Revised Umrah Visa Policy 2025: What Pakistani Pilgrims Need to Know

Umrah is a short pilgrimage to the Holy city of Makkah. Muslims from all over the world visit Makkah to perform Umrah. Unlike Hajj, it is not an obligatory pilgrimage and is performed in the city of Makkah. However, now in 2025, Saudi Arabia has implemented significant changes in Umrah visa policy for Pakistani pilgrims. The aim of these changes is to enhance the pilgrimage experience by ensuring better organization, safety and service quality.

These changes are however, directly related to the Umrah agencies and the Umrah accommodation 2025 services that they provide.

The Saudi Ministry has made these changes to ensure security and to prevent frauds.

What does Saudi Arabia Umrah visa changes include?

1. Accommodation:

Now the travel agencies and the pilgrims are required to submit confirmed documentation that includes hotel bookings, flights and transportation through a special platform known as the Nusuk Masar platform.

This practice is a part of a greater national strategy known as “Saudi Vision 2030”.

The aim of this initiative is to improve the quality and the safety of the Umrah pilgrimage. In this way standards will be raised in the religious sectors.

The hotels that are licensed and approved by the Ministry of Saudi Arabia are allowed in Umrah packages. It is mandatory that all the agencies and operators update verified hotel details.

What happens if someone doesn’t follow the Umrah travel guide 2025 rules?

For successful visa processing, it is necessary to follow the latest Umrah visa policy. Moreover, any violation of the updated Umrah visa, such as not booking through the approved platforms may cause visa delays, visa cancellation or denial of entry. Moreover, it can cause heavy fines and penalties by the authorities. You can also be deported if already in the country. The traveler can be blacklisted for future visits. Therefore, it is recommended to follow the policy.

2. Comprehensive Travel Package requirement:

Now visa-only applications are not excepted, which means the pilgrims will not be able to apply for Umrah visa only. The ministry of Saudi Arabia has made it compulsory that the pilgrims must apply for visa along with a complete Umrah package. Only Umrah visa will not be entertained.

Moreover, only visas will not be available at any agency, unless it includes the flights, hotels and ground transportation approved by Nusuk. Applications that do not include any of these components will be rejected.

Therefore, for Umrah visa approval all the details must he recorded with the visa application. This change aims to improve coordination and reduce the scams associated with the Umrah packages that are offered to the travelers. That is why Shamco travels has the best Umrah group packages 2025 for you that follows the latest updates and makes sure you have a wonderful Umrah.

3. Complete information regarding hotel stay:

With the visa application, you must provide the proof of hotel bookings along with the check-in and check-out dates. The dates must be specified so that the pilgrims avoid the practice of staying for a few days in hotel and rest of the days somewhere else, either someone’s house or some other hotel.

Partial stays are no more allowed and the dates provided of the stays in Madinah and Makkah are then matched with the flight dates. After the verification of all the dates along with departure and arrival, the visa will be granted. In case of irregularity the visa will be delayed or declined.

Can I book any hotel of my choice?

It is to be noted that not all hotels fall under the Saudi Ministry’s system. It is a strict rule that all the agents are required to book accommodations solely with the hotels that are approved by the Ministry. The Nusuk Masar platform has updated the list of the licensed properties in Makkah and Madinah so that the agents provide the listed accommodations to their clients and also the pilgrims know that the agency is giving them the right package according to the updated policies.

4. Transport Services:

According the the Umrah transport services 2025, it is necessary to confirm transport booking for visa confirmation. The applications that does not include the airport and intercity transportation will not be accepted. The travel agents ought to incorporate the transportation services in their Umrah packages to meet the requirements of the authorities. This new law ensures safety, eliminates congestion and facilities the orderly movement of pilgrims.

Group Travel:

Travelling individually is no more permitted. Couples can travel through group or private Umrah packages. Its more secure and hassle-free to travel as a part of groups organized by well-known Umrah service providers. This enhances management, streamlines coordination among agents and customers.

It is important to stay in the same hotel and travel in the same vehicle that is specified by the agency. It is prohibited to use any other transportation and change the place of stay and doing this can cause penalties for the company.

As per the latest news, visa fees is determined keeping into consideration the vehicle type and the total number of passengers included. This practice is done to manage traffic flow during Umrah season.

Apart from all the above points, these are a few more things that need to be considered while applying for visa:

• Children accompanying the group must have a bed along with reserved seats in transportation.
• Confirmed tickets are required for smooth visa processing.
• The bookings and transportation must be final as no changes are allowed after the issuance of visa and approval of package. It includes shifting hotels, transportation, travel dates or any other element related to the package.
• The Umrah visa is valid for 90 days from the date of entry into Saudi Arabia.
• As mentioned above, this changes are a part of a structure known as Saudi Vision 2030, its purpose is the betterment of service quality and safety of the pilgrims.

What is the role of Shamco travels in fulfilling this law?

Shamco is a trusted and reliable company that stays in harmony with the latest regulations and Umrah services to meet the requirements of the Ministry. We ensure high quality services to the customers and avoid non-compliance with the policy.

What essential information B2B travel agents need to have regarding Nusuk Masar?

Registered Hotels

As per the new Saudi rules starting from June 10,2025 makes it necessary for the travel agents and the international pilgrims to pre-book the accommodation through Nusuk Masar platform prior to obtaining the Umrah visa.

Flights and transportation

For visa confirmation, it is important to include complete details of ground transportation in the Umrah Package. This is because the pilgrims are not left without support on reaching Madinah or Jaddah. Moreover, complete information regarding airport pickups, travel within city, routes etc must be given in the application in order to get it approved. These are those important components that their absence will cause denial in visa issuance.

Importance of this rule:

This rule is important because it has enhanced the travel experience of the pilgrims and has decreased frauds and scams as unverified agents did not have proper knowledge and the people ended up with low quality hotel accommodations, cancellation and rejections at last minute and bad transportation. Therefore, this rule has been implemented to avoid such issues.

Nusuk Masar:

Nusuk Masar is Saudi Arabia’s digital platform overseen by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. It is designed to manage all the affairs related to Umrah pilgrimage. It helps the agents and pilgrims to handle visa applications, accommodations, booking, transportation and other essentials. Nusuk Masar aims to enhance the overall pilgrimage experience.

As the Umrah season commences, its the time for action. The travel agents should make early preparations and understand the requirements of the authorities and design the packages accordingly. Through partnership with reliable platforms like Shamco you can achieve smooth secure and spiritually enticing journey.