April 18, 2026 was the hard deadline for all Umrah visa holders to leave Saudi Arabia, and it has now passed.
Anyone who stays past their visa expiry is in overstay and faces fines, deportation, and a potential ban from returning.
This page covers the close of the 1447 AH Umrah season in April 2026. Umrah has since reopened: the 1448 AH season began on 31 May 2026 and runs to 7 April 2027. The overstay and unauthorised-Hajj penalties set out below apply every season.
Key Umrah Season Dates: All Passed
Here is the full timeline of Umrah deadlines for the 1447 AH season:
- 20 March 2026: Last day for Umrah visa issuance (passed)
- 3 April 2026: Last entry date for international Umrah pilgrims (passed)
- 13 April 2026: Makkah entry restricted to Hajj permit holders only (passed)
- 18 April 2026: Final departure date for all Umrah visa holders (passed)
- 18 April to 31 May 2026: Umrah permits via the Nusuk platform suspended (this suspension has ended)
- 31 May 2026: Umrah visa issuance resumed for the 1448 AH season (passed)
The April 18 deadline combined two directives: the standard seasonal cutoff when Saudi Arabia shifts to Hajj preparations, and a Ministry of Interior extension covering visitors stranded by the Middle East airspace closures. Both converged on the same date.
After April 18, Jeddah and Madinah airports moved fully into Hajj operations.
What Happens If You Overstayed
Saudi Arabia enforces overstay penalties year-round. If you stay past your visa expiry you face:
- Fines up to SAR 50,000 (approximately USD 13,330)
- Deportation at your own expense
- A 10-year re-entry ban from Saudi Arabia, blocking future Hajj and Umrah trips
- Potential imprisonment
Sponsors and hosts face consequences of their own: fines of up to SAR 100,000 and potential imprisonment for failing to report overstaying visitors or for assisting them in staying in the Kingdom.
If you are in overstay, contact the General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) on 992 and arrange your departure.
Saudi Arabia’s enforcement systems are now integrated with electronic visas, biometric data, and exit controls at airports and land borders. This makes it far more difficult for overstayers to remain undetected.
Hajj-Season Restrictions on Makkah
In the weeks around Hajj each year, no one may enter Makkah without an official Hajj permit. That covers visit visa holders and Umrah visa holders alike, and Saudi Arabia runs checkpoint enforcement on every route into the city.
Attempting to perform Hajj without a permit carries its own fines:
- SAR 20,000 fine for individuals attempting to enter Makkah or the Holy Sites on a visit visa without a Hajj permit
- SAR 100,000 fine for anyone who sponsors a visit visa, transports, or shelters an unauthorized pilgrim, applied per person
- 10-year re-entry ban for those deported for attempting to perform Hajj illegally
- Vehicle confiscation for transporters caught moving unauthorized pilgrims to the Holy Sites
These penalties are in addition to any overstay fines. The Makkah restrictions lift once the Hajj season ends.
Umrah Has Reopened
Umrah visa issuance resumed on 31 May 2026 and entry to Makkah reopened on 1 June 2026. For the 1448 AH season the last visas are issued on 9 March 2027, and all pilgrims must leave by 7 April 2027.
Check your dates on the Nusuk Umrah platform before booking.
Sources
- Inside the Haramain: Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Confirms April 18 Departure Deadline
- Gulf News: Saudi Arabia Announces Deadlines for Umrah Visas and Pilgrims’ Departures
- Khaleej Times: Saudi Arabia Temporarily Halts Umrah Visas, Restricts Entry to Makkah
- Khaleej Times: Hajj 2026 Rules: Saudi Arabia Warns of Up to SAR 100,000 Fine for Permit Violations
- Gulf News: Saudi Arabia Sets SR 100,000 Fines for Illegal Hajj Pilgrims
- Saudi Press Agency: Interior Ministry Warns Expatriates of SAR 50,000 Fine for Visa Overstays
- Business Standard: Expired Visa in Saudi Arabia? Call 992 as Relief Window Nears April 18
- Nusuk Umrah Platform
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Umrah Season Calendar for 1448 AH
- Saudi Press Agency: Hajj Ministry Announces Umrah Season Calendar for 1448 AH
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
