This article is correct as of 2026-08-24.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched a multiple-entry Umrah visa that is valid for 365 days from the date of issuance. The visa allows repeated entries into the Kingdom, but the total stay across those visits cannot exceed 90 days. The announcement was reported by the Saudi Press Agency on 20 July 2026 and remains a significant planning update for travellers considering more than one Umrah trip in a year. [1]
For DIY travellers, the practical change is that one visa can support several visits during its validity period. The practical details matter just as much. Each trip still requires a service package from an approved provider through the Nusuk platform, plus an Umrah permit issued through the Nusuk application before arrival. [1]
What Saudi Arabia has announced
The new visa is valid for 365 days from issuance and permits multiple entries. The combined stay across all visits is capped at 90 days. That means the visa should be treated as a yearly travel window with a total-stay limit, not as permission to remain in Saudi Arabia continuously for a full year. [1]
The Saudi Press Agency says the visa is deactivated after each departure and can be reactivated when the traveller meets the requirements for the next visit. That wording is important for repeat travellers. Leaving the Kingdom does not make the next trip automatic. The next visit still depends on the applicable service and permit steps being completed. [1]
The visa will not be activated during the Hajj season, which the announcement defines as the period from 1 Dhu Al-Qi’dah to 13 Dhu Al-Hijjah. Anyone planning around that period needs to check the dates for the relevant Islamic calendar year before committing to flights or accommodation. [1]
What this changes for DIY Umrah planning
The main benefit is flexibility. A traveller who already expects to return to Saudi Arabia within the year can plan around one visa validity period instead of assuming that every visit will use a separate single-entry arrangement. This may be useful for families visiting at different times, people combining work and worship travel, or travellers who want to return outside the busiest periods. The visa’s 90-day cumulative limit still controls the overall plan. [1]
The announcement does not remove the need to organise each trip carefully. A multiple-entry visa does not by itself confirm a flight, a hotel, an Umrah permit, or access during every part of the year. Those are separate planning questions. The official Ministry of Hajj and Umrah portal lists an Umrah Permit Application service and directs users to Nusuk for the service flow. [2]
The Nusuk steps still apply on every visit
Travellers should build the following sequence into each proposed trip:
- Check that the 365-day visa validity window is still open and calculate how many days remain in the 90-day cumulative allowance. [1]
- Arrange the required service package through an approved provider on Nusuk for the planned visit. [1]
- Apply for the Umrah permit through the Nusuk application before arrival. [1]
- Check the booking, visa, permit, passport, and flight details together before departure. The Ministry’s official portal also provides a service to inquire about licensed Umrah companies and establishments. [2]
Save a copy of every confirmation and note the date of each entry and departure. A simple running total helps prevent an itinerary from quietly exceeding the 90-day allowance. Keep the visa issuance date visible too, because the 365-day validity period runs from that date, not from the first trip. [1]
What the announcement does not confirm
The announcement confirms the visa structure and the required service and permit process. It does not guarantee that every passport holder will receive approval through the same route, that every travel date will have the same availability, or that flights and hotels will remain available at the same price. Travellers should use the official Saudi channels for their own nationality and application route before paying for non-refundable arrangements. [1]
It is also worth separating the visa’s validity from the timing of an Umrah permit. The visa may remain valid for 365 days, while the practical ability to make a particular visit depends on the live Nusuk process and the dates being planned. The Ministry’s Umrah portal is the better place to check current service links than an old screenshot or a forwarded social-media post. [2]
A practical checklist before booking
Before using the new visa for a repeat-visit plan, write down four dates: the visa issuance date, the intended first entry, the planned departure, and the latest possible return within the 365-day window. Then mark the Hajj-season restriction separately. This makes it easier to see whether the second or third trip still fits the visa rules. [1]
Next, check the service package and permit steps before locking in transport. The required Nusuk process is part of the trip itself, so it should be checked before a traveller assumes that a confirmed flight is enough. Use the official Ministry portal to reach the Umrah Permit Application and licensed-provider information. [2]
Finally, keep a record of the cumulative days spent in Saudi Arabia. Count every visit against the 90-day total, even when the trips are separated by several weeks or months. The multiple-entry format gives more room to plan, but it still rewards careful record-keeping. [1]
Bottom line for DIY travellers
Saudi Arabia’s new multiple-entry Umrah visa creates a useful option for repeat visits within one year. Its limits are clear: 365 days of validity from issuance, up to 90 cumulative days in the Kingdom, a service package through an approved Nusuk provider for each visit, an Umrah permit before arrival, and no activation during the stated Hajj season. [1]
Use the visa as a planning framework, then verify the live Nusuk and Ministry steps for the exact trip before paying for flights, accommodation, or other arrangements. [2]
Notes
[2] Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Umrah Services portal, accessed 24 August 2026.
