In July 2026 Saudi Arabia introduced a new kind of Umrah visa. Instead of one trip and out, it lets you enter the country several times over a year. If you perform Umrah more than once a year, or you have family in the Kingdom, this is a real change.
Here is what it actually does.
The basics
- Valid for 365 days from the date it is issued.
- Multiple entries during that year.
- 90 days total stay, added up across all your visits. Not 90 days per visit.
- Cannot be used during Hajj season. The blackout runs from the first of Dhul Qadah to the 13th of Dhul Hijjah.
- Each entry needs its own Nusuk package from an approved provider, and that package cannot run longer than the days you have left on the visa.
- Each Umrah still needs a permit through the Nusuk app, with permit dates matching your approved package.
The 90 day pool is the key number. Spend 15 days on your first trip and you have 75 left. The clock only runs while you are inside the country, and unused days carry forward within the validity year.
What changed, in plain terms
The old single entry Umrah visa gave you one journey. You came, you performed Umrah, you left, and if you wanted to come again you applied again, paid again and waited again.
The new visa removes that repetition. You apply once. For the next year, going back is a matter of buying a package and getting a permit rather than starting the visa process from scratch.
What has not changed is the package requirement. You cannot simply book a flight and turn up. Every single entry needs a service package through an approved Nusuk provider. The visa gives you permission to enter the country. The package is what makes the trip legal and gets you your permit.
Who this is genuinely useful for
People who do Umrah twice or more in a year. The obvious case. One Ramadan trip and one winter trip, for example.
Families splitting a long stay. If you want three weeks in Makkah and Madinah now and another two weeks in six months, the 90 day pool covers both comfortably.
Anyone who travels to the region for work. If you are in Dubai or Doha regularly, being able to add a weekend in Makkah without a fresh visa application is a genuine convenience.
People bringing elderly parents in stages. Some families bring a parent for a shorter, gentler first trip, then return. This makes that pattern cheaper and simpler.
Who should probably stick with a single entry visa
If you are performing Umrah once and have no plan to return within the year, the single entry visa does the job. The multiple entry visa costs more, and paying for flexibility you will not use is not a saving.
Also worth knowing: the Saudi tourist eVisa already allows Umrah for travellers from eligible countries, including the USA, and it is a one year multiple entry visa in its own right. For many American pilgrims the tourist eVisa remains the simplest route. We compare the two properly in Saudi tourist eVisa vs Umrah visa, and that article is worth reading before you decide, because the right answer is not the same for everybody.
The Hajj season blackout, and why it catches people
The visa does not work from the first of Dhul Qadah to the 13th of Dhul Hijjah. In the 2027 calendar that falls roughly in the second half of April through late May, though the exact Gregorian dates shift every year.
If your year of validity overlaps that window, those weeks are simply unavailable to you on this visa. People plan a spring trip, find it lands inside the blackout, and have to move it. Check your dates against the Hijri calendar before you commit to flights.
How to apply
Use the official channels only:
- The Nusuk platform at nusuk.sa for packages and permits.
- The Saudi visa portal for the visa itself.
- Or an approved Umrah provider who handles the application for you.
Be careful with search results here. There are a lot of sites that look official, charge a markup, and are not approved providers. If a site wants your passport scan and a fee and you cannot establish who they are, stop. Our guide on how to choose a trusted Umrah travel agency covers the checks worth making.
Things to confirm before you rely on any of this
Visa rules in Saudi Arabia have changed several times in the last few years, sometimes with little notice. Everything above reflects the position as of October 2026. Before you book:
- Confirm the current rules on nusuk.sa or with an approved provider. Do not rely on a blog, including this one, for the final word.
- Check the fee, which varies by nationality and by where you apply.
- Check your passport validity. Six months beyond your travel date is the usual minimum.
- Read the current travel advisory. The US State Department has Saudi Arabia at Level 3, Reconsider Travel, as of 12 October 2026. We cover what that means for pilgrims in is it safe to travel to Saudi Arabia right now.
Our honest take
For most people flying from the US once a year, this visa is not the breakthrough the headlines suggested, because the tourist eVisa already allowed repeat visits and Umrah. Where it genuinely helps is the group performing Umrah several times a year who want a visa tied specifically to the pilgrimage.
If you are not sure which visa fits your situation, tell us your plans and we will tell you straight, including when the answer is the cheaper option.
