By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – According to media reports on Tuesday the Saudi government will refrain from the issuance of Umrah, business, and family visit visas until mid-June 2025, which coincides with the conclusion of Hajj.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has imposed new travel restrictions, suspended the issuance of certain visas to people of 14 countries including India, Bangladesh and Pakistan as per reports.
The media reported that in the past, many visitors entered the country on multiple-entry visas during Hajj season and stayed illegally to perform Hajj, leading to overcrowding and safety risks.
The reason is illegal employment. Travelers using business and family visas reportedly engaged in unauthorized work, violating visa rules and causing labor market disruptions, media reported.
The 14 countries affected by the visa suspension includes Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen.
It is to be noted that the suspension does not impact pilgrims from India who are travelling to Saudi Arabia strictly for Hajj and have secured Hajj visas.
As per the revised rules, the final day to apply for an Umrah visa this year is April 13, 2025. No new Umrah visas will be issued until after Hajj concludes.
Media reported that the suspension is expected to remain in place until around mid-June, coinciding with the end of the Hajj pilgrimage.
The Hajj has witnessed multiple tragedies over the years. During the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage, over 1,000 pilgrims lost their lives after being exposed to severe heat at the Islamic holy sites across Saudi Arabia
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