Saudi Arabia is temporarily suspending the issuance of certain visa types—Umrah, family visit, and business visas—for citizens from 14 countries, including Nigeria, India, and Pakistan, starting in April 2025. These restrictions are being implemented ahead of the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage and will remain until June, after the Hajj season ends. However, registered pilgrims for Hajj will not be impacted by this suspension.
Nigerians and others planning to perform Hajj in Makkah and Madinah through official channels will still be permitted entry into Saudi Arabia. The new restrictions are designed to prevent unauthorized individuals from using Umrah or visit visas to participate in Hajj, which has led to overcrowding and logistical challenges in the past. This decision follows concerns about illegal overstays and unregulated pilgrim movement, especially after the tragic events of the 2024 Hajj that resulted in numerous casualties due to overcrowding and extreme heat. Starting April 13, the issuance of visit visas for affected countries will be halted, allowing only those with approved Hajj registrations from designated authorities to access the pilgrimage.
The visa suspension affects the following countries: India, Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia, Iraq, Nigeria, Sudan, Jordan, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Yemen, Algeria, Bangladesh, and Morocco.