Saudi Arabia has issued a limitation on specific categories of visas for the upcoming June 2025 Hajj pilgrimage which affects citizens from India along with Pakistan and Bangladesh and 12 other nations. The visa restrictions bar Umrah pilgrims along with visitors conducting business and making family trips from mid-June until the conclusion of the pilgrimage season. Saudi Arabia implemented this measure as part of its initiative to reduce overcrowding while delivering a controlled Hajj journey.
Several Countries Face Ban
The temporary ban directly affects citizens from Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen. The Saudi authorities established this policy to stop unauthorised entrance through temporary visas and subsequent illegal Hajj attendance without valid documentation.
Unauthorised pilgrims who circumvent official quota procedures create excessive crowding conditions that endanger the safety of Hajj pilgrims. A total of over 1,200 people lost their lives in the tragic 2024 Hajj stampede due to these problems.
Unauthorised Individuals to Receive Hefty Penalty
The Saudi authorities have explained that the temporary visa ban exists for operational reasons apart from any diplomatic reasons. Government authorities continue their efforts to lower the dangers created by excessive people density and unapproved participation. The Saudi Arabian authorities have stressed that individuals who try to perform the Hajj without required authorisation will receive a penalty of SR 10,000 (around ₹2.3 lahks) alongside a five-year restriction on future Saudi Arabian entrance.
Individuals who aid illegal Saudi Arabian entry will receive significant prison penalties which reach up to fifteen years in combination with asset confiscation and monetary fines. The Saudi government established April 13, 2025 as the final time Umrah visas will be issued and has banned additional visas after Hajj ends. The suspension does not affect diplomatic visas as well as residency permits and the special Hajj visas which remain active.
At the moment Saudi authorities have created an online guide that explains rules to pilgrims in 16 different languages. The digital guide provides instructions that lead pilgrims through the mandatory procedures needed for a safe legal journey. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah warned its visitors that Hajj performance through visit visas represents a forbidden practice which leads to financial penalties and administrative sanctions.
