A lot of Muslim pilgrims from across the globe arrive in Makkah every year travelling through their cheap Umrah packages. They gather in Masjid-al-Haram and offer the holy rituals individually. Yet, travelling or umrah requires a pilgrim to fulfil all the obligations of international travel i.e. obtaining an umrah visa.
Umrah visas are of different types i.e. a specific Umrah visa as well as an Umrah permit for tourist, family or work visa to the kingdom. However, the general requirements for each visa type are the same.
Here’s what you need to know about applying for an Umrah visa from the UK.
1. Check Eligibility:
Before applying for an Umrah visa, every pilgrim must ensure that he/she meets the eligibility criteria for obtaining an Umrah visa. The criteria for every pilgrim differs based on the travel region as well as nationality i.e. as set by the Saudi authorities. Yet, the common requirements for obtaining an umrah visa include;
- Having a valid passport.
- Being in good health and mind.
- Having the financial means to undertake the pilgrimage.
- Not having any political or travel restrictions imposed for pilgrimage travel.
2. Contact an Approved Umrah Travel Agent:
Secondly, you need to identify and reach out to a credible travel agent in the UK from your locality to further know about the legalities and technicalities involved with Umrah travel.
As a general rule of thumb, only certified travel agents from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah can apply for and obtain an Umrah visa as the ministry doesn’t entertain individual Umrah visa requests submitted by the government itself. Therefore, make sure that the agency you are hiring remains authorized by the Saudi government to process Umrah visa applications. On the other hand, if you want to travel to Umrah yourself, you can obtain an Umrah permit on your work, tourist or family visa to the kingdom.
3. Complete the Application Form:
Obtain the Umrah visa application from your travel agency with its latest edition or download it from the official Saudi Arabian consulate website. Read out the form and fill it out carefully and accurately. So that you can provide all required information, and relevant documents while following the specific instructions provided on the visa application form.
4. Submit Required Document:
Submit all the necessary documents for your Umrah visa. Prominently including;
- A passport that has a validity of at least six months (at the time of Umrah visa application submission).
- Two passport-sized photographs that are coloured and on a white background. These photographs must have a frontal view of the applicant as no side views are acceptable officially.
- A complete flight itinerary.
- Proof of prebooked accommodation arrangements in Saudi Arabia for your entire stay period.
- Proof of vaccination (if required).
- A copy of non-refundable return airline tickets confirming your arrival and departure from the kingdom in time.
- Any additional documents specified by the Saudi authorities as per your region of travel.
5. Pay Visa Fees:
Inquire about the specific visa fees associated with your visa type from the travel agency as well as any associated ‘visa processing fee’ charged by the travel agency. Make the necessary payment via a documented medium i.e. online transfer or bank transfer and receive a proper receipt for it.
6. Wait for Visa Approval:
Once you’ve submitted the application form along with the necessary documents, the travel agency will take care of the rest of the things. So that you will get your approved visa. During this time, you need to stay in contact with the agency and receive necessary updates on your application status.
7. Receive Visa and Travel:
Once your Umrah visa application gets approved, your travel agency will provide you with the Umrah visa either through delivery to your doorstep or at their physical office. Review all details on the visa to ensure that your personal information is accurate and without any errors.
8. Follow Umrah Guidelines:
Once you arrive in Saudi Arabia after obtaining your Umrah visa, follow the necessary guidelines as well as regulations set for Umrah pilgrims. Familiarize yourself with local laws and adhere to any health and safety measures imposed specifically on the pilgrims. So that you can have a peaceful and stress-free travel experience.
So that’s how you can apply for an Umrah visa from the UK with your Last 10 Days Ramadan Umrah Packages.