A UK passport holder travelling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah no longer needs a dedicated Umrah visa. The Saudi government issues a multi-entry tourist eVisa, available online through the official Saudi visa portal, that covers Umrah, sightseeing, and visits to family or friends. The Nusuk app is then used to book the actual pilgrimage slot at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
Last reviewed: May 2026
TL;DR: UK passport holders apply for the Saudi tourist eVisa at visa.visitsaudi.com, which is typically issued as a one-year multi-entry permit allowing stays of up to 90 days per visit. The eVisa now covers Umrah, so a separate Umrah-only visa is not required. The Umrah slot itself is booked through the Nusuk app. Verify the current GBP price and validity on the Saudi visa portal before paying.
- UK passport holders are eligible for the Saudi tourist eVisa via the official portal at visa.visitsaudi.com.
- The eVisa is typically issued as a one-year multi-entry permit with a maximum stay of 90 days per visit. Verify the current rules on the Saudi visa portal.
- The eVisa now covers Umrah for non-Hajj seasons; the dedicated Umrah-only visa scheme has been folded into the tourist eVisa for most nationalities.
- The Umrah slot at the Grand Mosque is booked through the Nusuk app (nusuk.sa), which is the only official booking channel for the Two Holy Mosques.
- Hajj uses a separate, quota-based visa system administered through national Hajj missions and is not interchangeable with the Umrah/tourist eVisa.
- Saudi authorities require proof of meningitis ACWY vaccination, issued within the last three years, for entry to perform Umrah or Hajj.
Umrah and Hajj: different visa systems
Umrah and Hajj are both Islamic pilgrimages to Makkah, but they sit on completely different visa frameworks. Umrah is a year-round, non-obligatory pilgrimage that can be performed at any time outside the Hajj season. Hajj is the obligatory pilgrimage that takes place on fixed dates in the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah and is subject to a Saudi-managed national quota for every Muslim-majority and minority country.
For Umrah, UK passport holders use the standard Saudi tourist eVisa (also marketed as the Umrah-included eVisa) issued through the official portal at visa.visitsaudi.com. There is no longer a separate Umrah-only visa scheme for British nationals; the tourist eVisa is the route. The same eVisa permits sightseeing in Riyadh, Jeddah, and AlUla, and visits to friends and family, in addition to performing Umrah.
For Hajj, the route is entirely different. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah allocates a national quota to the UK each year and licenses a limited number of UK-based Hajj tour operators to issue Hajj visas. A Hajj visa cannot be obtained through the tourist eVisa portal. Anyone planning Hajj must book through a licensed UK Hajj agent who handles the visa application as part of the package, and the Hajj visa is only valid during the official Hajj season.
Performing Umrah on a Hajj visa, or attempting Hajj on a tourist eVisa, can result in entry refusal and significant fines under Saudi regulations enforced at Jeddah and Madinah airports during the Hajj period. The two systems are kept strictly separate by Saudi border authorities.
The Saudi eVisa for UK passport holders
The Saudi tourist eVisa is an online travel authorisation issued by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism. UK passport holders are listed on the eligible nationality schedule maintained on the Saudi visa portal, alongside other Schengen-eligible countries, the United States, Australia, and a growing list of others. The eVisa is applied for and paid for entirely online; there is no need to visit the Saudi embassy in London or send the passport away.
Once approved, the eVisa is delivered as a PDF by email and is electronically linked to the passport number used in the application. Most travellers print the PDF as a backup and also save a digital copy on their phone. At the Saudi port of entry, immigration officers scan the passport, the eVisa record is pulled up automatically, and a stamp is issued on arrival.
The application form is short. It typically asks for passport details, a recent digital photograph that meets the portal's specification, basic contact information in Saudi Arabia (the address of the hotel or relative), and a declaration of the purpose of the visit. The portal accepts UK debit and credit cards for payment.
Cost in GBP
The fee for the Saudi tourist eVisa is set by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism in Saudi riyals and converted into the applicant's local currency at the point of payment. The total includes the visa fee itself plus mandatory health insurance covering the duration of the visit, which is issued at the same time and underwritten by one of the Saudi-approved insurers.
Because the riyal-to-GBP rate fluctuates and Saudi authorities review the fee periodically, the GBP figure is not fixed. Travellers should expect to pay a sum in the low hundreds of pounds for a single applicant, but the exact current figure must be verified on the official portal at visa.visitsaudi.com before paying. The portal shows the breakdown (visa fee, insurance, processing fee) at the payment step.
Unofficial third-party websites sometimes advertise the Saudi eVisa at inflated prices, adding a service fee on top of the real Saudi government rate. The only official portal is visa.visitsaudi.com; paying through that channel ensures the eVisa is genuine and that the price is the standard Saudi government rate plus the bundled insurance.
Validity and entry rules
The Saudi tourist eVisa is typically issued as a multi-entry permit valid for one year from the date of issue, allowing a maximum cumulative stay of 90 days within that year. Individual visits can be up to 90 days each, subject to the overall annual cap. These standing terms can change; the up-to-date validity rules are published on the Saudi visa portal.
The eVisa permits the holder to enter through any Saudi international airport (Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Madinah) and to travel freely within the Kingdom. Madinah airport is the most direct entry point for Umrah travellers, but Jeddah airport handles the largest volume of pilgrims and is well connected to Makkah by road. Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter the holy precincts of Makkah or the inner sanctuary of Madinah.
The 90-day per-visit cap is enforced strictly; overstaying carries fines and can affect future eVisa applications. Travellers planning a long stay should check the visit duration shown on their eVisa PDF and on the entry stamp issued at the airport, and depart before the date marked.
The Nusuk app and booking flow
Holding a Saudi eVisa is not, on its own, enough to perform Umrah. Access to the Grand Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) in Makkah is managed through the Nusuk platform, the official Saudi booking system operated by the General Authority for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques. Pilgrims must register on Nusuk and book a time slot for entering the mataf area to perform Tawaf.
The Nusuk app is available on iOS and Android and can also be accessed through the web portal at nusuk.sa. The registration step asks for passport details, the eVisa number, contact information, and a recent photograph. Once registered, the user can book Umrah permits, prayer slots in the Rawdah at the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, and entry slots for other holy sites.
Umrah permits on Nusuk are typically free of charge for the actual entry slot, although there can be peak-period booking restrictions during Ramadan when demand is highest. Booking ahead through the app, ideally before flying, avoids long queues at the on-site service desks in Makkah.
Required documents for Umrah
The Saudi tourist eVisa application requires a small set of documents, all uploaded digitally. The standard list for a UK passport holder includes:
- A UK passport with at least six months validity remaining from the planned date of entry into Saudi Arabia.
- A recent digital colour photograph of the applicant, against a plain background, meeting the dimensions shown on the portal.
- Confirmation of accommodation in Saudi Arabia (hotel booking or a relative's address) for the planned visit.
- A UK debit or credit card to pay the visa fee and bundled insurance.
- A working email address to receive the eVisa PDF.
For Umrah specifically, no additional religious documentation is required at the eVisa stage. Pilgrims should, however, carry their Nusuk booking confirmation when entering Makkah and may be asked to present it at certain security checkpoints around the Grand Mosque.
Female pilgrims under the age of 18 must travel with a mahram (male guardian); the requirement for mahram accompaniment for adult women has been relaxed in recent years for Umrah, allowing women aged 18 and over to travel independently provided they meet the general eVisa eligibility rules. The current position on mahram requirements should be verified on the Saudi visa portal before booking.
Vaccinations and health requirements
Saudi health authorities require proof of vaccination against meningitis ACWY (the quadrivalent ACWY conjugate vaccine) for all Umrah and Hajj pilgrims. The certificate must be issued at least 10 days before arrival and is valid for the period stated by the manufacturer (commonly three to five years; check the certificate). NHS GPs and most UK travel clinics provide the vaccine; the cost varies and is typically paid privately as Umrah travel is classified as elective.
Additional vaccinations may be recommended by NHS travel health services depending on the traveller's medical history. Influenza vaccination is encouraged in winter months. The latest Saudi health requirements for pilgrims are published each year on the Saudi Ministry of Health website and summarised on the NHS travel health page for Saudi Arabia.
UK travellers should also review the FCDO travel advice for Saudi Arabia at GOV.UK: foreign travel advice for Saudi Arabia before booking, which covers entry rules, safety information, and the official position on any temporary health-related entry restrictions.
Frequently asked questions
Do UK citizens need a separate Umrah visa?
No. UK passport holders apply for the Saudi tourist eVisa through the official portal at visa.visitsaudi.com, and the eVisa now covers Umrah outside of the Hajj season. The dedicated Umrah-only visa scheme has been folded into the tourist eVisa for British nationals and other eligible nationalities.
How much does the Umrah eVisa cost from the UK?
The fee is set by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism in riyals and includes mandatory health insurance for the trip. The GBP equivalent is shown at the payment step on the official portal and fluctuates with exchange rates. Verify the current price on visa.visitsaudi.com before paying. Avoid third-party sites that mark up the fee.
How long is the Saudi eVisa valid for?
The eVisa is typically issued as a one-year multi-entry permit, allowing stays of up to 90 days per visit subject to an overall annual cap. Validity terms can change; the current rules are published on the Saudi visa portal. The entry stamp issued on arrival shows the latest permitted exit date for that specific visit.
What is the Nusuk app and is it mandatory?
Nusuk is the official Saudi platform for booking Umrah permits and entry to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. Holding the eVisa alone does not grant access to the holy sites; the Nusuk permit is required. Registration and the basic Umrah permit are typically free, but booking ahead of travel is strongly advisable, particularly during Ramadan.
Can a Hajj visa be used for Umrah?
No. Hajj visas are issued only for the official Hajj period and are not interchangeable with the tourist eVisa. Anyone wishing to perform Umrah outside Hajj must use the tourist eVisa route. Attempting Umrah on a Hajj visa, or Hajj on a tourist eVisa, can result in entry refusal and fines under Saudi regulations.
Is meningitis vaccination required for Umrah?
Yes. Saudi health authorities require proof of meningitis ACWY vaccination, issued at least 10 days before arrival, for entry to perform Umrah or Hajj. The certificate is valid for the period stated by the vaccine manufacturer, commonly three to five years. NHS GPs and UK travel clinics provide the vaccine privately.
Can a woman travel for Umrah without a male guardian?
Recent reforms have allowed women aged 18 and over to apply for the Saudi eVisa and travel for Umrah independently, without a mahram. Women under 18 must travel with a male guardian. The current position on mahram requirements should be verified on the Saudi visa portal before booking, as Saudi entry rules continue to evolve.
