Muslim Canadian citizens must apply for an Umrah Electronic Visa to visit Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage. The Umrah Visa for Saudi Arabia is issued to Muslims who desire to perform the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the five pillars of Islam. Unlike the Hajj, which is compulsory for all non-disabled Muslims at least once in their life, Umrah can be performed at any time of the year.
If you plan to perform Umrah, knowing that you will need an Umrah-specific visa is essential. This type of visa allows for a single entry and must be obtained through the Saudi government. However, the application process can be confusing, so seeking guidance from a trusted source is recommended.
Criteria and Eligibility for Umrah:
- Nationality: Must be a citizen of one of the 63 eligible countries listed below.
- Purpose of Visit: Must be specifically for performing Umrah (excluding Hajj).
- Validity:
- Single Entry Visa: Validity is 90 days, and stay duration is also 90 days.
- Multiple Entry Visa: Validity is 1 year, and stay duration is 90 days
- Passport: Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity from the date of entry into Saudi Arabia.
- Age: Must be at least 18 years old unless accompanied by a guardian.
- Women are not required to have a male guardian (mahram) to accompany them for Umrah
- Timing of Visit: The Visit Visa for Umrah is available for Muslims of all nationalities, except during the Hajj season (15th of Dhul Qa’dah to the 15th of Dhul Hijjah).
- Health: No mandatory vaccinations are required for Umrah visa applicants. However, it’s highly recommended to be vaccinated against meningitis and COVID-19.
- Registration: If you plan on performing Umrah, registration with Nusuk Umrah is mandatory.
- Other Criteria: Meet general visa requirements, such as having sufficient funds for your stay and a confirmed return or onward travel ticket. Not have a history of criminal offenses or immigration violations.
- Note: Travelers are not authorized to undertake the Haj pilgrimage while on this visa.
Still, one of the easiest and most convenient ways to attend Umrah is to apply online with the Saudi Arabia E-Visa. Saudi Arabia E-Visa also allows you to perform Umrah without any constraints or further requirements.
The Saudi Arabia E-Visa is an electronic visa you can obtain online in just a few minutes. A multiple-entry visa enables you to stay in Saudi Arabia for 90 days, with a maximum of 30 days per visit. You can apply for the Saudi Arabia E-Visa from anywhere globally with a valid passport, email address, and credit or debit card.
Benefits of Saudi Arabia E-Visa:
- Quick and convenient: Apply online from anywhere, no need to visit an embassy.
- Multiple-entry: Allows multiple visits to Saudi Arabia within a year.
- Long validity: Valid for one year, giving you flexibility for your Umrah planning.
- Specifically includes Umrah: Approved activity for this visa type.
Important notes:
- Non-Muslims are not allowed to travel to Mecca and Medina, the holy cities for Umrah.
- Women of all ages can travel to Umrah without a mahram (male guardian).
- Minors under 18 must be accompanied by family to obtain a visa.
Need help with your Saudi Arabia E-Visa application? Visas for Future is here to process your application and help you go to Umrah. Plus, we’ll plant a tree to save the earth! Apply now.
What We’re Offering
If you want to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, you can apply for Saudi Arabia E-Visa. Our E-Visa processing service will give you your Saudi Arabia Tourist E-Visa and mandatory health insurance in your mailbox within three days.
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Our visa forms are easy and simple.
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Umrah Visa Requirements for Canadians
To apply for Umrah Visa, you need:
- Valid Canadian passport: A valid passport with at least six months remaining.
- Recent passport-size photos in a plain white background.
- A completed application form.
- Proof of accommodation and flight bookings.
- Proof of financial capability.
- Must present a valid residence permit if the applicant is not a citizen of the country to which they are applying.
- Travel insurance is also required.
- Insurance fees vary depending on the insurance provider you choose.
- Pilgrims must be at least 18 years old, unless they are accompanied by a legal guardian.
- Fees for this visa are as follows:
- $80 as a refundable visa fee.
- 10.5 as a non-refundable visa digital services fee.
- $10.5 as a non-refundable insurance digital services fee.
- Proof of meningitis vaccination: You must have a valid meningitis vaccination certificate, received at least 10 days before your travel date, and no more than three (3) years old.
- For female pilgrims: If you’re a female pilgrim traveling alone, you’ll need a mahram (male guardian) who is a close relative (father, brother, son, or husband) to accompany you. You’ll need to provide proof of your relationship, such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate.
Note: If you plan to perform Umrah, you must register with Nusuk Umrah.
What Are the alternative visas for Umrah?
If you plan to perform Umrah, you can alternatively apply for Saudi Arabia Tourist E-Visa.
Saudi Arabia Tourist E-Visa: As a Canadian national, you can apply online for the Saudi E-Visa, which permits multiple entries into Saudi Arabia for a 90-day stay during one year of validity. Saudi E-Visa is only for tourism-related activities, such as the Umrah pilgrimage, except during the Hajj season.
Umrah Visa vs. Tourist E-Visa
Umrah Visa
- Primarily for performing Umrah, the pilgrimage to Mecca.
- Can be single-entry or multiple-entry depending on the chosen package.
- May involve additional fees due to agency services and specific package features.
- Limited to Umrah activities and specific religious sites.
Tourist E-Visa
- For general tourism, leisure activities, and visiting family and relatives. Umrah is permitted during non-Hajj seasons on this visa.
- Multiple entries within a one-year period, each visit lasting up to 90 days.
- Generally cheaper with standardized visa fees.
- Offers more flexibility for exploring different aspects of Saudi Arabia.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get a Saudi visa from Canada?
You can apply for a Saudi E-Visa from Canada by visiting Visas for Future. Apply with Visas for Future now.
How can I get a Saudi visa for Umrah?
If you want to combine Umrah with general tourism, visiting family, or exploring other parts of Saudi Arabia at a lower cost, you can just apply for a Saudi Tourist E-Visa.
How much is the Saudi Arabia Umrah visa?
An Umrah visa is typically more expensive than a tourist visa, approximately $530 – USD 1,330.
- Saudi eVisa | The Official website for Tourist Visa to Saudi Arabia. (2023). Visa.visitsaudi.com; Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia . https://visa.visitsaudi.com/ [↩] [↩] [↩]
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Written by
Wences Orcales 
Wences has been working home-based for 7 years in the Visa industry. As a content writer in Visas for Future, she makes sure the information she provides is useful for her readers. Once a quarter she does visa fulfillment for Turkey and India visas. She makes sure that clients are satisfied with their orders through customer service. She loves learning new things and hates procrastination.
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Glen Vidania is the Content Manager at Visas for Future, a company that offers online visa services for eco-friendly travelers. He is a certified Content Marketer and an experienced academic writer. He writes and promotes content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to the readers. He had work experience and gained skills in writing articles, data entry, SEO email marketing, and guest posting. He is also an expert in applying for visas for Turkey and India.
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MLA Style
Orcales, Wences. "Saudi Arabia Umrah Visa for Canadians." Visas For Future, https://www.visasforfuture.com/umrah-visa-to-saudi-arabia-from-canada/. Accessed on 6 September 2023.
Chicago Style
Orcales, Wences. "Saudi Arabia Umrah Visa for Canadians." Visas For Future. September 6, 2023. https://www.visasforfuture.com/umrah-visa-to-saudi-arabia-from-canada/.