Pakistani pilgrims who travel for Umrah more than once a year just got some of the best travel news in recent memory: Saudi Arabia has officially launched a one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa, cutting out the need to apply fresh before every single trip.
Why This Matters So Much for Pakistan
Pakistan sends more Umrah pilgrims to Saudi Arabia than any other country. Recent data shows Umrah visa arrivals rose 23% to over 1.3 million during a single recent season, with Pakistan topping the list of source countries, ahead of Indonesia and Iraq. For a country with such a large volume of frequent travelers — families, businesspeople, and devout Muslims who visit multiple times a year — this new visa directly addresses one of the biggest recurring hassles: reapplying, repaying, and rewaiting for a new visa before every trip.
What Exactly Changed
| Feature | Old System | New 1-Year Umrah Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Visa validity | Typically tied to a single trip | Full year from issue date |
| Number of entries | One | Multiple |
| Cumulative stay allowed | Per-trip limit | Up to 90 days total per year |
| Reapplication needed each trip? | Yes | No, within validity period |
| Valid during Hajj season? | Separate Hajj visa required | Not valid during Hajj season |
How the New Umrah Visa Works
- Apply once for the one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa through the Nusuk platform or an approved travel provider.
- Book your first trip by purchasing a service package (which typically bundles flights, accommodation, and ground transport) through a Nusuk-approved operator.
- Travel, perform Umrah, and return — your visa remains valid for future trips within the same year.
- Book subsequent trips the same way, ensuring each new package length doesn't exceed your remaining allowed days for that year.
- Track your cumulative stay across all trips so you don't exceed the 90-day annual limit.
What It Costs
Available reporting hasn't published a single confirmed government visa fee separate from travel packages. Pakistani travel agencies are currently quoting bundled Umrah packages — which include the visa along with accommodation and transport — starting at approximately PKR 105,000, though this figure varies significantly by travel agency, season, and package inclusions.
Who Benefits Most
This visa is particularly valuable for:
- Frequent pilgrims who perform Umrah multiple times per year, including those visiting for religious observance during different months
- Business travelers who combine work trips to Saudi Arabia with Umrah visits
- Families who prefer visiting more than once annually rather than planning one long trip
Final Thoughts
For Pakistan's enormous and highly frequent Umrah-traveling community, this visa update removes one of the most repetitive and frustrating parts of regular travel to the Kingdom. If you or your family visit for Umrah more than once a year, it's worth asking your travel agent about this option specifically the next time you book, rather than defaulting to the standard single-entry process out of habit.
Official source: Saudi Press Agency
