Saudi Ministry of Hajj starts issuing e-visas for Umrah

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has started issuing electronic visas for Muslims who wish to visit the kingdom to perform Umrah, as per Saudi Press Agency.

The expedited visa process is part of the country’s efforts to facilitate travel and enable more Muslims to perform Umrah rituals. This initiative comes in the backdrop of the kingdom’s goals to establish itself as a tourism destination as part of the national Vision 2030 objective.

Electronic visa application

The ministry announced that pilgrims can apply for electronic visas using the Nusuk platform. Those whose applications are successful will be able to travel to the kingdom using the e-visa starting July 19.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had previously announced that holders of tourist visas from GCC countries and holders of Schengen visas can apply for an electronic visit visa for Umrah using the Nusuk application.

The Nusuk platform facilitates arrival procedures for all Muslims worldwide to visit Makkah and Madinah, and provides housing choices, residence and transportation services.

Facilities provided by the Ministry of Hajj to the Umrah pilgrims are part of the government’s recently implemented programme that looks at reducing insurance fees for Umrah performers by 63 per cent while maintaining the sustainability of health services, issuing the Umrah visa in less than 24 hours, and extending the Umrah visa from 30 days to 90 days.

The facilitated procedures also allow women to perform Umrah without being accompanied by a male guardian.

Services for Hajj season

The kingdom has put in place a vast organisational network supervised by the Ministry of Hajj to implement the various initiatives connected with Hajj. For example, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance issues special booklets on the rites of the Hajj in multiple languages for distribution among pilgrims. The Ministry of Health oversees medical services while the Ministry of Information hosts journalists and members of the media from various countries to cover the pilgrimage, while at the same time arranging for live transmissions of the rituals around the world.

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques announced the launch of 185 programmes and initiatives, presented during this year’s Hajj season.