The Hajj should be attempted by every capable Muslim at least once in their lifetime. Saudi Arabia is in charge of Mecca and Medina, two of the world’s most popular pilgrimage destinations. Consequently, the Hajj season in Saudi Arabia attracts more than two million pilgrims, making it the largest gathering of people worldwide.
Two of Islam’s holiest sites are within the KSA’s borders, which places a significant burden on the young nation to ensure that Muslim pilgrimages are conducted flawlessly and without incident. Except for the events of 2019, which claimed the lives of over a thousand faithful, Saudi Arabia has succeeded thus far.
Given that the Hajj and Umrah are religious pilgrimages, it would have been beneficial to grant Muslims free passage, but doing so would put a lot of pressure on the government. First of all, even though Mecca is home to the world’s largest mosque, the city would still not be able to accommodate all Muslims if the Hajj visa were to be eliminated. As a result, every Muslim who wishes to participate in the Hajj or Umrah pilgrimage must obtain a visa for the trip to Saudi Arabia. You will learn the steps to applying for a Saudi Arabia Hajj/Umrah Visa as you read the following lines.
What is a Hajj/Umrah Visa for Saudi Arabia?
A Saudi Hajj/Umrah Visa is a permit issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Muslims who do not reside within its borders. With this permit, they are permitted to visit the nation for the mandatory religious pilgrimage. Except for the pilgrimage, the Hajj/Umrah Visa to Saudi Arabia cannot be used for anything else. It is a single-entry visa that is good for the entire Hajj or Umrah, but once the pilgrimage is over, it is no longer valid.
Additionally, the visa is valid from the middle of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, until the last week of Dh al-Qadah, the eleventh month. As a result, the Hajj pilgrimage takes place between the 8th and 12th days of Dhual-Ijjah, the Muslim calendar’s 11th month.
Who is eligible for the Saudi Arabia Hajj/Umrah Visa?
Foreign nationals who are Muslims from any part of the world are eligible for the KSA Hajj/Umrah Visa. For example, in the past, Israel had to obtain a temporary visa from Jordan to apply for a KSA Hajj/Umrah Visa. Still, in recent times, citizens of the Jewish state are officially allowed to enter the KSA.
Requirements for a Saudi Arabia Hajj/Umrah Visa
The following are the general requirements for a Saudi Hajj/Umrah Visa. Note that there are additional requirements for women and children.
#1 A valid passport
The passport must be valid for at least six months and must have at least two empty pages in your passport facing each other.
#2 A recent passport photo
You must take a color photo against a white background with your features in clear view. Do not take the picture from an angle or one side of your face.
#3 A completed visa application form
You can complete the application online and print it out, or you can print it out and fill it out in black ink. After that, you must send it to the travel agency who will stamp and sign it.
#4 Return flight tickets
The application would not be complete without proof that the applicant would leave Saudi Arabia after the pilgrimage. You can provide this proof by showing your flight ticket booked to and from Saudi Arabia.
#5 Vaccination Certificates
Adults must submit proof of vaccination for meningitis and ACYW135 (a meningococcal disease caused by strains A, C, Y, and W-135)
Infants and children below 15 must present proof of vaccination for polio and meningitis, while children above 15 must present the same evidence as adults require. The certificate must not be more than three years old or less than ten days before entering Saudi Arabia.
#6 Checks for payment of pilgrimage services
Each adult must submit two checks payable to Unified Agents Office in Jeddah. The checks are for pilgrimage services like guides and transportation and tent accommodation between Mina and Arafat (for the stoning of the devil and the visit to the mountain of mercy, respectively).
Children between the ages of seven and fifteen will pay half of the amount, and children below seven years of age will not pay any amount. The Saudi embassy in your country of residence determines the amount to be paid.
Note:
- New converts must present an acknowledgment from a Muslim Religious Leader (an imam) as proof of conversion. An Islamic center must notarize the letter.
- Any woman or child traveling for the Hajj must be accompanied by a Mahram – a blood relative excluding a husband or father with whom marriage would be a Haram (an abomination).
- A woman over 45 years old may travel without a Mahram if going in an organized group. Still, she must submit a letter from the Mahram permitting the journey and indicating the group’s name. The letter must be notarized.
- An applicant under 18 cannot travel for the Hajj unless accompanied by family.
- Applicants applying from a country different from their home country must submit proof of legal residence in the host country.
How to apply for a Saudi Arabia Hajj/Umrah Visa
Travelers for the Hajj can apply to the nearest Saudi Arabian Consulate, but it is necessary to do this through an authorized travel agency in their country of residence. The agency will arrange for a Saudi Hajj visa, accommodation, transportation in Saudi, e.t.c. All you need to do is make sure you have the required documents, which you will send to the agency. The agency will then take over the rest of the application.
However, you can process your Umrah visa online.
1. Visit the Umrah Application Portal and choose a travel agency.
2. Sign up with the agency you have chosen
3. Enter the details of your trip
4. Book your hotel and flight. You may consider allowing the agency to do this so that if your visa receives a rejection, they can work out a refund for you.
5. Upload your details. This would include your passport and photo.
6. Give your debit or credit card details to pay the fees.
7. Submit your visa application for Saudi Arabia Umrah.
You can get more information from the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an eVisa be used to travel to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj?
No, an electronic visa is not available for Hajj travel to Saudi Arabia. To enter the country, foreign nationals must apply for a Hajj visa. In addition, a Saudi eVisa cannot be used by a pilgrim to enter Mecca because it is only valid for tourism. However, for the lesser Umrah pilgrimage, you can travel to Saudi Arabia with an eVisa. However, the eVisa cannot be used for Umrah during the Hajj pilgrimage.
How long does it take to process a visa for the Hajj or Umrah?
A Saudi Hajj/Umrah Visa is processed in about five days. Depending on where you are applying, it may take longer at times.
What is the duration of a Saudi Hajj/Umrah Visa’s validity?
For the Hajj, the last day a pilgrim can enter Saudi Arabia is 4 Dhu’l-Hijjah (December 4), and the last day they can leave is 10 Muharram (January 10) each year. The Hajj/Umrah Visa’s validity period is irrelevant; however, any pilgrim who returns after this time is considered to have overstayed their welcome.
Can children make the Hajj or Umrah trip to Saudi Arabia?
Children are eligible to travel for the Hajj if their parents include their names on their passports and include copies of their birth certificates. Children and women under the age of 45 must be accompanied by a male relative.
What distinguishes an Umrah Visa from a Hajj Visa?
There are numerous distinctions between Umrah and Hajj.
First, you can’t do Umrah while doing Hajj, but you can do Umrah while doing Hajj.
Second, an Umrah only takes a few hours to complete, whereas a Hajj takes approximately five days.
Thirdly, whereas a Hajj visa can only be obtained at a specific time, an Umrah visa can be obtained at any time throughout the year. Throughout the year, umrah can be performed at any time.
Fourthly, Umrah is a voluntary pilgrimage, whereas Hajj is an obligatory pilgrimage.
Conclusion:
This has been an interesting journey through the complexities of the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. Naturally, a Muslim would have a better understanding of the specifics in this article. However, you should remember that the Hajj/Umrah Visa is a unique visa that is not intended for non-Muslims. Another factor is that Saudi Arabia takes its pilgrimages seriously, spending billions of dollars to improve mosques to accommodate as many pilgrims as possible. A government that does this will not simply wave its hand at anyone who challenges its religion in any way. Having said that, it is absolutely necessary to adhere to the regulations that make Saudi Arabia unique, even if you are visiting the country with a Saudi Arabia Tourist Visa. Before you go, learn more about Saudi Arabia.
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