Dar ul IslamUmrah guide
Umrah visa for UK residents.
Which visa you need depends on your passport, not where you live. British citizens can use Saudi Arabia's eVisa or visa waiver outside Hajj season; other passports usually go through an Umrah visa. Either way you also need a Nusuk permit and a meningitis ACWY certificate.
Updated
The short answer.
If you hold a full British citizen passport, you can perform Umrah outside Hajj season on the Saudi tourist eVisa or the electronic visa waiver; you do not need a special Umrah visa. If you live in the UK on another passport, the route depends on that passport, and most people use an Umrah visa arranged through a licensed provider.
Every route has the same three extras: a passport valid for at least six months from the day you arrive, a meningitis ACWY vaccination given at least 10 days before you land, and an Umrah permit booked in the Nusuk app before you go to Masjid al-Haram. When you book a package with us, we handle the visa and tell you exactly when to book the permit.
Which route fits your passport.
Rules can change at short notice, so check the official Saudi visa platform or ask us before you pay for anything.
| Your passport | Usual route |
|---|---|
| Full British citizen passport | Saudi tourist eVisa, or the electronic visa waiver For Umrah outside Hajj season only. The tourist eVisa cannot be used for Hajj. |
| Other passport, living in the UK | Umrah visa through a licensed provider Some UK residence permit holders can also use the eVisa; it depends on your nationality, so check before booking flights. |
| Travelling for Hajj | Hajj visa through the official Nusuk Hajj route Separate from Umrah; see our Hajj 2027 page. |
Make sure it is valid for at least six months from the day you land in Saudi Arabia, and that the name matches your booking exactly. Renew first if it is close.
You need a certificate for the ACWY vaccine given at least 10 days before arrival. Children from age one need it too. Most UK travel clinics and many pharmacies can do it.
Book with us and we apply for it as part of your package, or use our visa-only service if you have already booked flights and hotels. British citizens can also apply for the eVisa themselves on the official platform.
Once the visa is approved, book your Umrah time slot in the Nusuk app. The visa lets you into the country; the permit is what lets you perform Umrah at Masjid al-Haram.
The mistakes we see most.
We have performed Umrah several times ourselves, and the same three problems come up again and again with pilgrims from the UK.
Booking flights before the visa is sorted. A cheap fare is tempting, but if your passport does not qualify for the eVisa, or Hajj-season rules close the dates, a non-refundable ticket is money lost. Check which route fits your passport first, or book flights, hotels and visa together as a package.
Assuming any Saudi visa works the same. The tourist eVisa is fine for Umrah outside Hajj season, but not for Hajj, and not every passport can get it. Friends' advice often comes from a different passport or a different year.
Leaving the meningitis jab too late. It must be given at least 10 days before you land, and clinics can be booked up before Ramadan and the school holidays. Book it as soon as your dates are fixed.
Hajj season and other rules.
Saudi Arabia usually pauses Umrah for international pilgrims for several weeks around Hajj; for 2027 that is expected from about 24 March to 22 May. See our best time for Umrah guide for the months around it.
Saudi rules now allow women to travel for Umrah without a mahram; many scholars still advise travelling with one, so ask a scholar you trust. Once you have your visa, our step-by-step Umrah guide covers Ihram, Tawaf and Sa'i, and our Umrah packages include the visa in the price.
Questions people ask.
Yes, but not necessarily a special Umrah visa. With a full British citizen passport you can perform Umrah outside Hajj season on the Saudi tourist eVisa or the electronic visa waiver. You still need a Nusuk permit and a meningitis ACWY certificate.
Yes, outside Hajj season, if your passport qualifies for the Saudi tourist eVisa. It cannot be used for Hajj. You still need to book an Umrah permit in the Nusuk app before you go to Masjid al-Haram.
It depends on your nationality. Most people on other passports use an Umrah visa arranged through a licensed provider, and some UK residence permit holders can use the eVisa. Tell us your passport and we will confirm before you book anything.
At least 10 days before you arrive in Saudi Arabia, and you must carry the certificate. A conjugate ACWY vaccine is accepted for five years. Everyone aged one and over needs it.
Yes. Every Umrah package includes the visa, and we also offer a visa-only service if you have already booked your flights and hotels.
The fee depends on the route and is shown on the official platform before you pay; it can change. In our packages it is already included in the per-person price, so there is nothing extra to pay.
Sources.
Checked on 27 October 2026: GOV.UK — Saudi Arabia pilgrimage advice (updated 21 October 2026) and TravelHealthPro — Hajj and Umrah. Saudi rules can change at short notice; we confirm the current rules for your passport before you pay.
Need the visa sorted?
Tell us your passport and travel dates and we'll confirm the right route — with a package, or visa only. We usually reply the same day.
