Umrah Visa from the UK: Nusuk & the Saudi eVisa Explained

The two routes, in plain terms

UK pilgrims generally reach Umrah through one of two routes. The first is the Saudi tourist eVisa — an online visa that also permits Umrah — which suits most independent travellers. The second is the Nusuk platform, the Saudi Ministry's official app and website for planning Umrah, booking permits, and arranging services such as a visit to the Rawdah in the Prophet's Mosque.

In practice the two work together: many pilgrims enter on a tourist eVisa and then use the Nusuk app to book the permits and appointments they need once their trip is planned. If you book a package, your agency normally handles or guides this step for you.

Are you eligible? (British passport holders)

Citizens of the UK are generally eligible to apply for the Saudi tourist eVisa online, which permits Umrah — there is usually no need to visit an embassy in person. If you hold a non-UK passport but live in the UK, your eligibility and the route open to you may differ, so check the official guidance for your nationality.

• A passport valid well beyond your planned travel dates
• A recent digital passport-style photograph
• A payment card for the online fee
• Accommodation and return-travel details for your trip

Step by step: the tourist eVisa route

• Start on the official Saudi eVisa portal or the Nusuk platform — not a lookalike site
• Create an account and complete the application with your passport details
• Upload your photo and any documents requested
• Pay the fee online (this commonly includes a mandatory travel-insurance element)
• Receive your eVisa by email, usually as a PDF to carry with you
• Use the Nusuk app to book your Umrah permit and any appointments once your dates are set

What you'll typically pay for

Rather than quote figures that go out of date, here is what the cost is usually made up of: the visa fee itself, a mandatory travel-insurance component that is often bundled into the online payment, and — if you apply through an agent rather than yourself — a service fee. The exact amounts are set by the Saudi authorities and change periodically, so confirm the current fee on the official portal before you apply.

How long it takes

Many applicants receive approval quickly — often within a few days, and sometimes much faster — but it can occasionally take longer, particularly in the busy weeks around Ramadan. Treat speed as a bonus, not a guarantee: apply in good time rather than close to departure, and avoid booking non-refundable flights on the assumption of instant approval.

What an agency does vs. what you do yourself

• Do it yourself: you apply for the eVisa, book your own flights and hotels, and arrange permits through Nusuk — most control, and you compare and pay for each part separately.
• Through an agency: the agency coordinates the visa alongside flights, hotels, transfers and (often) a guide on one ATOL-protected booking — less admin, and a single point of contact if something changes.
• Either way the underlying permission is the same; the difference is how much of the arranging you take on.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leaving the application until the last minute
• A passport with too little validity remaining
• Applying on an unofficial, lookalike website
• Assuming approval is always instant and booking around it
• Overlooking health or vaccination requirements in force at the time of travel

Always check the official source

Visa eligibility, fees, processing times and health requirements are set by the Saudi authorities and change periodically. Before you rely on anything here, confirm the current requirements on the official Nusuk platform (nusuk.sa) and the UK government's foreign travel advice for Saudi Arabia (gov.uk). This guide is general information for planning, not immigration advice.

Common questions