors |
365 days |
Multiple entry, up to 90 days total |
Yes |
3 to 7 days after bookings are verified |
|
Saudi tourist eVisa |
Independent travel and sightseeing with Umrah |
1 year |
Multiple entry, up to 90 days per stay |
Yes, outside Hajj |
Minutes to 72 hours |
|
Saudi ETA |
Short self-arranged trips (eligible British passports) |
2 years |
Multiple entry, up to 180 days total |
Yes, outside Hajj |
Usually within 24 hours |
|
Transit (stopover) visa |
Umrah on a Saudia or Flynas layover |
Up to 96 hours |
Single stopover |
Yes |
With your flight booking |
Most package pilgrims use the Umrah visa arranged by a licensed operator, who confirms the Nusuk bookings and submits the application as one chain. Independent travellers often prefer the tourist eVisa or the ETA. Either way, the permit rules below still apply once you land.
The Saudi ETA: what replaced the Electronic Visa Waiver
If you have used the Electronic Visa Waiver before, it no longer exists. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs discontinued the EVW on 1 July 2026 and replaced it with the Saudi Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which you apply for online through the Saudi Visa Platform at ksavisa.sa. The ETA allows multiple entries and up to 180 days in total across a two-year validity, covering tourism, business, short-term study and Umrah outside Hajj. It does not cover Hajj, work or residency; each of those needs its own visa. Like every route, it still needs a Nusuk Umrah permit to enter Masjid al-Haram.
Why your bookings now come before your visa
For years, pilgrims booked the visa first and hotels later. That has flipped. Your Makkah and Madinah accommodation, and your ground transport between Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah, must be confirmed with Nusuk-verified providers before an Umrah visa can be approved. That means three legs: your pick-up from the airport, the trip between the two cities, and your ride back for the flight home. Booking a taxi on the day will not do; each leg has to come from a licensed provider that Nusuk recognises.
When a hotel booking is confirmed, it generates a Booking Reference Number (BRN), the code that links your stay to Nusuk. If the BRN is missing or the booking is not registered correctly, you may be unable to book your Umrah slot even with a valid visa. Most rejections trace back to this, or to mismatched names and blurred passport scans. On a full package, this is the operator's job, not yours.
Visa vs permit: the difference that catches people out
The most common 2026 mistake is treating the visa as the finish line. Saudi Arabia manages crowds with timed digital permits that staff check at the gates.
● The Umrah permit is booked on the Nusuk app after your visa is approved, and it reserves your slot to perform Umrah at Masjid al-Haram.
● The Rawdah permit is a separate Nusuk slot for praying in the Rawdah Sharif at Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque) in Madinah. Slots are released on a rolling basis and often gone within minutes.
Add your visa number to your Nusuk profile as soon as it is approved, and book both permits before you fly. Arrive without them, and you risk being turned away at the gate.
What an Umrah visa costs from the UK
The visa fee is only one line in your budget, and it is not a fixed figure: it changes over time and varies by nationality, so treat these as a guide and confirm the live total before you pay. The amounts below are the Saudi government fees; a UK operator usually adds a service charge on top. Pound figures are approximate and move with the exchange rate.
● Umrah visa: a government fee of about SAR 300, plus mandatory medical insurance of roughly SAR 100 to 180. That comes to around SAR 400 to 480 in total (approx. £80 to £95).
● Saudi tourist eVisa: about SAR 535 applied online through Visit Saudi, with medical insurance included (approx. £106).
● Saudi ETA: a government fee of about SAR 50 (approx. £10), with insurance not included. Operators typically charge £35 to £48 all in. Confirm on ksavisa.sa.
● Transit visa: usually free when issued with a Saudia or Flynas booking.
Saudi Arabia has also scrapped the old SAR 2,000 repeat Umrah fee. The higher cost, though, is usually your Nusuk package (hotels and transport), not the visa itself.
2026 Restrictions UK Travellers Should Plan Around
The Pre-Hajj Suspension Window
Umrah visa issuance closes several weeks before Hajj every year and reopens after the season ends. In 2026, the final day for issuance was 20 March, with the Umrah season reopening in mid-June once Hajj concluded. If you are reading this ahead of a spring 2027 trip, treat late Ramadan onwards as a no-go zone for new applications and confirm the exact cut-off with your operator before booking flights — the date shifts earlier each year with the Islamic calendar.
Peak-Season Capacity Limits
Ramadan and UK school holidays concentrate demand into narrow windows. Expect slower processing — up to 10–14 working days for agent-issued visas at peak — and earlier closure of submission windows. Applying at least three to four weeks before departure is the practical minimum during these periods.
Exit and Entry Points
Pilgrims travelling on Umrah visas are expected to enter and leave Saudi Arabia through Jeddah or Madinah airports. Factor this in if you are considering multi-city itineraries on a tourist eVisa.
Age-Related Rules
Every traveller needs their own visa, whatever their age. Under-18s must travel with a parent or recognised legal guardian, and unaccompanied minors are not granted entry for Umrah.
Can women perform Umrah without a mahram?
Yes. Under current Saudi rules, women aged 18 and over can obtain an Umrah visa and travel without a mahram, alone or in a group. This administrative rule removes the paperwork barrier. Whether to travel without a mahram is a separate religious question that scholars view differently, and one many prefer to weigh for themselves. If you would rather not travel alone, a women-only package puts you with other female pilgrims, with shared accommodation and a female guide; Makkah Tour runs these for UK travellers. Keep your Nusuk permits to hand.
How to apply, step by step
1. Check your passport and photo. You need at least six months' validity from your arrival date, plus a compliant photo on a plain, light background.
2. Choose your route (multiple-entry Umrah visa, tourist eVisa or ETA) based on how you plan to travel.
3. Book Nusuk-verified hotels and transport. Confirm your accommodation and all three transport legs, and make sure each booking returns a proper confirmation and BRN.
4. Submit the application through Nusuk or the relevant portal, or let a licensed operator submit it as one chain.
5. Get your MenACWY vaccination at least 10 days before travel, and keep the certificate with you.
6. Set up Nusuk and book your permits. Add your visa number to your profile and book your Umrah permit, along with your Rawdah permit for Madinah, before you fly.
7. Book your return flights once the visa is approved, not before, so you are not committed to dates too early.
Documents, health and checking your operator
Every route needs the same basics: a passport valid at least six months from arrival, a passport-style photo, and a MenACWY (meningococcal ACWY) meningitis certificate issued at least 10 days before travel. Keep your name identical across your passport, visa and Nusuk profile, as mismatches cause rejections. Before paying, vet your operator: check that it is authorised by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, and that any flight-inclusive package is ATOL-protected (ask for the ATOL Certificate). Makkah Tour is a trading brand of 7 Continents Travel Ltd (Companies House 05224578), which has arranged Umrah since 2006. It is ATOL-protected (10416) and IATA-accredited (91280442).
Planning your 2026 to 2027 trip
Timing matters when you book Umrah packages. Umrah visa issuance pauses for several weeks before Hajj each year and resumes once it ends. In 2026, the cut-off was 20 March, and issuance resumed in June. The date shifts earlier each year with the Islamic calendar, so confirm the current cut-off before booking flights. The multiple-entry visa is also paused during Hajj (1 Dhu al-Qi'dah to 13 Dhu al-Hijjah). Peak periods concentrate demand: Ramadan, which in 2027 begins around 8 February, and the UK school holidays can push the wait to 10 to 14 working days, so apply three to four weeks ahead. Pilgrims enter and leave through Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) or Madinah's Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport (MED), both overseen by the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority. Staying beyond your 90-day allowance can bring fines from Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior and affect future applications.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest Umrah visa change in 2026?
A one-year, multiple-entry Umrah visa launched in July 2026, and your accommodation and transport must clear Nusuk verification before a visa is approved. Miss that, and the system declines it automatically.
Has the Electronic Visa Waiver been discontinued?
Yes. The Electronic Visa Waiver was discontinued on 1 July 2026 and replaced by the Saudi Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), applied for at ksavisa.sa. British passport holders now use the ETA.
Is a visa enough to enter Masjid al-Haram for Umrah?
No. You also need an Umrah permit from the Nusuk app; the Rawdah at Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah needs a separate one.
Can women perform Umrah without a mahram?
Yes. Women aged 18 and over can obtain an Umrah visa and travel without a mahram, alone or in a group. This is a Saudi administrative rule; the religious view is a separate matter that some pilgrims prefer to weigh for themselves.
How much does an Umrah visa cost from the UK?
The Umrah visa is about SAR 400 to 480 with insurance (approx. £80 to £95); the tourist eVisa is around SAR 535 including insurance (approx. £106). Amounts vary with the exchange rate and by nationality, so check the live total first.
Do UK citizens need a visa for Umrah?
Yes. British passport holders need an Umrah visa, the Saudi tourist eVisa, or the Saudi ETA (all cover Umrah outside Hajj), plus a Nusuk Umrah permit to enter Masjid al-Haram.
How early should UK pilgrims apply for an Umrah visa?
At least three to four weeks before travel. At peak times such as Ramadan or the UK school holidays, the wait can stretch to 10 to 14 working days, so leave extra time.
Can I use a Saudi tourist visa for Umrah?
Yes. Away from the Hajj period, a Saudi tourist eVisa lets you perform Umrah. You will still register on Nusuk and secure an Umrah permit before entering Masjid al-Haram.
How do I check my Umrah visa status?
Track it on the portal you applied through (Nusuk, the Visit Saudi eVisa portal, or the Saudi Visa Platform at ksavisa.sa) using your application or passport details.
Can children or elderly parents perform Umrah?
Yes. Everyone needs their own visa, whatever their age. Under-18s must travel with a parent or legal guardian, and there is no upper age limit for older pilgrims.
