A modest and voluntary journey, Umrah is performed by any Muslim who is eligible to do so and is able to do so financially. The purpose of Umrah is to receive the blessings and favors of Allah Almighty. Prior to travelling to Saudi Arabia, pilgrims who plan to fulfil this religious obligation are required to get an Umrah visa, which is one of the requirements for entering the country. It is necessary for you to have knowledge regarding the Umrah visa, consisting of the requirements, the expenses, and the application process. If you are travelling on a limited budget, you will need to purchase inexpensive Umrah packages. Umrah in December is the best option for the Umrah Pilgrimage. In the month of December Umrah becomes cheaper as compare to the other months of Gregorian calendar.

Understanding of Umrah visa?

The Umrah visa is a legal document that enables Muslims to board planes to the holy Kaabah for the purpose of doing the Umrah, which is a short pilgrimage process. As a result of recent occurrences, the duration of validity for the visa that is required to conduct Umrah has lately been extended from one month to three months.

Individuals who are in possession of an Umrah visa are granted permission to enter Saudi Arabia for a certain period of time in order to perform Umrah rituals. These rituals include visiting the Kaaba, performing Tawaf, and Sa’i, which involves trekking between the Safa and Marwah hills. A person is required to go via an authorized travel agent in order to obtain an Umrah visa.

Evidence of Muslim identification, such as a passport or birth certificate, is necessary, in addition to evidence of the applicant’s ability to perform the task. They have sufficient funds to cover their expenditures while in Saudi Arabia, and Ramadan Umrah packages from the UK are the best alternative for you to consider here. Because Umrah in the month of December are equivalent to the hajj Pilgrimage.

Application for a Visa

It is only possible to arrange visas for Hajj and Umrah through a registered travel agent. Your booking agency will submit your visa application to the Saudi embassy on your behalf, together with the passport and any other documents that are pertinent to the application. The visa will be issued directly by the Saudi embassy.

The visa’s validity period begins on the date of issuance.

• There is a requirement that the paperwork be filled out using black ink and block capital letters.
• It is imperative that the declaration that is located at the bottom of the booking form be thoroughly examined and signed.
• The papers needs to be stamped and signed by a travel agency that is authorised to take passengers.
• The Saudi Consulate in your location is able to provide you with a request for a visa form that can be obtained through the mail.

How can you apply for an Umrah visa?

It is possible to obtain an Umrah visa without having to purchase a package prior to the trip. In most cases, these visas can be obtained through travel firms; nonetheless, it can be difficult for individuals to apply directly to the Saudi Arabian embassy.

The actions that need to be taken…

• Make sure you go through the list of documents that are required.
• Appointments for fingerprinting and other biometric registration should be scheduled.
• Please be sure to obtain and save the certification of your vaccination against meningitis and Umrah.
• Compile all of the necessary documents and hand it over to the travel agent who made the reservation.
• Documents that are necessary for applying through a representative
• Genuine passports that have a validity period that is longer than six months for the application.
• It is possible that you will be required to receive a letter from your local Masjid in order to verify your Muslim identity if you have an Arabic name. This is the case if you are a revert (convert) or if you have a native name.

In the event that you have citizenship from a country that is not the same as the one to which your passport was issued, you are required to possess a residence visa or a long-term visa in that country that is valid for a period of time that is greater than three months.

• A form of identification from the nation in which you intend to submit your application.
• A letter obtained from your employer granting permission.
• To perform the Umrah, you are required to have a certificate and a vaccine.
• The completion of the task need to have taken no less than ten days and no more than three years. This is a vaccination against meningitis.
• The process of obtaining your fingerprints or other biometric information from an authorised body or embassy.
• Single women are not allowed to travel outside of the country unless they reach the age of forty-five or older and travel with an organization that has a letter of consent from a male guardian.
• Documentation of marriage or birth for women (wife, mother, or sister) and children who are travelling with a male Mehram.
• Two photographs that are passport-sized.
• A ticket for a plane.
• Hotel arrangements are available.

Online Umrah visa application:

The Saudi government has devised an electronic tool that enables individuals who wish to perform Umrah to obtain their visa in a period of time that is less than twenty-four hours. Candidates for the Umrah can now submit their applications directly or apply for Ramdan Umrah packages through a reputable travel operator. Umrah applicants come from all over the world.

When candidates have obtained the application reference number, they are able to login in to the online visa portal in order to complete the process of printing their visas. In addition, the duration of validity for the Umrah visa has been extended from one month to three months. In addition, the current structure makes it possible for pilgrims to move freely and quickly across the Kingdom without any constraints.

Furthermore, according to the most recent information provided by the Saudi ministry, it is possible for travellers to obtain an electronic visa for the Umrah programme. Applicants for the Umrah can also seek the assistance of a travel agency that is authorised to provide services in their home countries in order to obtain an Umrah visa.

Rules to follow during Umrah:

In accordance with a policy that was issued by the Saudi ministry, Umrah pilgrims are required to complete their pilgrimage activities within a period of three hours.

• Pilgrims are not permitted to bring any luggage onto the premises of the mosque while they are completing the rituals, and they are forced to depart the grounds of the mosque after their admission permits have expired.

• A significant step forward has been taken by the Saudi authorities, who have lowered the age requirement for Umrah, making it possible for Muslims who are older than 65 years old to take part in the pilgrimage.

• To add insult to injury, female travellers are permitted to enter the Kingdom without the presence of a male guardian.