Guide: How to Apply for an Umrah Visa from the USA

Umrah Visa GuidePhoto byPixabay

Umrah is the minor pilgrimage that practicing Muslims perform. It is not obligatory but has countless rewards and blessings. This requires the pilgrims to travel to the holy sites in Saudi Arabia and perform the necessary rituals of Umrah. All foreign pilgrims require a visa to travel to KSA to perform Hajj or Umrah. Therefore, if you are curious about how to apply for an Umrah visa from the USA, this is the perfect guide for you. 

You can also avail of the Umrah package from the USA if you want to save yourself the hassle. This guide has everything you should know before applying for the Umrah visa. So, keep reading this guide and choose the ideal visa that will suit you as a citizen of the United States and know if you fulfill the requirements to apply for that visa. 

Different Types of Visas of KSA

Saudi Arabia offers two kinds of visas for people looking forward to traveling to the Kingdom to perform Umrah. These two visas are discussed below in detail;

1. Umrah Visa

The Umrah visa is the standard visa that Saudi Arabia offers to people who want to perform an Umrah. This is an exclusive single-entry visa that only Muslims can apply for. It is issued to Muslims only who wish to travel to the region to visit the holy cities and perform pilgrimage at the sacred sites in Mecca. 

2. Saudi Tourist eVisa

Another type of visa that Saudi Arabia issues to Umrah pilgrims is the Saudi tourist eVisa. Non-Muslims can also avail of this visa. This visa allows you to travel to the region to participate in tourism or business activities or visit family or friends. Muslims who avail of this visa can also participate in religious activities like performing an Umrah.

How is the Umrah Visa Different from the Tourist eVisa?

Both of these visas have some differences. Here are some of them;

1. Visa Requirements 

Umrah visas and tourist eVisa have different requirements. Every Muslim, no matter in what part of the world, can apply for an Umrah visa to travel to the Kingdom and perform Umrah. On the other hand, only citizens of 49 countries can apply for the tourist eVisa and perform Umrah. Umrah visas are issued to Muslims only, whereas non-Muslims can apply for a tourist visa but cannot enter Mecca. 

2. Application Process 

One of the major differences between these two visas is the application process. Umrah visa requires visiting your local Saudi embassy or reliable travel agents. It is more in demand and has more frustrating requirements. Therefore, it can be really stressful to apply for an Umrah visa. On the other hand, applying for a tourist eVisa is the most convenient process. You can apply for this visa online. It doesn’t have any extensive requirements either. 

3. Number of Entries

The eVisa is a multiple-entry visa. If you have this visa, you can visit the region multiple times within a year for 90 days. But the Umrah visa is a single-entry visa that allows you to only see the area once to perform Umrah. You can only visit Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah without the Umrah visa. 

4. Additional Benefits

If you have an Umrah visa, you will get additional benefits confined to the Umrah pilgrims. For example, you can take Zamzam water while leaving the Kingdom. You cannot avail of these other benefits if you perform an Umrah on a tourist eVisa. 

How to Apply for an Umrah Visa from the USA? 

If you are a USA citizen, you can avail of both the Umrah visa and the tourist eVisa. You can apply for your Umrah visa through your local Saudi embassy or travel agents. Before applying for the visa, you must ensure that you fulfill all your requirements and have all your documents ready. 

If you want to know about how to apply for an Umrah visa from the USA, you can contact your agents. If you choose the right travel agents to do the job for you, you will have a hassle-free visa application experience. After you have all your documents, you can go to your travel agents, who will handle the job. You will have no distractions on your spiritual journey. This will save you a significant amount of time

Required Documents for USA citizens 

If you are applying for an Umrah visa from the USA, you must have the following documents ready.

• Passport
• Confirmed round-trip plane ticket
• Recent photographs
• Vaccination certificate
• Notarized letter of consent (if necessary)
• Certification of the relationship between the female and male applicants
• Copy of birth certificate
• Copy of hotel room reservation
• Travel Insurance

Conclusion 

If you have availed of Umrah Packages 2024, you will no longer have to worry about the visa. Most of these packages have a visa included. So, you will have to get your necessary documents ready, and you are good to go. But make sure that you know how to apply for an Umrah visa from the USA and the options that you might have. This ensures a hassle-free experience.