Every Muslim’s dream is to do Umrah. To get the blessing of Umrah, we have to follow different rules and steps. There are two kinds of rules: those based on Islamic law and those written by the government of KSA. The rules of Islam can’t be changed because they are based on what Allah SWT and Prophet Muhammad SAW said. On the other hand, the local government comes up with rules and laws for pilgrims. The KSA Govt. sets the rules for how many groups work. These groups help travelers in different ways, like by offering 10 Nights 3 Star Ramadan Umrah Package 2023 for the year 2023.
Eligibility in Eye of Islam:
Umrah is a religious obligation that is not required by Islamic law. Umrah can be done by any Muslim who has enough money.
Female Pilgrim:
Women can only do Umrah with their Marhram (Husband, Father, or Brother) until they are over 45 years old.
Eligibility Criteria by Govt. of KSA:
The Saudi government has made a plan for the Umrah process, which it sometimes changes. Here are some of the most important ones:
Visas:
Pilgrims must have an Umrah visa in order to fulfil this duty. Without this visa, KSA will not let anyone into the holy city. You can apply for a visa online or by filling out a paper application form. For a visa, a pilgrim needs two passport-sized photos and a passport that is valid for at least six months.
Umrah visas can be requested by anyone over the age of 18.
Hiring Authorized Organizers:
In KSA, you can only work with registered organizers to set up all of the Umrah steps. So, when we apply, we must first find an official organizer. The Government of KSA made the Tawakkalna and Eatmarna apps so that organizers and real permits could be checked.
Health of Pilgrim:
The government of Saudi Arabia makes sure that people who want to go on the Umrah must be in good health so that there won’t be a disease outbreak. For the Umrah visa, you must show proof that you have been vaccinated against diseases like Yellow Fever, Meningococcal Meningitis, Poliomyelitis, and Seasonal Influenza. Umrah visas can only be given to people who have had all of their shots. To know what the rules and regulations are right now about Covid-19 the Saudi government keeps its website, https://www.saudia.com, up-to-date so that pilgrims can use it with ease.
People who want to do Umrah must book a room in an official hotel in Makah before they go. You don’t have to stay at Medina Hotel. Umrah organizers help pilgrims find a place to stay and sign up for their trip before they leave.
Flight Itinerary:
It is clear from KSA’s rules that your flight itinerary must be finalized before you leave. Some airlines are allowed to take pilgrims from one place to another. To get an Umrah visa, we have to give full flight information from departure to return.
All of the above rules and regulations are needed to make sure that people can legally enter Makah and Medina.
If you don’t get a legal permit or use illegal documents to travel, you could be sent home right away, jailed, fined, or even banned from going to KSA again.
Can I Perform Umrah on Visit Visa?
Umrah is something that tens of millions of Muslims do every year. Pilgrims keep coming to the kingdom for the holy rituals of minor pilgrimage through December Umrah Package 2023. They come from all over the world because the umrah season lasts all year. But this rule doesn’t apply to the days of hajj.
Requirements for obtaining a Tourist/Visit Visa
Umrah travel is just like any other international trip, since the pilgrim has to go to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, for religious ceremonies. So, to travel for umrah, you must also meet all the requirements for international travel.
To get a tourist visa to the kingdom, the applicant needs to bring the following documents;
1. People who want tourist visas must be at least 18 years old, unless they are with a legal guardian.
2. A visa application form that is completely filled out and has all of the necessary documents attached to it.
3. You need to show proof that you have a job and a bank statement.
4. A passport that has at least six months left on it (at the time of application submission).
5. The fee for a Tourist Visa is 300 SAR, and the cost of insurance is 140 SAR.
6. The person who wants to apply must buy health insurance from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
7. You have to send in information about a round-trip ticket and your travel plans.
8. The applicant must show proof of a place to stay, such as a hotel, home, etc., for the whole time they are in the country.
9. The visa is good for 365 days (only one year), and each visit can last no longer than 90 days.
Is it okay to make umrah with a tourist visa?
In the past, pilgrims who wanted to do umrah or hajj had to get special Umrah/Hajj visas to enter the kingdom. But recently, the policies were changed as part of a plan called “Saudi Vision 2030.” According to the new rules, Muslims can perform umrah on their visit visa to the kingdom. This means that they don’t need to get a separate umrah visa.
You can get a visit visa to the kingdom both when you get to the kingdom and through e-services.
But people who aren’t Muslims can’t go into the cities of Makkah and Madinah. The only reason they have a tourist visa is to travel.
So, Muslims from all over the world can now not only visit the kingdom on a visit visa, but they can also do the holy rituals of umrah on it.