Saudi Arabia to issue e-visa for Umrah in less than 24 hours

MAKKAH: Saudi authorities are issuing electronic visa (e-visa) to people willing to perform Umrah.

According to Saudi Gazette, the ministry of Haj and Umrah has established a special platform for issuing Umrah visas electronically.

Quoting Abdulaziz Wazzan, the ministry’s undersecretary for the affairs of the Umrah, the English newspaper reported that around 10 million Umrah visas would be issued in the new season. He said e-visas for Umrah visits began on Saturday.

“People coming for Umrah will not have to go to Saudi embassies or consulates as they can have their visas issued electronically in less than 24 hours,” the paper said.

Wazzan said the new portal is named “the central platform for the electronic issuance of the Umrah visas” and added that the new system will be used extensively during the upcoming Umrah season.