Visa
A pilgrimage to Makkah and Madinah requires careful preparation. Before submitting your application, you should verify that all personal documents and formal criteria for the Saudi visa are met. Inaccurate details or unsuitable documents quickly lead to delays or rejections by the authorities. In this guide, you will learn in detail which Umrah visa requirements apply, which documents you need to have ready, and what to keep in mind when applying.
For Umrah, travelers use the standard Saudi eVisa—no dedicated Umrah visa is required, only an additional free Nusuk permit. You need a passport valid for at least six months from your entry date, a recent passport photo on a plain white background, and an eligible nationality. Minors must be registered alongside an adult legal guardian.
When planning an individual pilgrimage from Germany, travelers generally use the electronic tourist visa (eVisa). This visa explicitly permits Muslims to perform Umrah outside the annual Hajj season, meaning a separate special Umrah visa is not required. To apply successfully, you and your travel companions must meet clearly defined criteria established by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism and immigration authorities. Detailed background information on the general framework can be found in our comprehensive overview of the Umrah visa from Germany.
The primary document for your entry is a regular passport. An identity card (Personalausweis) or temporary ID is not accepted for travel to Saudi Arabia. The following mandatory requirements apply:
* Minimum validity: Your passport must be valid for at least six months on the date of your planned entry into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. If it expires sooner, the system will reject the application or you will be turned away at the border.
* Undamaged condition: The passport must not have any tears, water damage, or loose pages. The machine-readable zone (the two lines of letters, numbers, and chevrons at the bottom of the data page) must be completely legible.
* Blank pages: There should be at least two blank pages available for immigration stamps upon arrival and departure.
* Digital copy: For the online form, you need a clear, complete color copy or a well-lit photograph of the passport data page (in JPG, PNG, or PDF format). All four corners of the page must be visible, with no fingers in the frame and no glare obscuring the text.
For details on digitizing your documents properly, see our guide on passport photos and passports for the Umrah visa.
The photograph for the electronic visa is used for verification against Saudi official databases and is printed directly on the visa document. Strict standards apply:
* Plain white background: The background must be completely white, neutral, and free of shadows. Colored walls, patterns, or objects in the background will lead to queries or rejections.
* Recency: The photo should be recent (no older than six months) and reflect your current appearance.
* Frontal angle: You must look straight into the camera with a neutral facial expression and your mouth closed. Your head must not be tilted or turned.
* No disruptive accessories: Sunglasses, tinted lenses, or conspicuous headwear are not permitted. A religious hijab is of course allowed for women, provided the face is fully visible from forehead to chin and across the cheeks.
* Lighting and focus: The face must be evenly illuminated. Avoid snapshots with digital filters, heavy flash reflections, or shadows under the eyes.
The Saudi eVisa system is open to citizens of designated countries. These include citizens of all EU member states (including Germany and Austria), Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Turkey. If you hold German citizenship, you can complete the process without complications.
If you hold a different nationality but possess a permanent residence permit for Germany or another Schengen state, special exemptions or visa-on-arrival options may apply. You can check your eligibility directly in our application form's nationality selector. Up-to-date travel and safety advisories for German citizens are also provided by the Federal Foreign Office.
Children and teenagers under the age of 18 cannot apply for a visa on their own. Saudi regulations require minors to be linked to an adult legal guardian:
* Accompanying guardian required: Every child must be assigned in the application system to an accompanying legal guardian who is part of the same travel party and holds their own visa.
* Individual passport: Being listed in a parent's passport is not sufficient. Each child must have their own travel document valid for at least six months, along with an individual passport photo.
* Group registration: Through our platform, you can register your entire family or travel group in a single submission. Each family member constitutes an individual case with specific documents. Fees are calculated per person, though billing can be consolidated through the lead adult applicant upon request.
Understanding the visa's time restrictions is an essential part of the requirements:
* Validity: The electronic visa is valid for 365 days (one full year) from the date of issue.
* Multiple entries: You may enter and exit Saudi Arabia multiple times within this one-year period.
* Maximum stay: The total cumulative stay across all trips within the validity period must not exceed 90 days. This applies cumulatively across all stays, not per individual entry. Further details are explained in our article on Umrah visa validity and the 90-day rule.
* Hajj restriction: The visa does not permit performing the major pilgrimage (Hajj). During the official Hajj season (particularly in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah), Saudi authorities prohibit holders of tourist or Umrah visas from entering Makkah. While the visa may still be used for general travel elsewhere in Saudi Arabia during this period, performing Umrah is strictly prohibited by law.
The visa itself grants legal entry into Saudi Arabia. To perform the rituals of Umrah within the sacred precinct of Makkah or to visit the Rawdah in the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah requires an additional electronic booking via the official Nusuk platform.
There are no official government fees for this permit; it serves to manage pilgrim flow. You can reserve your time slot online or via the app through the Nusuk portal once your visa is issued. Booking a separate commercial agency package is not legally required for this.
Additionally, border officials may conduct random checks upon arrival to verify that you have a confirmed return or onward flight and booked accommodation. While we do not arrange flights or hotels directly, we recommend securing these travel components in advance through verified partners.
View hotelsSearch flights via our partnerUmrah Hilfe is a specialized service provider operated by the agency AZNA Marketing, based in Frankfurt am Main. We do not act as a tour operator within the meaning of § 651a BGB, but rather apply for and procure your visa on your behalf directly through the official platform of the Saudi government. Here is how the process works once you have your documents ready:
You can read through the full process step by step in our guide on how to apply for an Umrah visa – step by step.
Apply for a visa nowUmrah Visa from Germany: The Complete Guide
Passport Photo and Passport for the Umrah Visa
We are not a tour operator. Every service is provided and invoiced separately.
Apply for visa support
VisaStep-by-step guide to applying for an Umrah visa from Germany: prepare your documents, enter your details, transfer payment, and receive your PDF visa via email.
VisaPlanning Umrah with your family or a group? Learn how costs break down per person, how group invoicing works, and what to keep in mind when traveling with children.
VisaBased in Frankfurt am Main, Umrah Hilfe supports you personally with your visa application for Saudi Arabia – transparently, reliably, and without hidden costs.