UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
- Stay: 180 days in total, multiple entries.
- Umrah: Yes, outside the Hajj season.
- Hotel: Book any hotel; no Nusuk Masar requirement.
UK passport holders · 2026–27
Umrah visa from the UK
With a UK passport you don't need a special Umrah visa: the Saudi ETA or the tourist eVisa lets you perform Umrah outside the Hajj season. Here are the official prices and steps.
50 SARSaudi ETA fee
FreeUmrah permit in Nusuk
4 Oct 2026last checked
UK Umrah visa options
The UK government says British citizens can do Umrah outside the Hajj season on three Saudi permissions: the electronic travel authorisation (ETA), the tourist e-visa, or the electronic visa waiver. A separate Hajj visa is needed for Hajj. Every route also needs a free Umrah permit booked in Nusuk.
Tourist eVisa
- Stay: One year, multiple entries; up to 90 days.
- Umrah: Yes, outside the Hajj season.
- Hotel: Book any hotel; no Nusuk Masar requirement.
Electronic visa waiver
- Stay: Single entry, up to 180 days.
- Umrah: Yes, outside the Hajj season (per GOV.UK).
- Hotel: Book any hotel.
Umrah visa (through Nusuk)
- Stay: Up to 90 days. Single-entry, or multiple-entry valid one year (since 20 July 2026).
- Umrah: Yes — this visa is for Umrah only.
- Hotel: Hotel must be booked with a licensed provider and documented on Nusuk Masar before the visa is issued.
Umrah visa price from the UK
| Option | Official fee | Health insurance included |
|---|---|---|
| UK Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) | 50 SAR (about $13) | No |
| Tourist eVisa | 395 SAR (about $105) | Yes |
| Electronic visa waiver | Not published for UK citizens | No |
| Umrah visa (through Nusuk) | Part of the package price | Check the package |
Fees from Visit Saudi's visa page; dollar figures use 3.75 SAR per USD. The official portal shows the final price at payment, prices can change, and fees are non-refundable. Third-party sites often add their own charges.
How long you can stay is worded differently by different governments: Visit Saudi says up to 90 consecutive days per eVisa, the UK and Canadian governments say 90 days in total per year, and the US State Department says no more than 180 days in 12 months. Plan for 90 days and check the dates on your visa.
How to apply for an Umrah visa from the UK
- 1Apply on the official siteETA or eVisa on the Saudi visa platform, or an Umrah visa package on Nusuk Umrah.
- 2Book your hotelOn an ETA or tourist eVisa you can book any hotel. An Umrah visa needs a licensed hotel recorded on Nusuk Masar.
- 3Meningitis ACWY vaccineAt least 10 days before you travel (details below).
- 4Free Umrah permitBook your date and time in the Nusuk app. The Rawdah needs a separate permit.
- 5Avoid the Hajj seasonUmrah on non-Hajj visas pauses before Hajj. See season dates.
Passport, children and women travelling
- Your passport must expire at least 6 months after the date you arrive in Saudi Arabia. You may be refused entry if your passport shows travel to Israel or birth in Israel.
- For UK passport holders, Visit Saudi says travellers under 18 may enter on the eVisa or visa on arrival only with a parent, grandparent or adult sibling over 18.
- Dual nationals: British citizens must carry a valid British passport (or certificate of entitlement) when returning to the UK.
- Women do not need a mahram for Umrah. GOV.UK says female travellers do not have to wear an abaya or cover their hair in public, but men and women must wear loose clothing covering the elbows and below the knees.
Vaccinations and travel insurance
- The UK government says Umrah pilgrims must have a valid certificate of meningitis ACWY vaccination at least 10 days before arrival. A yellow fever certificate is needed only if you come from a country with yellow fever risk.
- The e-visa includes health insurance up to 100,000 SAR; GOV.UK suggests extra travel insurance for costs above that. The ETA and the electronic visa waiver include no health insurance. GOV.UK warns travel insurance can be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice.
The Saudi Ministry of Health requires the meningitis ACWY vaccine for all Umrah travellers but lists the certificate obligation only for travellers from some countries. The UK government and the US CDC both say proof is required from Umrah pilgrims, so get vaccinated and carry the certificate.
What the UK government advises
- Around Hajj, the Saudi authorities have stopped visitors who are not performing Hajj from flying to Jeddah, Madinah and Taif, and a Hajj visa may be needed to board those flights. Other Saudi airports stay open to visitors.
- GOV.UK warns that contagious diseases spread quickly during Hajj and Ramadan, and that summer temperatures can exceed 50°C. Bring enough of your medicines for the whole trip. UK prescriptions are not accepted in Saudi Arabia.
- UK-based organised crime groups target people planning Hajj or Umrah. GOV.UK advises using an ATOL-protected operator for Umrah, paying by credit card, and getting everything in writing. Victims should contact local police, the City of London Police Fraud Desk or Action Fraud.
- Keep your passport safe, carry a photocopy and leave a copy with family. If you lose your passport, an Emergency Travel Document to return to the UK costs £125 and takes time to process.
- Overstaying a Saudi visa can lead to large fines, detention, deportation and a ban on returning.
- The UK has no trip-registration scheme on this page; instead GOV.UK offers email alerts when the Saudi travel advice changes.
Travel-advice levels change often. Check the official page before you book and again before you fly.
Emergency contacts for British pilgrims
- British Consulate General Jeddah: GOV.UK's office page gives +966 (0)12 622 5550 for emergency consular assistance (Sunday to Thursday, 8am to 3pm local time). Public access is by appointment only; online enquiries go through the FCDO contact form.
- FCDO in London, 24 hours: +44 20 7008 5000 (020 7008 5000 from the UK), including for families in the UK when something has happened to a relative abroad. Saudi emergency number: 911 (112 if you have no Saudi SIM card).
- Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the United Kingdom: website gb.saudiembassy.sa. GOV.UK tells travellers to contact it if unsure how entry rules apply.
- Nusuk support (permits and accounts): 920002814 from outside Saudi Arabia, 1966 inside. More in our Nusuk app guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much is an Umrah visa from the UK?
The Saudi ETA costs 50 SAR and the tourist eVisa 395 SAR including medical insurance, according to Visit Saudi. An Umrah visa is sold only as part of a package on Nusuk Umrah. The official site shows the final price at payment.
Can I do Umrah on the Saudi ETA?
Yes, outside the Hajj season. GOV.UK and Visit Saudi list Umrah as a permitted purpose. The ETA does not include health insurance, so buy travel insurance.
What is the Saudi visa waiver for UK citizens?
GOV.UK lists an electronic visa waiver for British citizens: one entry, a stay of up to 180 days, applied for on the Saudi visa platform at least 48 hours before your flight. Visit Saudi's UK section does not list it, and we have not found its fee for UK citizens.
Do I need an ATOL-protected Umrah package?
Only if you buy a package. The UK government advises using an ATOL-protected operator for Umrah. If you travel on an ETA or eVisa and book flights and hotels yourself, you don't need a package at all.
Can under-18s get an Umrah visa from the UK?
Visit Saudi says UK passport holders under 18 may enter on the eVisa or visa on arrival only with a parent, grandparent or adult sibling over 18.
Compare every route side by side on our Umrah visa guide, or check an agent before you pay with the Umrah package checklist. Then find Makkah hotels near the Haram.
We are not a visa agency and do not process applications. We do not give religious rulings.