The Complete 2026 Guide to the Saudi Umrah Visa for Egyptian Passport Holders in the UK
For Egyptian nationals residing in the United Kingdom, planning a spiritual journey to Makkah and Madinah often brings up a common question: “How do I get an Umrah visa on an Egyptian passport?”
Because Egypt is not currently on the list of 66 countries automatically eligible for the standard Saudi Tourist eVisa, many Egyptian expats assume they must go through the lengthy and complex process of applying via the Saudi Embassy or an approved agency. Fortunately, this is no longer the case.
Thanks to updated Saudi immigration policies, your UK residency unlocks a streamlined, digital pathway to perform Umrah. Here is your comprehensive guide to securing your Umrah visa as an Egyptian citizen living in the UK.
The UK Residency Advantage: Skip the Embassy
Saudi Arabia has vastly simplified entry for residents of the UK, the US, and the Schengen Area. Under the current rules, permanent residents of the UK or holders of a valid UK visa are fully eligible to apply for the Saudi Tourist eVisa online or obtain a Visa on Arrival (VoA)—regardless of their passport’s nationality.
This means you can bypass the traditional embassy Umrah visa and use the Tourist eVisa to legally perform Umrah and explore the Kingdom.
Expert Insight: When applying, the system will recognize your UK Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or UK visa as your qualifying document, overriding the standard restrictions placed on Egyptian passports.
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Visa Options for Egyptian Nationals in the UK
If you hold a valid UK residency or a valid UK visit visa (which must have been used at least once to enter the UK), you have two primary options for your Umrah journey:
1. The Multiple-Entry Tourist eVisa (Recommended)
This is the most efficient and flexible option for UK residents.
Validity: 365 days from the date of issue.
Entries: Multiple entries allowed throughout the year.
Duration of Stay: Up to 90 days per visit.
Perks: Automatically includes mandatory Saudi health insurance covering medical emergencies.
2. Visa on Arrival (VoA)
If you prefer not to apply online in advance, you can obtain a visa at the self-service kiosks upon landing at any major Saudi international airport (such as Jeddah or Madinah). You will need to present your Egyptian passport, your valid UK BRP or visa, and pay the fee via a credit or debit card.
Note: We highly recommend the online eVisa to avoid long queues at immigration after a tiring flight.
Key Requirements for the Application
Before you begin your online application on the official KSA Visa portal, ensure you have the following documents ready:
Valid Egyptian Passport: Must have at least six months of validity remaining from your intended date of arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Proof of UK Residency: A clear digital scan of your UK Biometric Residence Permit (BRP), UK settlement status, or valid UK visa.
Digital Photograph: A recent passport-style photo with a white background.
Payment Method: A valid debit or credit card to pay the processing and medical insurance fees (typically around £80 to £100, or $101 USD).
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How to Apply Online: Step-by-Step
Applying for your Umrah visa takes just a few minutes. Follow these exact steps to ensure a smooth process:
Visit the Official Portal: Go directly to the official KSA eVisa website.
Select Your Nationality: Choose “Egypt” as your nationality. The system will then ask if you hold residency or a valid visa for the UK, US, or EU. Select “Yes” and choose the UK.
Complete the Form: Enter your personal details exactly as they appear on your Egyptian passport.
Upload Documents: Upload your passport data page and proof of your UK residency.
Pay the Fee: Submit your payment securely online.
Instant Approval: Most UK-resident applicants receive their approved eVisa via email within minutes to 3 business days. Print a copy to carry with your passport.
Crucial Restrictions to Keep in Mind
To ensure your journey is seamless and compliant with Saudi law, keep the following rules in mind:
The Hajj Exclusion: The Tourist eVisa allows you to perform Umrah, but it cannot be used for Hajj. During the Hajj season, strict entry restrictions apply to Makkah.
Vaccination Compliance: While not required during the online application, you must carry a valid Meningitis (ACWY) vaccination certificate to present at border control.
Nusuk App is Mandatory: Once your visa is approved, you must download the official Saudi Nusuk App to book your mandatory time slot for praying in the Rawdah Mubarak at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
Conclusion
Being an Egyptian citizen in the UK provides a unique and highly convenient advantage when planning your Umrah. By leveraging your UK residency, you can skip the paperwork, secure a multiple-entry eVisa in minutes, and focus entirely on the spiritual preparation for your journey. Ensure your UK documents are valid, apply through official channels, and embark on a peaceful pilgrimage.
Can UK residence open the eVisa?
Possibly, depending on your status. Since July 2023 Saudi Arabia has accepted eVisa applications from permanent residents of the UK and from holders of UK visitor or business visas who have already entered Britain on them.
An Egyptian doctor or engineer on a Skilled Worker visa is not a permanent resident, so the Umrah visa remains the safer route. Someone with indefinite leave to remain may be accepted, but check on visa.visitsaudi.com before paying, as the portal decides.
Dual British-Egyptian nationals
If you also hold a British passport, use it for the whole trip and the choice widens to the eVisa, ETA and waiver. Our British passport guide compares them.
Do not apply for the visa on your Egyptian passport and then fly on your British one. Saudi immigration matches the visa to the passport number, and a mismatch can mean a long wait or a refusal at Jeddah.
Documents to prepare
- Egyptian passport valid for six months beyond your arrival date.
- Meningitis ACWY certificate, vaccine given at least 10 days before arrival.
- Your UK eVisa, linked in your UKVI account to the Egyptian passport you travel on.
- Names spelled exactly as in the passport's English section.
Egyptian passports often show a long chain of names, including father's and grandfather's names. Airline systems sometimes shorten these, so we check that the ticket, visa and passport carry the same spelling before anything is submitted.
Pre-Hajj restrictions on Egyptian nationals
In April 2025 Saudi Arabia paused new business, family visit and tourist eVisas for Egyptian nationals and citizens of 13 other countries ahead of Hajj. Umrah visas followed their own seasonal timetable, which closes before Hajj for everyone.
The practical lesson is to avoid trips that run close to Shawwal. Last season, Umrah visas stopped being issued on 1 Shawwal, with the last entry on 15 Shawwal; we confirm 2027 dates when announced.
Getting back into the UK
Your Egyptian passport gets you into Saudi Arabia, but your UK eVisa gets you home. The airline checks it when you check in at Jeddah or Madinah, and the name and passport number in your UKVI account must match the booking exactly.
If you have renewed your Egyptian passport at the embassy in London, update the new number in your UKVI account before you travel. A share code, valid for 90 days, is useful to carry as a backup.
When to book and apply
Because the Umrah visa lapses if you have not entered Saudi Arabia within 30 days of issue, we lodge it closer to your departure date. Send your documents as soon as you book, so we can spot problems early. Popular periods such as December and Ramadan fill quickly.
Plan around your UK leave too. If your employer sets rotas or leave far in advance, book the package early; the visa itself is applied for later.
Combining Umrah with a visit to Egypt
Some Egyptian families want to see relatives in Cairo or Alexandria before or after Umrah. Our packages fly from UK airports, so a stop in Egypt means a different flight plan, which we quote separately.
If you start in Egypt, your Umrah visa is still issued on the passport you travel with, and you must hold valid UK permission for the final flight back to Britain. Plan the order of the trip before we book anything.
How an Egyptian booking works with us
- You send your dates, departure airport and preferred hotels.
- We send a written quote with the final price.
- Once you accept, you send a photo of each passport data page and the ACWY certificates.
- We check names, expiry dates and UK status, then lodge the Umrah visa within 30 days of departure.
- You receive the visa by email before you fly.
Problems we see most often
- An Arabic name transliterated differently on the ticket and passport, such as Mohamed and Muhammad.
- A recently renewed passport not yet added to the UKVI account.
- An expired Biometric Residence Permit carried instead of checking the eVisa.
- A visa applied for on one passport while travelling on another.
