How to Apply for Visa from the UK to Perform the Pilgrimage?

Umrah is a religious pilgrimage of Muslims performed throughout the year because it is a sunnah ibadah. Though Umrah's performance is undertaken voluntarily by a pilgrim, the rewards it holds are no lesser than that of the obligatory pilgrimage of Hajj. That’s why every year millions of Muslims travel from the UK and across the globe with their Umrah Packages to offer the holy rituals in Makkah, Saudia Arabia.

If you are a UK citizen or have a permanent residence there and wish to perform Umrah, here’s everything you need to know about applying for a visa from the UK to offer the pilgrimage.

Just like any other international travel, traveling for Umrah from the UK also requires a person to fulfill all the requisites of foreign travel. 

1. Apply for an Umrah visa

First of all, you need to apply for an Umrah visa. There are multiple ways of doing that. Such as;

• You can visit the official website of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah at https://www.haj.gov.sa and apply for an e-visa there.

• You can offer Umrah rituals on your tourist visa to the kingdom which is also available on arrival there.

• You can hire the services of a third-party travel agent and leave all the hassle of visa management to the agency.

2. Attach the necessary documents

Once you’ve obtained the Umrah visa application form, fill in all the necessary columns with valid information and details of your travel. This step is crucial because your visa approval/rejection depends upon this. The additional documents required with your Umrah visa application form prominently include;

• Passport with a validity of six months at least at the time of visa application submission.

• Two latest, passport-sized photographs that have a frontal view of the applicant on a white background. No side angles are acceptable.

• Vaccination certificate(s) for all the necessary vaccinations specified for your region of travel.

• Proof of non-refundable and confirmed return airline tickets. 

• A copy of your pre-booked hotel accommodation in the kingdom for your entire stay period.

• Sufficient funds to prove your financial independence in order to sponsor your expenses there.

3. Pay the visa fee

Once the documentation is finalized, it’s time to pay the visa fee. Note that the visa fee for every individual differs on the basis of;

• Type of visa obtained.

• Region of travel.

• Citizenship.

• Season of travel.

So, it’s better to consult the officials beforehand to better know of the visa fee for your travel route. 

Note that the visa fee remains non-refundable even if your visa is rejected. 

4. Track your visa application

After submitting your Umrah visa application, you can easily track the process through the official website with the help of a specified visa number. 

It remains advisable for the applicants to keep a close eye on their Umrah visa processing in order to ensure the timely delivery of the visa and have a hassle-free travel experience.

5. Upon approval

Upon approval of your Umrah visa application, applicants are required to collect the visa from the Saudi embassy and/or consulate present in the United Kingdom. 

One must keep in mind that the Umrah visa is valid for a limited period. Therefore, plan and execute your holy trip accordingly. This is because overstaying your visa would result in penalties and even legal prosecutions there. 

So, for a peaceful Umrah travel experience, double-check your travel requirements before departure and follow all the legal rules and regulations imposed on the pilgrims.

Can I Apply for Umrah Visa Myself from the UK?

Umrah is an act of devotion to God that a Muslim must perform at least once in their lifetime. It is a journey across cities, such as Makkah and Madinah and it can be performed at any time of the year provided that it does not conflict with Ramadan or another religious obligation.

The process usually starts in the home country and ends in Madinah. The duration of the journey varies depending on your budget and the destination city to be visited. Umrah Packages are available for pre-planned Umrah travel with flight, hotel stay, and other Umrah features included in the package price which may vary based on the region or time frame selected by the traveler. You can choose your package according to your specific preferences including location, number of days you want to go for, whether you want to do Hajj along with it or not, etc.

Umrah packages vary depending on how much time someone wants to spend in Makkah, what type of services they want, and where they want to stay. A typical Umrah package might include an optional visit to the Mina area, with a stay in Mina, Madinah, or Jeddah. The cost of an Umrah package varies according to factors like seasonality and the city that was chosen for your stay. On the other hand, the Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims must perform at least once in their lifetime. The Hajj is considered the fifth pillar of Islam and any Muslim who fulfills this requirement is said to be on the straight path toward salvation and a blessed afterlife. The Hajj consists of four pillars: the Tawaf, which involves circumambulating around the Kaaba, stopping for certain prayers at specific locations in Mecca; standing on top of Mount Arafat; performing an additional set of prayers at Muzdalifa (Mount Mina); and throwing stones when an animal has been sacrificed nearby.

What are the Best Inclusive Cheap Umrah Packages? 

Umrah packages are offered by travel and tour operators who have the expertise to get the best value for money. The idea of Umrah packages being all-inclusive is not just paper-hard. However, there is a lot of confusion among Muslims about Umrah packages. If you are searching for an affordable package for your family, then it can be tricky because you will be checking every single individual option in detail. One good tip is to set budget criteria and then search through all the packages available with that budget according to your preference. 

For an Umrah package, you can choose to fly with low-cost airlines, like Meraj Air, or fly with larger, more established carriers like Emirates. Both these airlines offer an affordable option for Umrah packages and also provide a variety of amenities such as food and drink onboard, Wi-Fi service, restrooms, and many more. The airlines are diverse in their routes as well which means you’ll have many options. For instance, if you want to visit Saudi Arabia exclusively then Saudi Arabian Airlines is the airline for you. This airline offers flights from over 120 destinations across the globe to Saudi Arabia including some cities in Pakistan like Karachi and Lahore. The airline also has its hub in Jeddah which is only five minutes away from Makkah's King Abdul Aziz International Airport by car so it makes for easier access when flying out of this hub into Makkah.

Can I Apply for Umrah Visa Myself from the UK?

This is a tricky question to answer. While you can apply for Umrah Visa from your home country if that is your usual place of residence, you cannot do so when traveling outside. However, some exceptions will make it possible for you to apply for Umrah Visa from abroad.

Like any visa application, the first step is to complete an application form and submit the required documents with it. This includes passports with at least six months remaining validity and travel insurance. When submitting applications online, make sure that they are filled out and submitted at the right time. After this step is completed, you will have your unique ID number assigned by the government which will be needed in the later stages of applying for your Umrah visa or Umrah flight ticket.