Saudi Arabia announces 96-hour stopover visa for Indian Haj pilgrims

Indians who are travelling to the West or the Middle East can apply for a four-day stopover visa, which enables them to visit any Saudi Arabian city or perform the Umrah.

Tawfiq bin Fawzan, the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, said that this initiative is part of the Saudi Vision 2030 to expedite Umrah visits. “Any Saudi Arabian city may be visited and resided in by holders of an Umrah visa for 90 days. 

The Indian Umrah pilgrimage has increased significantly, with over 1.2 million pilgrims expected by 2023, according to the Saudi minister. “Compared to 2022, that represents a 74% increase,” he stated.

Since the Hajj pilgrimage is a significant part of the bilateral relationship between India and Saudi Arabia, the visit will be helpful in setting the course for the Hajj 2024 in an effective and seamless manner.

Steps to book a stopover visa with Saudia

• Choose where you want to arrive and depart from abroad.
• Choose your flights with the most suitable connection time for you, up to a maximum of 96 hours.
• Apply for a stopover visa from the Saudia website’s additional services page if you lack a valid document to enter Saudi Arabia.
• Before beginning to fill out the form, make sure your personal photos are ready on your device and meet the necessary requirements (200 * 200px file size – 20kb).
• Pay the Saudia website’s fees for both the ticket and visa in one go.
• You will receive an email with your issued visa and insurance for the length of your stay in Saudi Arabia after completing the previous steps.