The Complete Guide to the Saudi Umrah Visa for South African Citizens in the UK
For South African Muslims residing in the United Kingdom, embarking on the sacred journey of Umrah is a profoundly significant milestone. In the past, navigating the visa process as a foreign national living in the UK could be a complex web of paperwork, embassy visits, and rigid agency constraints. However, the landscape of religious travel has fundamentally transformed.
Today, South African passport holders are fully eligible for the Saudi Multiple Entry Tourist eVisa. This digital travel authorisation is the most versatile and efficient way to legally perform Umrah. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through exactly how to secure your visa, what documents you need, and how to plan the perfect spiritual journey directly from the UK.
The “Group A” Advantage: What it Means for South Africans
Saudi Arabia divides global nationalities into different eligibility tiers for its visa programmes. The fantastic news for South African citizens is that South Africa is officially listed as a Group A country.
This means that your South African passport alone grants you direct access to the online Saudi eVisa system. You do not need to rely on your UK Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or a UK visa to qualify—your South African nationality is the primary key.
Key Benefits of the eVisa for Umrah:
One-Year Validity: The visa remains valid for 365 days from the date it is issued.
Multiple Entries: You can travel between the UK and Saudi Arabia as many times as you like within the year.
Extended Stays: Visitors are permitted to stay for up to 90 days per entry.
Do-It-Yourself Freedom: You are not forced to book expensive, pre-packaged tours. You can build your own itinerary, making affordable spiritual travel highly achievable through trusted UK-based providers like Package Umrah LTD.
2026 eVisa Requirements for South African Applicants
Because the application is processed entirely online, you do not need to send your physical passport to the Saudi Embassy in London. To guarantee a swift and successful application, gather the following before you begin:
Valid South African Passport: Your passport must have at least six months of validity remaining from your intended date of arrival in Jeddah or Madinah.
Digital Photograph: A recent, clear, passport-style photo featuring a solid white background. Avoid wearing glasses or headwear that obscures your face (hijabs are perfectly acceptable provided the face is fully visible).
Payment Method: A valid UK debit or credit card to cover the online processing fees.
Vaccination Compliance: While not uploaded during the digital application, you must carry a valid Meningococcal (ACWY) vaccination certificate with you. This is a mandatory health requirement checked by airline staff and Saudi immigration officials.
How to Apply for Your Umrah eVisa Online (Step-by-Step)
The digital application process is exceptionally streamlined. Follow these steps to secure your eVisa:
Visit the Official Saudi Portal: Navigate to the official Visit Saudi eVisa website.
Create Your Profile: Register with a valid email address. All official correspondence and your final visa will be sent here.
Fill in Your Details: Enter your personal information exactly as it is printed on the Machine Readable Zone (MRZ) of your South African passport. Even minor spelling errors can result in boarding denials at UK airports.
Pay the Processing Fee: The total cost is approximately £114 (around 535 SAR). This fee is comprehensive, covering the base visa cost, digital processing, and the mandatory Saudi health insurance required for the duration of your stay.
Receive Your eVisa: Applications submitted by Group A nationals are typically approved within 30 minutes to 24 hours. Once received, print a physical copy to present alongside your passport at the airport.
Important Rules and Restrictions
To ensure your journey remains stress-free and compliant with Saudi law, keep the following regulations in mind:
The Hajj Exclusion: The multiple-entry Tourist eVisa legally permits you to perform Umrah, but it cannot be used to perform Hajj. During the designated Hajj season, strict entry restrictions are enforced in Makkah, and standard eVisas will not grant you access.
The Nusuk App is Mandatory: Having a visa is only the first step. Once your eVisa is approved, you must download the official Saudi Nusuk App. You will use this app to book your specific time slots for performing Umrah and for praying in the Rawdah Mubarak at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
No Employment: The eVisa is strictly for tourism, visiting family, and performing Umrah. Engaging in any form of paid or unpaid work in Saudi Arabia is strictly prohibited and carries severe penalties.
Conclusion
Being a South African expat in the UK provides an excellent launching pad for your Umrah journey. With direct flight routes from London, Manchester, and Birmingham to Saudi Arabia, coupled with the ease of the online eVisa system, performing your pilgrimage has never been more accessible. Ensure your South African passport is up to date, prepare your documents carefully, and embrace the spiritual journey ahead.
Two routes for a South African passport
South Africa is one of only three African countries on the Saudi tourist eVisa list, alongside Mauritius and Seychelles (checked November 2026). That means a South African passport can use the eVisa for Umrah outside Hajj season, or the Umrah visa arranged by a licensed provider.
| Tourist eVisa | Umrah visa (package) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who applies | You, at visa.visitsaudi.com | We do, after you accept a quote |
| Validity | 365 days, multiple entry, 90 days in total | Single entry, used within 30 days of issue |
| Health insurance | Included, up to 100,000 SAR | Included |
| Best for | Repeat visits in a year | One package trip |
Which one should you choose?
For a single 7 to 14-night trip, the Umrah visa inside our package is simplest, because we line it up with your hotels and transfers. If you plan more than one visit within a year, the eVisa may suit you better; our multiple-entry guide compares the options.
If you already have a valid eVisa when you ask for a quote, tell us. We will explain in writing how that changes the paperwork and the price.
Households with children on mixed passports often find the package visa easier, because one booking covers everyone. A South African parent with British children can still use the eVisa personally if that suits them.
Applying for the eVisa yourself
Apply only at visa.visitsaudi.com, the official portal, which lists South Africa under Africa. Copycat sites appear high in search results and add their own charges for the same form.
Apply on the same passport you will fly on. If you are a dual British-South African, see our British passport guide, since the British passport adds the ETA and visa waiver.
Keep the confirmation email and a printout of the eVisa, because check-in staff in the UK may ask to see it before printing your boarding pass.
Documents to prepare
- South African passport valid six months beyond your arrival date.
- Meningitis ACWY certificate, vaccine given at least 10 days before arrival.
- UK eVisa linked to that passport in your UKVI account.
- An Umrah permit booked in the Nusuk app if you travel on the eVisa.
South Africa is not on the Saudi yellow fever risk list, so a trip that starts in Johannesburg or Cape Town does not add that requirement.
Ancestry and work visa holders
Your South African passport, not your UK status, is what opens the eVisa, so an Ancestry, Skilled Worker or Graduate visa makes no difference to Saudi eligibility. What matters is that your UK permission is still valid on the day you come home.
If your UK visa is due for renewal, finish the extension first or check it will not clash with your travel dates. Graduate visa holders should check the end date carefully, as that route cannot normally be extended.
Nusuk permits on an eVisa
The eVisa gets you into Saudi Arabia, but Umrah itself needs a permit booked in the Nusuk app, and Madinah's Rawdah needs a timed slot. Our Nusuk app guide explains registration with an eVisa number.
Timing and seasons
Umrah pauses for international pilgrims around Hajj. Last season, the last entry date was 15 Shawwal; we confirm 2027 dates when announced. Winter departures such as January Umrah packages bring cooler weather, with Makkah highs around 31°C.
First trip: Ihram and the Miqat
On flights from the UK, you pass the Miqat, the boundary for entering Ihram, before reaching Jeddah. Ihram is the state of consecration for Umrah, and men wear two white unstitched cloths while women wear modest everyday clothes.
Change at home or at the airport, and make your intention when the crew announce the Miqat. Our coach then takes you from Jeddah to your Makkah hotel.
Steps if you use our Umrah visa
- Accept the written quote.
- Send a photo of your South African passport data page and ACWY certificate.
- We lodge the Umrah visa within 30 days of departure.
- We email it to you, and you then register in Nusuk.
If you prefer the eVisa route, apply yourself on the official portal and send us the issued eVisa so we can check the dates match your package.
Common problems we see
- Paying a copycat site for the eVisa.
- Applying on one passport and flying on another.
- Forgetting the Nusuk Umrah permit when using the eVisa.
- A UK visa expiring soon after the planned return.
