Preparing for Umrah

Almost every delay we see traces back to a passport. Check the expiry date before anything else: most applications require validity of at least six months beyond your intended travel date, and renewing takes longer than people expect.

If your passport was issued in a different name to the one on your other documents, resolve that first. Inconsistencies between documents are a common cause of refusal.

Processing times move with demand. The period before Ramadan is consistently the busiest, and applications that would take days at a quiet time of year can take considerably longer.

Our advice is simple: do not book non-refundable flights before your visa is issued. It is the single most expensive mistake a first-time traveller can make.

Vaccination requirements for entry are set by the Saudi authorities and change from time to time. Check the current position with your doctor or your country's official travel advice before you travel.

If you take prescription medication, carry it in its original packaging with a copy of the prescription, and pack enough for longer than your planned stay.

The Saudi riyal is the only currency you will need. Card acceptance is widespread in hotels and larger shops, but smaller vendors and taxis often prefer cash.

Tell your bank you are travelling. Cards blocked for suspected fraud on the first day of a trip are a needless frustration.