Saudi Arabia has temporarily banned the visa of 14 countries including India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. This restriction came ahead of Hajj Pilgrimage season.
The Umrah, Business and family visit Visa will coincidently effective in the mid June after after the end of Hajj season. This decision aims to overcrowding and safety concerns during Hajj.
The name of the 14 countries which Visa has temporarily by Saudi Arabia are:
- Algeria
- Bangladesh
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- India
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Jordan
- Morocco
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Sudan
- Tunisia
- Yemen
Why Saudi Arabia temporarily banned the Visa of 14 Countries?
Saudi Arabia has temporarily banned the Visa of the 14 countries including India, as the authorities want to curb unauthorized participation in the Hajj.
According to reports, several individuals from India and other affected countries have previously entered the kingdom on Umrah or visit visas and overstayed to perform Hajj without registering through official channels. This practice bypasses the official Hajj quota system, which allocates a fixed number of pilgrims per country to maintain order and safety during the pilgrimage.
Saudi officials attribute overcrowding and the tragic deaths of over 1,200 pilgrims during the 2024 Hajj—many due to extreme heat and lack of facilities—to the influx of unregistered participants. These unauthorized pilgrims often lack access to essential amenities like lodging, healthcare, and transportation, significantly increasing safety risks and logistical burdens.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stated that, the visa suspension is purely a logistical measure to ensure a safer and more organized pilgrimage and should not be interpreted as a diplomatic dispute. Registered pilgrims traveling on diplomatic visas, residency permits or Hajj-specific visas are not affected by the ban and may proceed with their travel plans as scheduled.
The Ministry also issued a warning: The individuals attempting to perform Hajj without authorization or overstaying their visa durations may face penalties, including a five-year entry ban.
What are the Visa that effected in suspension?
The visa which has effected by temporary bans are:
Umrah Visa, Business Visit Visa and Family Visit Visa.
The decision of banning Visa come after a previous decision made in February 2025, when Saudi Arabia suspended one-year multiple-entry visas and restricted travel from the same 14 countries to single-entry visas valid for only 30 days. The current move further tightens those rules in preparation for Hajj 2025, scheduled to take place from June 4 to June 9.
