Saudi Arabia entry requirements for travellers from Pakistan
Pakistan is one of the largest sources of Umrah pilgrims in the world, and for most Pakistani travellers Saudi Arabia is a pilgrimage destination before it is anything else. That matters, because Pakistan sits outside Saudi Arabia’s tourist eVisa scheme, and the route you use depends heavily on why you are going. This guide explains which route applies to you and what has changed recently.
Visa requirement summary
Pakistani citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan is not among the 66 nationalities eligible for the tourist eVisa. You cannot obtain a visa on arrival, and you cannot apply through the online tourist portal on the strength of a Pakistani passport alone.
Three routes are realistically open to you.
The first, and the one most Pakistani travellers use, is the Umrah visa. This is arranged through the Nusuk platform rather than the tourist visa system. Since July 2026 the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has issued a one year multiple entry Umrah visa, valid for 365 days from issue with a cumulative stay of up to 90 days. You buy a service package from an approved provider on Nusuk and obtain an Umrah permit through the Nusuk app before you arrive.
The second is the tourist eVisa obtained through an exception rather than through nationality. Holders of a valid Schengen, United Kingdom or United States visa that has already been used to enter that country, along with permanent residents of the EU, UK, US and GCC states, can apply for the visitor eVisa regardless of what passport they hold. If you have a used UK or US visa in your passport, this route is open to you and is considerably simpler than the alternatives.
The third is a visit visa, covering family visits and business travel, applied for through Saudi channels with a sponsor or inviting party in the Kingdom. Tourist visas for nationalities outside the eVisa scheme are applied for at a Saudi embassy or consulate.
One important point on the visit visa route. Since February 2025 Pakistan has been one of fourteen nationalities restricted to single entry visit visas rather than the longer multiple entry versions previously available. The Umrah visa and the Hajj visa were not affected by that restriction, and neither were existing multiple entry holders, residence visas or diplomatic visas. The restriction applies to business, tourism and family visit visas.
How long you can stay
On the one year Umrah visa you have 365 days of validity and a cumulative stay of up to 90 days, with each visit limited to the days remaining on the visa and tied to the service package you booked.
On a visit visa, the position as most recently set out was single entry with a maximum stay of up to 90 days. The letter of invitation you receive does not decide this. Saudi authorities determine the validity and the number of entries when the visa is issued, so the document in your hand at the point of invitation is not a guarantee of what you will be granted.
If you qualify for the eVisa through a used UK, US or Schengen visa, you get the standard terms: 365 days of validity, multiple entries and up to 90 days of cumulative stay.
Passport validity requirements
Your Pakistani passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date you arrive in Saudi Arabia.
Evidence of previous travel to Israel in your passport may result in refused entry.
Proof of funds and financial requirements
Saudi Arabia does not publish a fixed sum that Pakistani visitors must show. On the Umrah route the question largely answers itself, because accommodation, transport and the permit are bundled into the service package you have already paid for. On a family visit visa your sponsor in Saudi Arabia is part of the picture, and the invitation itself carries weight.
If you are applying for a visit visa, expect to provide bank statements and proof of employment or business alongside the invitation.
Onward or return travel
You should be able to show onward or return travel falling within the period your visa allows. On a packaged Umrah trip this is part of the booking. On a single entry visit visa it matters more, because leaving the country ends your permission to be there.
Applying for the visa
For Umrah, applications go through the Nusuk platform. Since August 2025 the Nusuk Umrah service has allowed pilgrims to apply for the visa and book accommodation, transport and tours directly, rather than only through a licensed agent. For Pakistani pilgrims accustomed to booking everything through an operator, this is a meaningful change, and it is worth comparing a direct Nusuk booking against an agent package before committing.
You must obtain your Umrah permit in the Nusuk app before you travel. Arriving without one causes problems that are difficult to solve at the border.
The one year Umrah visa does not activate during the Hajj season, which runs from the first of Dhu Al Qi’dah to the 13th of Dhu Al Hijjah. If your travel falls inside that window the visa will not carry you, and you will need to look at the Hajj route instead.
Hajj requires a separate visa through Nusuk Hajj. In Pakistan, Hajj is administered under a government scheme and a private operator scheme, with places allocated under a quota rather than granted on application.
For a family or business visit visa, your sponsor in Saudi Arabia initiates the invitation and you complete the application through Saudi channels. For a tourist visa, applications from nationalities outside the eVisa scheme are made at a Saudi embassy or consulate.
A word of caution on timing. The restrictions affecting Pakistani travellers have been described by Saudi authorities as temporary, with no promised date for reconsideration, and they have tightened around the Hajj season before. In April 2025 visit visas for the affected nationalities were suspended outright until after Hajj. Check the current position before you book flights, particularly if you are travelling in spring.
Health requirements
If you are travelling for Hajj or Umrah you must show proof of quadrivalent meningococcal vaccination covering the ACWY strains. This is checked for pilgrims and it is not optional.
A yellow fever certificate is required if you are arriving from a country where yellow fever is endemic. A direct flight from Pakistan will not trigger this, but a routing through an affected country can.
Arrange the meningococcal vaccination several weeks before departure rather than in the final days, since it needs time to take effect.
Other entry requirements
Flights into Jeddah, Madinah and Taif face restrictions during the Hajj season, which affects travellers whose trips have nothing to do with pilgrimage.
Alcohol is prohibited and attempting to bring it into the country is a serious offence.
Entry to Mecca is restricted to Muslims, and parts of Medina are similarly restricted.
If you hold a Saudi residence permit through work, none of the visitor routes above apply to you. Your residence status governs your entry.
FAQs
Can Pakistani citizens get a Saudi visa on arrival?
No. Pakistan is not among the 66 nationalities eligible for the tourist eVisa or visa on arrival. You must arrange a visa before you travel.
Was the Umrah visa affected by the restrictions on Pakistani travellers?
No. The single entry restriction introduced in February 2025 applied to business, tourism and family visit visas. Umrah and Hajj visas were explicitly unaffected.
I have a valid UK or US visa. Does that help?
Yes, considerably. Holders of a Schengen, UK or US visa that has already been used to enter that country can apply for the Saudi visitor eVisa regardless of nationality, which gives you the standard 365 day multiple entry terms.
How long can I stay on a visit visa?
The position most recently set out was single entry with a maximum stay of up to 90 days, but Saudi authorities decide the validity and number of entries at the point of issue rather than at the point of invitation.
Does the new one year Umrah visa work during Hajj?
No. It does not activate between the first of Dhu Al Qi’dah and the 13th of Dhu Al Hijjah.
Do I still need to book through an agent for Umrah?
Not necessarily. Since August 2025 the Nusuk Umrah service has allowed pilgrims to apply for the visa and book services directly.
Official sources
Saudi eVisa portal: https://visa.visitsaudi.com/
Visit Saudi visa regulations: https://www.visitsaudi.com/en/plan-your-trip/visa-regulations
Saudi visa portal: https://ksavisa.sa/
Nusuk platform: https://www.nusuk.sa/