Can you go to Umrah after Ramadan?

RamadanPhoto byYosef FutsumonUnsplash

Umrah is the Sunnah that is of great significance for Muslims. Even though it is a non-obligatory Ibadah, Muslims perform it if they are physically and financially capable. Moreover, if you are visiting the Holy Kaabah, you must perform Umrah and ask for the blessings of the Almighty. Also, you can perform at any time of the year except during the Hajj days, but many people like to perform it during the holy month of Ramadan. This is because of the extended rewards. 

However, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has imposed some rules in certain cases where you cannot get an Umrah visa. Some days after Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, you might not get an Umrah visa. Also, if you want Ramadan Umrah packages from the UK, you must wait until the mandatory Hajj is completed. 

Here is a comprehensive guide on whether you can go to Umrah after Ramadan and the visa requirements.

Visa Rules for Umrah after Ramadan

Millions of people from all over the world visit the holy Kaabah during Ramadan. This is because everyone wants to benefit from the additional blessings. Umrah during the holy month has exceptional rewards and is equivalent to the mandatory Hajj. But only some get a chance to perform Umrah during Ramadan. Others must wait for another suitable time, especially if they want cheap Umrah packages. 

Moreover, people visiting the country on an Umrah visa during Ramadan must leave as soon as Ramadan ends. Also, only some are issued an Umrah visa after Ramadan. Citizens who don’t have permanent residency in certain areas of the country will not get an Umrah visa. Only GCC Nationals with permanent residency or work visas and Saudi nationals can perform Umrah after Ramadan. 

Umrah visas close after the 14^th of Ramadan and reopen after the Hajj. Therefore, if you don't get a chance to perform an Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan, you will have to wait until after the Hajj. Contact a reliable Islamic travel agency for more information about visa-issuing dates. Usually, most travel agencies start taking applications for Umrah visas one month after the Hajj. 

Umrah Visa Exceptions

All foreign pilgrims must have an Umrah or tourist visa to perform Umrah, except in some countries. If you are a citizen or a permanent resident of any of the following countries, you will not need a visa to visit Saudi Arabia and perform an Umrah.

• Qatar
• Bahrain
• Oman
• Kuwait

Moreover, the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced in 2022 that anyone who is a USA, UK, or Schengen visa holder doesn’t require an Umrah visa to visit the country and perform Umrah. So, you can contact an Islamic travel agency for cheap Umrah packages and get more information and details. 

Can You Perform Umrah after Ramadan on Tourist Visa?

Many Muslims who didn’t get a chance to perform Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan might yearn to travel to the holy Kaabah. One way of performing Umrah after Ramadan is to get a tourist visa. There are no limitations on tourist visas, and you can indulge in all kinds of religious, entertaining, and other activities in the country. The only exception with a tourist visa is that you cannot perform the mandatory pilgrimage, the Hajj, with it. 

Therefore, you can get a tourist visa to perform Umrah after Ramadan. No doubt accommodations and flight fares are much cheaper between Eid-ul-Fitr and Hajj seasons. This is because of the obvious restrictions by the government of Saudi Arabia. It is the perfect time for you if you want to perform Umrah on a budget. You can also check with your Umrah travel agency from the UK to check if you can get good deals during this time. 

Can you Extend Umrah Visa during Ramadan?

If you are visiting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on an Umrah visa from UK during Ramadan, you won't be allowed to extend your visit at any cost. Therefore, you must leave on the last day of Ramadan, even if you have been in the country for only a week. Muslims on an Umrah visa are not allowed to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in the Kingdom and must leave within Ramadan. 

Even though the Umrah visa is valid for 30 days, you must stay within Ramadan. Therefore, you must reach the country at the start of Ramadan, perform Umrah within 2 weeks, and leave in the last days of Ramadan. 

Final Words

Muslims everywhere yearn to perform Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan, but not everyone is as lucky to get a visa. This leads to the question of whether you can go for an Umrah immediately after Ramadan or not. 

Applications for Umrah visas close after the second week of Ramadan and reopen some weeks or a month after the obligatory Hajj. But a tourist visa can help you fulfil your desire to set on the spiritual journey. Moreover, you can also look for cheap Umrah packages after the Hajj.