Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended the issuance of visas for citizens of 14 countries, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, according to media reports. The suspension, which takes effect from 13th of April and will last until mid-June, applies to Umrah, Business, and Family Visit visas.
The move aims to prevent unauthorized participation in the Hajj pilgrimage. Reports indicate that many foreign nationals have used Umrah or family visit visas to enter the country and then overstayed illegally to join the Hajj without official permits.
Under the new restrictions, foreign nationals from the affected countries may apply for Umrah visas only until 13th April After that, no new Umrah visas will be issued until the conclusion of the Hajj.
The 14 countries affected by the visa suspension are: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Yemen, and Morocco.
The Hajj is a major religious pilgrimage and one of the five pillars of Islam. It commemorates key events in Islamic tradition involving Prophet Ibrahim, his son Ismail, Ismail’s mother Hajar, and the Prophet Muhammad, as described in the Quran.
Participation in the Hajj is a religious duty for all Muslims who are physically and financially able. While it is required once in a lifetime, many Muslims with the means perform it more than once.
In 2024, over 1.83 million Muslims took part in the Hajj, including more than 1.6 million international pilgrims and approximately 222,000 Saudi citizens and residents, according to Saudi Hajj authorities.
