JEDDAH – Pilgrims from a range of countries can now get their Umrah visa to enter Saudi Arabia upon their arrival, in a major change in visa policy.
The development is a part of the kingdom’s efforts to provide maximum facilities to the Umrah pilgrims amid its various offers aim at promoting tourism.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said the changes in the visa policy will come into effect immediately. Pilgrims arriving from the following countries are eligible to obtain visa-on-arrival;
United States
United Kingdom
European Union countries
Australia
New Zealand
Singapore
Malaysia
South Korea
Japan
Kazakhstan
Brunei
China
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia has increased the Umrah visa duration up to 90 days. Dr Tawfiq Bin Fawzan Al Rabiah, the Saudi minister for Hajj and Umrah, said more sites in Makkah and Madinah will be opened for pilgrims to promote religious tourism in Saudi Arabia.
