On 20 July 2026, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced a multiple-entry Umrah visa, a new category valid for 365 days from the date of issuance that lets a pilgrim enter the Kingdom more than once during the year instead of using up a visa on a single trip. The announcement was carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) and is part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 initiatives to improve the pilgrim experience for those who want to perform Umrah more than once in the same year. If you live in the Gulf region or are planning more than one trip, this guide breaks down exactly how the new visa works, where it differs from the traditional one, and what conditions to watch before you book.
What Is the Multiple-Entry Umrah Visa?
In short, it is a single visa that stays valid for a full year and allows entry and exit from Saudi Arabia several times during that period, rather than requiring a fresh Umrah visa before every trip. The concept resembles multiple-entry tourist visas used elsewhere, but this one is built specifically for Umrah. Holders don't need to file a separate visa application for each visit, which saves real time and paperwork for anyone who travels regularly to Jeddah or Madinah.
90 Days Cumulative, Not 90 Days Per Visit
This is the detail most people get wrong. The allowed stay is a cumulative 90 days spread across every visit made during the visa's one-year validity, not 90 fresh days granted each time you enter. In other words, your total balance is 90 days for the whole year, no matter how many trips you take. If you spend 20 days on your first visit, only 70 days remain for the rest of the year across any later trips. This is worth planning around carefully if you intend to visit more than once, so you aren't caught off guard with a smaller balance than expected on your final trip.
An Umrah Permit and Approved Package Are Still Required for Each Visit
A year-long visa does not mean unrestricted entry. The new system still requires pilgrims to obtain an Umrah permit and book an approved service package (typically hotel and transport) through the Nusuk platform before each individual visit, exactly as with the traditional visa. The visa itself is issued once, but every entry into the Kingdom remains conditional on its own permit and booking. Skipping this step before any of your trips can leave you unable to perform the rituals even with a valid visa in hand.
How It Differs From the Traditional Umrah Visa
- Entries: the traditional visa allows a single entry, while the new one allows multiple entries across 365 days.
- Stay allowance: the traditional visa grants up to 90 days for that one trip, while the new visa's 90-day balance is shared across all trips combined.
- Repeat visits: with the traditional visa, you file a full new application every time, while the new visa is issued once and reused for each entry, with only a fresh Nusuk permit needed per visit.
For anyone planning just one trip this year, the traditional Umrah visa remains simpler and sufficient. For frequent visitors, the flexibility is worth the extra attention to the cumulative-day rule above.
Does It Cover the Hajj Season?
No. Like every other Umrah visa category, the multiple-entry visa cannot be used during the annual Hajj season. If one of your planned visits falls in that window, you'll need a completely separate Hajj arrangement, since authorities stop processing regular Umrah bookings for several weeks before and during the season.
Who Benefits Most From This Visa?
Residents of nearby Gulf countries and anyone living or working close to Saudi Arabia stand to gain the most, since they can repeat visits without redoing the full visa process each time. It also suits families who prefer spreading their trips across different months rather than one long visit, and travelers who want to perform Umrah during Ramadan and again later in the same year. Anyone planning only a single Umrah trip won't see much practical difference compared with the traditional visa.
Steps to Get the Visa
- Apply for the multiple-entry Umrah visa through the Nusuk platform or app, or via a licensed tour operator.
- Before each visit, book an approved service package (hotel and transport) and obtain your Umrah permit through Nusuk.
- Track your remaining balance out of the total 90 days before planning any new trip within the validity year.
- Remember the visa excludes the Hajj season, so schedule your trips outside that window.
Your Next Step
The multiple-entry Umrah visa is a practical option that saves real time for anyone traveling to Saudi Arabia repeatedly, as long as you keep an eye on the shared 90-day balance and book a separate permit and package for every visit. If you're planning your first Umrah or your next one, explore our Umrah hub, or reach out to the Habibi Travel team to help you pick the visa type that fits your plans.