RIYADH: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced a new Umrah visa policy, limiting the entry time to one month from three months, Arab media reported on Friday.
The implementation may begin next week with an aim to streamline the current visa procedures for pilgrims.
If any pilgrim, after granting an Umrah visa, does not enter Saudi Arabia, the visa shall be canceled at the same time.
Previously, Umrah pilgrims had a three-month window to enter the Kingdom after receiving their visa, providing greater flexibility for travel planning.
The goal of the revised policy is to better organize and coordinate pilgrimage arrivals, especially during busy times of the year.
The length of stay inside Saudi Arabia has not changed, despite the admission time being decreased. In order to give pilgrims enough time to complete Umrah and see the sacred sites in Makkah and Madinah, they will still be permitted to remain in the nation for up to three months after arriving.
Although the precise start date has not yet been announced by officials, sources indicate that the new Umrah visa regulations will go into effect next week.
