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.
Saudi visa for US citizens · 2026–27
Umrah visa from the USA
US citizens don't need a special Umrah visa: the Saudi tourist eVisa or visa on arrival allows Umrah outside the Hajj season. Here is what the official US and Saudi sources say.
395 SARtourist eVisa, insurance included
FreeUmrah permit in Nusuk
4 Oct 2026last checked
Umrah visa for US citizens: your options
The US State Department says US citizens can do Umrah on a tourist e-visa (online before travel or on arrival), an Umrah visa, or a transit/stopover visa, but not during the Hajj season. Hajj needs a Hajj visa and permit from Nusuk. The Saudi eVisa portal lists the United States as an eligible country, and its tourist visa covers Umrah (excluding Hajj).
Visa on arrival
- Stay: Up to 90 days.
- Umrah: Yes, outside the Hajj season.
- 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.
Saudi eVisa price for US citizens
| Option | Official fee | Health insurance included |
|---|---|---|
| Tourist eVisa | 395 SAR (about $105) | Yes |
| Visa on arrival | 395 SAR (about $105) | Yes |
| 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 get an Umrah visa from the USA
- 1Apply on the official siteeVisa portal before you fly, visa-on-arrival kiosk at a Saudi airport, or an Umrah visa package on Nusuk Umrah.
- 2Book your hotelOn a 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
- The State Department says your passport needs 6 months' validity beyond your arrival date and 2 blank pages. Visit Saudi says US citizens are exempt from the 6-month rule and may enter as long as the passport is valid.
- Bring each child's birth certificate or other proof of your relationship. A parent travelling alone with a child should also bring marriage, divorce or custody papers. Visit Saudi says anyone can apply for an eVisa at any age, but under-18s travelling without a guardian must check their home country's rules.
- Women can register for and perform Umrah without a male guardian. The State Department says current law lets non-Saudi women enter and leave Saudi Arabia without restrictions, whatever their marital status.
- Saudi citizens, including US-Saudi dual citizens, must enter and leave Saudi Arabia on a Saudi travel document. Someone who enters on a Saudi 'laissez-passer' cannot leave without a Saudi passport, which can take six months or more.
Vaccinations and travel insurance
- The State Department says the meningococcal quadrivalent (ACWY) vaccine is required for Umrah, and yellow fever vaccine only if arriving from WHO-designated countries. The CDC says Saudi Arabia requires everyone aged 1 and over arriving for Hajj or Umrah to show proof of an ACWY vaccine received in the last 3 to 5 years and at least 10 days before travel.
- The Saudi tourist eVisa includes medical insurance in its price. The State Department adds that most US health plans, and Medicare and Medicaid, do not cover care abroad, and strongly recommends travel insurance.
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 US State Department advises
- As of 15 Sep 2026 the State Department rates Saudi Arabia Level 3, 'Reconsider travel', citing the risk of Iranian drone and missile attacks on American interests, armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans and social-media laws. It says do not travel to the Yemen border.
- Entry into Makkah is restricted from about one month before Hajj; then a Hajj visa and permit are needed to enter the city. Umrah cannot be performed during the Hajj season on any other visa.
- The State Department warns that Hajj and Umrah travellers are often targeted by scammers, including fake visas and permits sold outside Nusuk and fraudulent tour operators. It advises guarding against pickpockets and keeping copies of your passport and Saudi visa pages.
- Summer temperatures in Makkah can easily rise above 105°F (41°C); plan how you will stay hydrated.
- Limited personal photos are generally allowed, but photographing or filming people praying, or anyone without permission, is prohibited and can lead to fines or the device being taken.
- Overstay fines start at 100 SAR (about USD 27) per day, and you may get an exit ban until they are paid, plus possible detention, deportation and a re-entry ban.
- The State Department recommends enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to get security messages from the US embassy and to be reachable in an emergency.
Travel-advice levels change often. Check the official page before you book and again before you fly.
Emergency contacts for American pilgrims
- US Embassy Riyadh: +966-11-835-4000 (also after hours), RiyadhACS@state.gov. US Consulate General Jeddah: +966-12-220-5000 (also after hours), JeddahACS@state.gov. Working hours Sunday to Thursday, 8am to 5pm; ask for American Citizen Services. Saudi emergency number: 911.
- Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C.: website us.saudiembassy.sa. The State Department links it for visa questions.
- Nusuk support (permits and accounts): 920002814 from outside Saudi Arabia, 1966 inside. More in our Nusuk app guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Yes. US citizens can get the Saudi tourist eVisa online before travel or a visa on arrival at a Saudi international airport. Visit Saudi gives the price as 395 SAR (about $105), including medical insurance.
Can US citizens perform Umrah on a tourist visa?
Yes. The State Department says US citizens can do Umrah on a tourist e-visa, an Umrah visa or a transit visa, but not during the Hajj season. You also need a free Umrah permit in the Nusuk app.
How long must my US passport be valid?
The State Department says 6 months beyond your arrival date and 2 blank pages, while Visit Saudi says US citizens are exempt from the 6-month rule. To be safe, travel with at least 6 months' validity and 2 blank pages.
Is there a US travel advisory for Saudi Arabia?
As of 15 September 2026 the State Department rates Saudi Arabia Level 3, "Reconsider travel". Advisory levels change often, so check the official page before you book.
Do I need a meningitis vaccine certificate?
The CDC says Saudi Arabia requires everyone aged 1 and over arriving for Umrah to show proof of a meningococcal ACWY vaccine given at least 10 days before travel. The Saudi Ministry of Health lists the certificate only for some countries, so carry it anyway.
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.