Umrah is a religious pilgrimage undertaken in Makkah. Many Muslim aspirants from all over the world travel to Saudi Arabia to carry out holy rituals. Unlike Hajj, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year. Therefore, Saudi Arabia witnesses a huge influx of people throughout the year. While many look for cheap Umrah flights before planning their visit, it is equally important to get the legal permit ready to fulfil the holy duty.Â
Which Visas Are Valid for Performing Umrah?
Umrah Visa:
The first valid visa that allows you to perform Umrah is an Umrah Visa. You must always prefer to get an Umrah visa if your plan of visiting Saudi Arabia is solely for Umrah. The Umrah visa holder can stay in Saudi Arabia for two weeks, which can be extended in some cases. With an Umrah via, you can travel all around Saudi Arabia and visit all the holy places. However, that was not the case some years ago. The Umrah visa holders were only allowed to visit Makkah, Medina, and Jeddah- the prime locations where Muslims can perform holy rituals. Today, it has become very easy to get an Umrah Visa. Whether you consult a reputed travel agency for making the arrangements for you, or you apply on your own through the online system. The E-Umrah system has made it very convenient to apply for Umrah from home.
Travel Visa:
Luckily, you do not only require an Umrah visa to perform Umrah, but you can also do it with a travel visa. Yes, you heard it right. The United Kingdom has allowed its tourists to perform Umrah in a decision in 2019. However, it has few basic conditions. Generally, a tourist visa holder has the right to stay in Saudi Arabia for three months, which can be extended. So, a person holding a tourist visa can perform Umrah in the meantime. So, if you want to perform Umrah and travel to Saudi Arabia, you have got a golden chance to do them both in one go. Again, you can apply for a Travel visa through the E-vis system or ask a travel agency to arrange the trip for you.
E-Visa:
The government of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched an electronic system to offer ease and cater to millions of foreign aspirants online. It offers foreigners to request Visa, be it Umrah or a Travel visa. As a result, the foreign citizens are able to create an application for a visa sitting at their homes, and the authorities check the application to accept or reject their request. It does not take too long to process one visa, as it is very efficient. It will take a maximum of five days to review and process the application. The online visa system allows the Saudi diplomatic missions abroad to issue the visa. The application process for E-visa is very simple, especially for a travel visa. There are a few documents required at the time of application to make strengthen your case. For a travel visa, you will need a National Identity card, photo, departure ticket, bank statement, travel authorization, and proof of lodging.Â
The Procedure of Online Application for Umrah Visa:
First of all, make sure you have a valid passport to create your application. It must have at least six months left for expiration at the time of application. The process of the online application asks you to complete the following requirements.
- Complete the online application
- Submit an application fee
- Submit coloured, passport-sized photos with a white background.
- A valid email address where you will receive the granted visa.
- A valid certificate of Meningitis issued not less than ten days of entering the country and must not be more than three years.
- Proof of being a Muslim if the name of Muslim is non-Islamic.
- A non-refundable return ticket.
In a nutshell, you can perform Umrah on both Umrah and a travel visa. You can apply for a visa through the e-visa system or through a verified travel agency.