Saudi Arabia suspends visas for Nigeria, Egypt, 12 others ahead of Hajj
On Monday, April 7, Saudi Arabia announced a temporary suspension of certain visa categories for citizens from 14 countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, and Pakistan, ahead of the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.
The suspension, which will take effect in April 2025, will impact Umrah, family visit, and business visas for citizens of the listed countries.
The suspension is expected to remain in place until June, when the Hajj season concludes. However, Saudi authorities clarified that this restriction will not affect those who have properly registered for the Hajj pilgrimage. Pilgrims who have followed the official channels for registration in Makkah and Madinah will still be allowed to enter the Kingdom.
The move comes as a measure to reduce the number of unauthorized individuals who use Umrah or visit visas to attend Hajj without proper registration, which has contributed to overcrowding and logistical challenges in previous years. Saudi officials are especially concerned after the tragic events during the 2024 Hajj, where thousands of lives were lost due to overcrowding and extreme heat.
Starting from April 13, Saudi Arabia will halt the issuance of visit visas for the affected countries. Only individuals with approved Hajj registrations through designated authorities will be allowed entry during the pilgrimage period.
Countries affected by the visa suspension:
- India
- Egypt
- Pakistan
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Nigeria
- Sudan
- Jordan
- Ethiopia
- Tunisia
- Yemen
- Algeria
- Bangladesh
- Morocco
