Is Umrah Visa Open For Pakistan?

Embarking on a holy pilgrimage towards almighty Allah is one of the greatest blessings a Muslim can be beneficent of. Umrah is a minor pilgrimage that Muslims undertake to seek the blessings and mercy of Allah and renew their faith.

This holy journey was affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic and till now people all over the world including Pakistanis wonder that is it safe to travel and gather to perform their dearest obligation.

And are foreigners allowed to perform Umrah after COVID? What are the costs and requirements of visas after the pandemic?

So, here is the essential information that you need to know Umrah visa’s open for Pakistan.

Is an Umrah visa open for Pakistan?

After a successful post-pandemic Hajj season, the government of Saudi Arabia has reopened Umrah visa applications. And Pakistanis like Muslims from all over the world are allowed to apply for their Visa from 1^st Muharram (30^th July 2022).

However, there is a condition that pilgrims arriving to perform Umrah must have COVID-19-related medical insurance to cover their treatment costs.

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah also allowed women to perform Umrah without their male guardians but on conditions like

• They must be aged between 18 to 65.
• They must travel to Umrah with a group of other women.
• They must be vaccinated for COVID-19.

New Umrah visa fees in Pakistan

In 2022, the Umrah visa fees costs from $380 to $490. However, during the month of Ramadan, visiting Umrah visas are a little bit expensive. As Muslims prefer to perform their holy pilgrimage during Ramadan the most blessed month of the Islamic year. Especially during the last 10 days of Ramadan, every Muslim wants to spend these days in Holy Makkah and Medina. This led to a significant rise in the cost of the Umrah visa.

Along with that Saudi Arabia has also added 15% of Value Added Tax to the foreign exchange rate, raising the total cost of Umrah packages.

Post-COVID visa requirements

Umrah visa holders can stay from 14-30 days in Saudi Arabia. They must have followed the vaccination certificate. This certificate must be issued 10 days before their departure.

Vaccine requirements

Pilgrims are required to present proof of getting vaccinated with any of the following vaccines including

• Janssen
• BioNTech
• Pfizer
• Moderna
• AstraZeneca

There are some other vaccines that pilgrims have to get a dose of before starting their journey to Saudi Arabia. These vaccines are

Polio vaccine:

Pilgrims have to take an oral dose of the polio vaccine at least 6 weeks before their departure for Umrah. They must have written proof with them.

Yellow fever vaccine:

Foreign pilgrims must get vaccinated for a yellow fever vaccine at least 10 days before their arrival.

Seasonal flu shot:

All the pilgrims including pregnant women and the elderly should get the seasonal flu shot to avoid underlying health conditions.

PCR and antigen test:

Foreign pilgrims have to provide a certificate of PCR and rapid antigen test results along with medical insurance to cover COVID-19-related treatment costs.

The following vaccination will need to be first registered in Saudi Arabia, 72 hours before departure. These certificates should be attested by the official health authorities of the traveler’s country. Pilgrims must carry their original certificates with them. Travelers need to comply with these requirements or else they have to suffer entry prevention.

If fully vaccinated, no quarantine will be required for foreign travelers including Pakistani pilgrims. However, if a Pakistani pilgrim had one dose of Sinovac, Covaxin, or Sinopharm, they will be subjected to a 3 days quarantine and they also have to comply with a PCR test certificate.

If you are looking for a comfortable and luxury Umrah service that can take care of all of your Visa requirements and stay in hotels then Short Hajj Easy Umrah can provide the best VIP package Umrah price in Pakistan.