Umrah on a Saudi tourist visa What it allows and where it stops
- Last updated:
- Written by:
- Hajra Fatima
- Reading time:
- 8 minutes
Short answer
Yes. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah says holders of all visa types, tourists included, may perform Umrah during their stay. You still need a Nusuk permit for your Umrah time. Two limits matter most: a tourist visa does not cover Hajj, and Umrah on it is not allowed in the Hajj season. Whether you are eligible depends on your passport.
On this page
Many families abroad would rather book their own flights and hotels than buy a package, and the Saudi tourist visa makes that possible. It is a different document from an Umrah visa, with different limits, and agency blogs often mix the two up. This guide sets out what the official pages say, with dates, and where they disagree.
What a tourist visa allows
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's announcement on Umrah for those coming on all types of visas (page updated 19/10/2026) says holders of all visa types and visitors from all countries who come for tourism or visits may perform Umrah during their stay. The page was first published on 07/12/2022 and its text still mentions the 1444 season, so treat the wording as a general principle and check the current season's terms. The Government of Canada's travel advice says Muslim visitors can perform Umrah on any type of visa, while Hajj needs a specific Hajj visa. GOV.UK lists Umrah outside the Hajj season as allowed on the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) and the electronic visa waiver.
One difference between official pages is worth knowing. GOV.UK's entry requirements page lists the British tourist e-visa as for tourism only and does not list Umrah for it, while its pilgrimage page says you can apply for an e-visa or electronic visa waiver to perform Umrah outside the Hajj season. The ministry says all visa types. If you hold an e-visa, check the Visit Saudi portal and the Nusuk app before you book flights.
So the answer to "can I do Umrah on a tourist visa" is yes, with a permit and outside the Hajj season.
What the tourist visa gives you
The terms differ by country and visa type. These are the figures the official travel advice pages gave on 27/10/2026.
| Visa | Valid for | Stay | Health insurance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK tourist e-visa | 365 days, multiple entries | 90 days in total across the year | Included, up to SAR 100,000 | GOV.UK |
| UK ETA | 730 days, multiple entries | 180 days in total across the period | Not included | GOV.UK |
| UK electronic visa waiver | Single entry | Up to 180 days | Not included | GOV.UK |
| Tourist visa for Canadians | One year, multiple entries | 90 days in total per year | Check the portal | travel.gc.ca |
For other passports, check the Visit Saudi portal (visa.visitsaudi.com), which sets the terms for your nationality. It did not load for our check, so we don't quote its fee or its full country list. Fees and eligibility change, so read them there on the day you apply.
GOV.UK says your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after you arrive. Canada says the same.
Who is eligible
It depends on your passport and, for some families, on a visa you already hold.
- Citizens of countries on the eVisa list, including the UK, the USA and Canada, can apply online or, where offered, on arrival at a Saudi airport. Canada's page says a tourist visa can be obtained online or on arrival at the airport.
- The ministry's announcement says travellers who got a visa on arrival from eVisa-eligible countries, and holders of US, UK or Schengen visas, can perform Umrah if the visa was used once and they carry an entry stamp from the issuing country. Many Pakistani families in Europe and North America ask about this route. Our guide to the Umrah eVisa with a UK, US or Schengen visa walks through the steps. Because of the 1444 wording on that page, confirm the current terms on the Visit Saudi portal.
- Family visit and personal visit visas also allow Umrah, according to the same announcement, with bookings through the ministry's app.
We found nothing official saying a Pakistani passport alone qualifies for the standard online tourist visa. Families living in Pakistan normally use an Umrah visa through a licensed company. See Umrah visa types explained for every route.
The Nusuk permit
The visa gets you into Saudi Arabia. The permit is what lets you do Umrah at a set time. The ministry's FAQ says you can pray at the Grand Mosque at any time without a permit, and that tawaf is allowed without a permit on the first floor. Entering the Grand Mosque to perform Umrah is linked to your permit time. The FAQ also says vaccinations are registered in the Tawakkalna app on entry.
In practice:
- Get your visa and arrive.
- Create or open your account in the Nusuk app and add companions.
- Book the Umrah permit for a date and time that suits your family, after you have rested.
- If your plans change, cancel before the slot starts. The ministry says a permit time cannot be changed and cannot be cancelled once it has begun.
Every step is covered in the Nusuk app guide. If you also want to pray in the Rawdah in Madinah, that is a separate booking. See Rawdah booking.
The Hajj-season limit
This is the rule that catches families out. Gulf News reported in 2023, quoting the ministry, that tourist visa holders may not perform Hajj or Umrah during the Hajj season. GOV.UK says visitors who are not performing Hajj have been stopped from flying to Jeddah, Madinah and Taif during the Hajj period, although they could still enter through other airports.
The ministry decides the dates each year. We found no announcement of the tourist-visa dates for Hajj 1448. What the sources do give:
- Hajj is expected from 14 to 19/05/2027, pending the moon sighting, according to Canada's travel advice (updated 22/10/2026).
- For Umrah visa holders in 1448, the last entry is 23/03/2027 and the last departure is 07/04/2027, according to the ministry's season calendar (page updated 19/10/2026).
- As an example from this year, Khaleej Times reported on 13/04/2026 that Umrah permits on Nusuk would stop from 18/04/2026 to 31/05/2026, around Hajj 2026.
If you plan to travel between March and June 2027 on a tourist visa, do not book anything you can't change until the Saudi authorities announce the season's rules. Our Umrah calendar for 1448 tracks the dates we have confirmed.
Tourist visa or Umrah visa?
| Tourist visa | Umrah visa through a company | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can use it | Eligible passports, or holders of used US, UK or Schengen visas under the ministry's wording | Most others, including Pakistan-based families |
| Planning | You choose your own flights, hotels and transport | A company arranges the package |
| Season | Not during the Hajj season | Season calendar, with last entry and departure dates |
| Insurance | UK e-visa includes it; ETA and waiver do not | Ask the company what is covered |
There is also a one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa. Gulf News (updated 16/08/2026) reports it was introduced in July, is valid for 365 days, allows 90 days in total, and needs a new Nusuk service package and permit for every visit. See one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa.
For how long you may stay and when you must enter, see Umrah visa validity.
Mistakes to avoid
- Booking a flight inside the Hajj season on a tourist visa without checking the rules first.
- Assuming the insurance is the same on every visa. The UK e-visa includes it; the ETA and electronic visa waiver do not, per GOV.UK.
- Forgetting the 6-month passport rule.
- Looking for Nusuk slots only on the day you want to go. Popular times can fill, so book soon after you land.
- Paying someone who says a Pakistani passport alone gets an instant tourist visa. Read our Umrah scams guide.
Check your government's travel advice
Travel advice for Saudi Arabia is stricter than usual right now. On 27/10/2026 the UK FCDO advised against all travel within 10km of the Yemen border and against all but essential travel to the rest of Saudi Arabia (latest update 21/10/2026), and warned that travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against its advice. The Government of Canada advised avoiding non-essential travel (updated 22/10/2026). The US State Department page did not load for us. A search showed Level 3, "Reconsider travel", with a version dated 12/10/2026, so read the live page: travel.state.gov. Check your own government's advice and your insurance before you book.
How Maqam e Haram helps
If you travel on a tourist visa and book your own flights, we can handle the ground side: hotels close to the Haram, transport, ziyarat, and help with Nusuk and Rawdah bookings, with our team meeting families at Jeddah airport. See our land packages. We don't issue visas and can't promise one. The Saudi authorities decide.
Message us on WhatsApp or call +92 309 9022120.
Questions and answers
Can I perform Umrah on a Saudi tourist visa?
Yes, outside the Hajj season. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah says holders of all visa types may perform Umrah during their stay. GOV.UK's pages differ on whether the e-visa itself lists Umrah, so check the portal for your visa.
Do I still need a Nusuk permit?
Yes. The visa is for entry. The Umrah permit sets your time at the Haram.
Can I do Hajj on a tourist visa?
No. Canada's advice and GOV.UK both say a separate Hajj visa is needed.
Can I do Umrah during the Hajj season on a tourist visa?
No. Gulf News, quoting the ministry in 2023, reported that tourist visa holders may not perform Umrah in the Hajj season, and the authorities set the dates each year.
How long can I stay?
The UK e-visa and the Canadian tourist visa allow 90 days in total across a year. The UK ETA allows 180 days across 730 days.
Does the tourist visa include insurance?
The UK e-visa includes health insurance up to SAR 100,000. The UK ETA and electronic visa waiver do not.
Can a Pakistani passport holder use a tourist visa?
We found nothing official saying the passport alone is enough. The ministry's announcement mentions holders of used US, UK or Schengen visas. Check the portal for current terms.
Can I book my own hotel on a tourist visa?
Yes. You can book your own hotels or ask a ground partner to do it. Keep every booking confirmation on your phone.
Where do I apply?
Use the official portal, visa.visitsaudi.com, and avoid middlemen. Read the fee and terms there on the day.
Related pages
Sources
The official pages and references we used, with the date we checked them.
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Umrah allowed for those coming with all types of visas (opens in a new tab) (published 07/12/2022, updated 19/10/2026)
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, FAQ (opens in a new tab) (prayer without a permit; tawaf on the first floor; no changing or cancelling after the permit time starts; vaccinations registered in Tawakkalna)
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Umrah season calendar for 1448 AH (opens in a new tab) (updated 19/10/2026)
- GOV.UK, Saudi Arabia entry requirements (opens in a new tab) (e-visa, ETA, electronic visa waiver; Hajj flight limits; six months' passport validity)
- GOV.UK, Saudi Arabia: Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage (opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK, Saudi Arabia travel advice (opens in a new tab) (latest update 21/10/2026; still current 27/10/2026)
- Government of Canada, Saudi Arabia travel advice (opens in a new tab) (updated 22/10/2026; tourist visa online or on arrival; Umrah on any visa; Hajj expected 14 to 19/05/2027)
- Gulf News, tourist visa holders not allowed to perform Hajj or Umrah in the Hajj season (opens in a new tab) (updated 15/05/2023)
- Khaleej Times, Hajj 2026 season rules and Umrah permit pause (opens in a new tab) (13/04/2026)
- Gulf News, 365-day multiple-entry Umrah visa and Nusuk booking rules (opens in a new tab) (updated 16/08/2026)
- Visit Saudi eVisa portal (opens in a new tab)
- US State Department, Saudi Arabia travel advisory (opens in a new tab)