Tourist visa holders can now perform Umrah
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia government has given permission to travelers visiting the Kingdom on tourist visa to perform Umrah during their stay in the country, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced.
Recently, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry for Hajj and Umrah has announced that Umrah pilgrims traveling to Kingdom this year will not require mandatory COVID vaccination.
According to local media, citizens of 49 countries who can apply for a tourist visa online will benefit from the service. The ministry said that those eligible for e-visas can also obtain a tourist visa upon their arrival at airports in the Kingdom.
The system allows people to obtain a tourist visa, valid for a period of 12 months, upon arrival at one of the Saudi airports without the need for prior application, and the visa holders will be allowed to visit the cities and regions all over the Kingdom. The visa applicants shall be from those countries that are included among the countries eligible for obtaining the electronic visa. Regarding those who are holders of American, UK and Schengen visas, their visas shall be valid, and bears an entry stamp from the issuing country.
According to the Saudi authorities, even unvaccinated people will be allowed to offer prayers at Khana-e-Kaaba and Masjid-e-Nabvi (SAW).
The only condition to attend the prayers at the holy mosques according to the ministry of Hajj and Umrah is that the unvaccinated person should not be suffering from COVID nor should have come in contact with a person suffering from the infection.
According to a previous travel advisory for Umrah pilgrims, the Saudi authorities lifted the restriction of a PCR test and approved a list of eight vaccines for those travelling for Umrah.
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