Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended Umrah, business, and family visit visas for citizens of 14 countries, including Nigeria, ahead of the 2025 Hajj season.
Officials who spoke to ARY News explained that the suspension aims to prevent unregistered individuals from attempting to perform the pilgrimage without official permits. The affected countries are Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Yemen, and Morocco.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the measures were taken “to streamline travel procedures and enhance safety during Hajj.” Authorities highlighted rising concerns about visitors overstaying their visas, leading to overcrowding and serious safety risks during the pilgrimage.
Saudi officials also raised alarms over the misuse of business or family visit visas by individuals who enter the Kingdom to work illegally, disrupting the labour market and violating visa conditions.
They warned that individuals caught staying in the Kingdom illegally may face a five-year entry ban.
Despite the suspension, ARY News reported that holders of existing Umrah visas would still be allowed to enter Saudi Arabia until April 13, 2025. The restrictions are expected to stay in place until mid-June, when the Hajj pilgrimage concludes.
The decision follows the deadly 2024 Hajj season, during which at least 1,301 pilgrims died, mostly from heat-related causes. Many of the deceased reportedly lacked official Hajj permits. Authorities revealed that around 400,000 unregistered pilgrims participated in last year’s Hajj, with a large number coming from Egypt.
Each country receives a limited number of Hajj permits under a quota system. However, the high costs of official Hajj packages have pushed many to seek alternative, unauthorized routes, contributing to the challenges Saudi Arabia is trying to address with the new visa rules.
