Saudi Arabia stops certain visas for 14 countries, including Nigeria, in front of the Hajj

In a step to streamline the Hajj 2025 pilgrimage and prevent density, Saudi Arabia has announced the suspension temporarily the category of specific visas for citizens from 14 countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, India, and Pakistan.

The report shows that Saudi authorities will stop issuing Umrah, family visits, and business visas for registered citizens starting in April 2025. This suspension is expected to remain until the end of the pilgrimage season in June.

Officials have clarified that “The suspension does not affect the registered pilgrims for the pilgrimage.” This means that Nigerians and people who meet other requirements who intend to carry out religious rites in Mecca and Medina through the official channel of the pilgrimage will still be allowed to enter the kingdom.

This restriction is mainly aimed at curbing the increasing number of unauthorized people who use Umrah or visit visas to participate in the pilgrimage without proper registration. This practice often leads to the challenges of severe density and logistics.

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Visa suspension is a direct response to concerns about illegal oversays and unregulated pilgrims movements, especially following the tragic events of Hajj 2024, which makes thousands of lives disappear due to extreme density and heat.

“Starting April 13, visit visa publishing for affected countries will be stopped as part of the initiative,” according to the report. This size ensures that “Only those who have the approved Hajj registration through the designated authority will be given access during the pilgrimage period.”

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