Choosing your visa
Umrah visa from the UK: can British citizens do Umrah on a tourist visa?
In short
Yes. British citizens can perform Umrah on the Saudi tourist eVisa, or on the Electronic Travel Authorisation open to UK citizens since July 2026, outside the seasonal closure and with a Nusuk permit. Non-British UK residents may qualify through permanent residence, though the Saudi wording does not define it. The meningitis vaccine is required, and the UK government warns about Umrah fraud.
Private service, not affiliated with the Saudi authorities.
British citizens: two simple routes
The United Kingdom is on the Saudi tourist eVisa list. Since 1 July 2026, UK citizens can also apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation, known as the ETA. Both allow Umrah outside the seasonal closure period, once you have booked a permit in Nusuk.
| Option | Who | Validity and stay | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist eVisa | British citizens and other eligible nationalities | Single entry: 90 days. Multiple entry: 1 year, up to 90 days per stay | KSA Visa platform or visa.visitsaudi.com |
| Electronic Travel Authorisation | UK citizens only | 730 days, multiple visits, up to 180 days of stay | KSA Visa platform |
| Electronic visa waiver | Listed by GOV.UK for British nationals | One entry, up to 180 days | visa.mofa.gov.sa, at least 48 hours before the flight |
| Umrah visa | Any nationality | 90-day stay, no extension | Nusuk or an authorised agent, with a package |
Official processing time is one minute to three working days for the eVisa, and one to three working days for the ETA. The eVisa fees are $80 (refundable), plus $10.5 in digital service fees and $10.5 for the digital insurance service (non-refundable); the insurance premium depends on the insurer chosen. GOV.UK notes that the eVisa includes health insurance, while the ETA and the visa waiver do not: see our guide to Umrah travel insurance.
Our guide to Umrah on the tourist eVisa explains what the visa allows and what it does not.
UK residents without a British passport
If your passport is on the eVisa list, for example a French or Turkish one, nationality is enough. If it is not, the Saudi platform opens the eVisa to permanent residents of the United Kingdom, and to holders of a UK, US or Schengen visit visa.
GOV.UK describes indefinite leave to remain as the way to settle in the UK, giving the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their families may hold settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme instead. These are the statuses closest to permanent residence.
Time-limited permission, such as a work, study or family visa, is not permanent residence. It is not a visit visa either. In that case, look for another route, such as a US or Schengen visa already used, or apply for the Umrah visa. Our guide to the eVisa through residence sets out each route.
The Nusuk permit and the seasonal closure
Whatever your visa, you book an Umrah permit in the Nusuk app before going to the Haram, for a set date and time. Only one permit can be active at a time. Our guide to booking the Nusuk permit walks through each screen.
Each year, Makkah closes to most visitors for a few weeks during the seasonal closure period, and permits stop being issued. Your eVisa or ETA stays valid but does not let you enter Makkah then.
Vaccines and health
GOV.UK and TravelHealthPro state that Umrah pilgrims must hold a valid certificate of vaccination against meningitis (ACWY), received at least 10 days before arrival. A conjugate vaccine is valid for five years. TravelHealthPro notes that the polysaccharide vaccine is no longer available in the UK, and that a certificate without the vaccine type counts for three years only.
Ask your GP or a travel clinic early, as the certificate must show the vaccine name and date. GOV.UK also warns about extreme heat in summer and advises bringing enough medication for the whole trip, in case your return is delayed.
Fraud and ATOL protection
ATOL, run by the Civil Aviation Authority, is financial protection for package trips that include a flight. If the company fails, it can help you stay in your accommodation or get home. You should receive an ATOL certificate when you pay. ATOL is not travel insurance, and a flight bought on its own with an e-ticket is not covered.
Victims can report to their local police, the City of London Police fraud desk or Action Fraud. Our guide to Umrah scams and licensed agencies covers the warning signs.
Your checklist
Pick your route
eVisa or ETA with a British passport; for other UK residents, check nationality first, then residence.
Check your passport
Valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date.
Avoid the seasonal closure
Check the official dates before booking non-changeable tickets.
Get the meningitis vaccine
At least 10 days before arrival, with a certificate naming the vaccine.
Book safely
ATOL-protected package or your own bookings; written confirmation either way.
Book the Nusuk permit
Once you have your visa number.
What myumrahvisa does for you
We enter the tourist eVisa application on the official portal for individual travellers and agencies. You send the passports, we review each file and hand you the visas. UK residents who qualify through residence send the document that proves it, and a member of our team checks it first.
If a traveller has no open route, we say so plainly and nothing is charged. You then book the Nusuk permit yourself with the visa number.
Frequently asked questions
Can British citizens do Umrah on a tourist visa?
Yes. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that Umrah is permitted on the tourist eVisa, and its page on the Electronic Travel Authorisation says Muslim visitors may perform Umrah outside the seasonal closure with the required permit.
Do I need a special Umrah visa from the UK?
Not if you hold a British passport. The Umrah visa through Nusuk or an authorised agent remains an option, for example if you want a package, but it is not required.
What is the Saudi ETA for UK citizens?
An electronic authorisation for UK citizens, valid for 730 days with multiple visits and up to 180 days of stay. Each person applies separately, children included. It cannot be used for work, it cannot be obtained on arrival, and like every visa it does not open Makkah during the seasonal closure.
I live in the UK with indefinite leave to remain. Can I get the eVisa?
Possibly. The Saudi rule covers permanent residents of the UK, and indefinite leave to remain is how you settle in the UK. The Saudi wording does not define permanent residence, though, so the portal decides when you apply.
Is ATOL protection required for Umrah?
ATOL applies to package trips that include a flight. The UK government advises making sure your agent or operator is ATOL protected when booking Umrah, and you should receive an ATOL certificate.
Where do I report Umrah fraud?
GOV.UK lists your local police, the City of London Police fraud desk and Action Fraud.
Sources
Rules change: these are the sources this guide relies on, with the date we consulted them.
- Electronic Travel Authorisation for UK citizens: validity, stay, Umrah
- Tourist visa: eligibility, durations, Umrah permitted
- Saudi Arabia travel advice: entry requirements
- Saudi Arabia travel advice: pilgrimage, fraud and ATOL
- Indefinite leave to remain, also called settlement
- UK eVisas: digital proof of immigration status
- What ATOL protection means
- Health advice for Umrah pilgrims and the meningococcal vaccine
- Umrah visa and permits: practical rules
- Electronic Travel Authorisation launched for UK citizens