Umrah Visa for Bangladeshi Citizens: How to Apply
Introduction
Every year, millions of Muslims head to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform the Umrah and Hajj pilgrimages. Considered the “minor pilgrimage”, the Umrah pilgrimage is a simplified version of Hajj. Capable Muslims must perform them at least once in their lifetime, as these are one of Islam’s Five Pillars. As Saudi Arabia opens to the world, it has made more people eligible for a Saudi visa. What’s the process to obtain an Umrah visa for Bangladeshi citizens?
Are they eligible for it? If yes, what are the requirements? If not, what are their alternatives? Read on as we discuss the several options available.
- Passport with at least 6 months validity
- Digital passport photo with white background
- Accomplished application form
- If you are a holder of an active US, UK, or Schengen visa, you should have at least one entry stamp in your passport using the visa).
- A passport has a validity period of at least 6 months at the time of the trip
Umrah visa for Bangladeshi citizens
As mentioned, certain nationalities and visa holders are eligible for a Saudi e-visa or a visa on arrival. What is this process like and what are the steps?
Option 1: E-visa
The following can apply for an e-visa, provided they are:
1. Citizens of the following countries:
North America: Canada, Panama, USA, Saint Kitts, and Nevis
Europe: Andorra, Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom,
Asia: Brunei, China (Including Hong Kong And Macau), Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Tajikistan, Turkey, Thailand, Uzbekistan
Africa: South Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles
Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
2. Permanent residents in the USA, EU, or the UK
3. Holders of visit visas (Schengen, US, UK)
4. Residents in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates)
Note that dual citizenships from the mentioned countries also make you eligible for a Saudi e-visa or visa on arrival. This means Bangladeshi citizens with eligible dual citizenship or active US, UK, or Schengen visit visas are eligible. The visas must have at least one entry stamp.
Application
If you’re an eligible dual citizen or a US, UK, or Schengen visa holder, visit umrah.com.bd. Simply provide your personal information, passport data, and travel details. Next, answer medical insurance questions, pay visa fees, and wait for the e-mail containing your e-visa. It’s that easy.
Requirements
To apply for a Saudi e-visa, you will need the following:
Option 2: Visa on arrival
The next easy and convenient option is the visa on arrival. It’s a type of visa issued upon a foreign national’s entry into a country. Nevertheless, it might be more practical to apply for a Saudi e-visa instead to avoid surprises at the airport.
With the visa on arrival, travelers don’t need to apply for the visa beforehand. It’s typically issued at the airport after the traveler submits certain documents as indicated by immigration authorities.
Eligibility
The same conditions as for the Saudi e-visa apply to the eligibility for a Saudi visa on arrival.
Application
You can apply for a Saudi visa on arrival in two ways: a self-service kiosk or a passport control desk.
For the self-service option, visit the passport control area once you arrive at a Saudi international airport. There, approach any of the available self-service kiosks, where you’ll scan your passport, enter your personal and passport information, and indicate details of your accommodation while in Saudi Arabia, before scanning your fingerprints for biometrics and taking your photo.
The final steps include selecting your medical insurance provider in Saudi Arabia and paying for the visa-on-arrival fees.
Alternatively, you can go through an immigration officer at passport control, go through the same process, provide the same information, and pay the corresponding fees to receive a Saudi visa on arrival.
Requirements
If you’re eligible for a Saudi visa on arrival, you’ll just need the following:
Validity
The Saudi visa on arrival is valid for 1 year from its issuance date. The multiple-entry visa on arrival is valid for 1 year from the date of issuance. It allows the traveler to stay for a maximum of 90 days. The single-entry visa on arrival, meanwhile, is valid for 3 months from its date of issuance, and travelers can stay for up to 30 days.
Processing time
Once you’ve gone through the application process, and assuming there are no issues with your information, it only takes between 5 to 30 minutes for your Saudi on-arrival visa to be issued.
Option 3: Transit/Stopover Visa
The e-visa and the visa on arrival are both great options whenever you’re planning a trip to Saudi Arabia. But there’s another way you can easily enter Saudi Arabia: the Saudi transit or stopover visa, which is open to all nationalities. This means that even if you don’t have an active US, UK, or Schengen visa, you may apply for a Saudi transit/stopover visa.
Transit and stopover are two terms used interchangeably to refer to temporary entry in Saudi Arabia for a few hours to a few days as part of a layover, or when passing through Saudi Arabia via land or sea. It allows travelers to pass through Saudi land borders, airports, or ports for no more than 96 hours. While in the country, they can also perform Umrah.
In case you are traveling somewhere while you have a valid UK visa, and you have a layover or stopover in Saudi Arabia that is over 12 hours, you can use the Saudi transit/stopover visa for a brief stay in the country.
Note that a transit visa is only required if your layover or stopover in Saudi Arabia is over 12 hours.
Transit/stopover visa with Flynas or Saudia
If your stopover in Saudi Arabia allows you to stay for more than 12 hours and you are flying via Flynas or Saudia, you’re in luck. You are eligible for a free Saudi transit or stopover visa which allows you a brief stay in Saudi Arabia for a maximum of 96 hours.
When you book with these two airlines, your transit/stopover visa will be automatically generated and e-mailed to you once approved. It takes about just three minutes to apply for the transit/stopover visa. You may apply for the visa up to 90 days before your trip.
Note that while the transit/stopover visa is free, it is still subject to administrative and medical insurance fees. This may serve as an Umrah visa for Bangladeshi, but not for Hajj.
Travelers who avail of a transit/stopover visa via Saudia also have the option to avail of a free one-night accommodation, subject to room availability.
Conclusion
The Saudi e-visa is the simplest way for Muslims that may serve as an Umrah visa for Bangladeshi.
Applying for an Umrah visa for Bangladeshi citizens is fairly easy if they are eligible for an e-visa, have eligible dual citizenship, or are holders of an active US, UK, or Schengen visit visa that has at least one entry stamp.
For more information on how to obtain an Umrah visa for Bangladeshi, visit Umrah.com.bd