Umrah & Saudi: Your Free 96-Hour Transit Adventure Begins Now!

Saudi Arabia is rolling out the red carpet for global travelers with its revolutionary free transit visa program. This game-changing initiative lets eligible passengers flying with Saudia Airlines and flynas explore the Kingdom for up to 96 hours (four days) during an international layover, all without the usual visa fees. It's a golden ticket to blend long-haul travel with a spiritual journey to Makkah and Madinah, or to discover Saudi Arabia's vibrant cultural tapestry, a key part of its ambitious Vision 2030 to welcome 150 million annual tourists.

This isn't just a visa; it's an electronic gateway automatically processed when you book your qualifying flight. Beyond being free of charge, it only requires minimal processing fees (SAR 39.50) and compulsory medical insurance (starting from SAR 13).

Who's Eligible for This Free Transit Opportunity?

This visa is generally available to all nationalities passing through Saudi Arabia. However, there are a few important points to note:

• Airline Specificity: You must be flying with either Saudia Airlines or Flynas for both your inbound and onward international flights.
• Layover Duration: Your stopover in Saudi Arabia needs to be between 12 and 96 hours.
• Onward Journey: A confirmed onward ticket to another international destination is essential. If your final destination requires a visa, ensure you have it or a valid residence permit.
• Single Entry: This free transit visa is for a single entry per booking and cannot be extended.

Recent updates, effective in early 2025, have introduced specific restrictions for other types of visas (like one-year multiple-entry tourism visas) for travelers from certain countries, including Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. However, these changes do not directly impact your ability to use the free transit visa for Umrah or transit if you meet the core criteria of flying with Saudia or Flynas. Similarly, while an "e-stopover visa" for automatic issuance might be narrowed to travelers from 18 specific countries, the fundamental mechanism for the free 96-hour visa for Umrah/transit remains straightforward for Saudia/Flynas passengers.

Unlock Benefits and Streamline Your Journey

The advantages are clear: you save on visa fees, gain up to 96 hours for exploration or pilgrimage, and enjoy a seamless application process integrated into your flight booking. It's a truly unique opportunity to add a spiritual dimension to your international travels.

A Crucial Update for Pilgrims (Effective June 10, 2025): All Umrah visa applicants, including those on the free transit visa, must now pre-book their accommodation through the official Nusuk Masar platform (www.nusuk.sa) before applying for their visa. Without a confirmed and verified hotel booking made directly via Nusuk Masar, your visa application will be automatically rejected. This new rule ensures pilgrim welfare and high-quality accommodation standards.

To apply, simply visit Saudia.com or Flynas.com. Search for international flights with a Saudi stopover, select the visa option during booking, provide your details, and finalize payment for the minor fees. Your visa and insurance documents will typically be emailed to you within minutes.

Open Doors for South Asia, UK, and GCC Travelers

Good news for travelers from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and other South Asian countries: this free Saudi transit visa is readily available to you, provided you book your transit flights with Saudia Airlines or Flynas and have a confirmed onward international ticket.

Likewise, UK Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) holders without a British passport, and British passport holders can also utilize this visa. The key factor is the transit nature of your journey and your choice of airline, fulfilling all other conditions.

Moreover, residents of GCC countries (like the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman), including both citizens and expatriates, can leverage this transit visa for Umrah during their layover. This broad accessibility reflects Saudi Arabia's commitment to making pilgrimage and travel more convenient for a global audience.

This free transit visa program showcases Saudi Arabia's progressive vision, offering a truly seamless, cost-effective, and spiritually enriching experience for international travelers. Are you ready to add Saudi Arabia to your next journey?