Saudi Arabia has temporarily stopped issuing Umrah, business, and family visit visas for citizens of 14 countries, including India, until mid-June 2025. This pause aligns with the conclusion of the Hajj pilgrimage season and is intended to manage crowding and ensure safety during the event. According to reports, the last day for issuing Umrah visas is April 13, 2025, and no new visas of this type will be granted to people from the affected countries until after the Hajj ends. The 14 countries impacted by this suspension are Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen.

India’s inclusion in the ban is reportedly due to concerns about unregistered participation in the Hajj. Some individuals from India and other listed nations have entered Saudi Arabia on Umrah or visitor visas and stayed on to perform Hajj without going through the official registration process. This bypasses Saudi Arabia’s quota system, which is meant to control the number of pilgrims from each country.

Sources say Saudi authorities have blamed the presence of unregistered pilgrims for the overcrowding and extreme heat that led to the deaths of over 1,200 people during the 2024 Hajj. These unauthorised participants often lack access to essentials like shelter, transport, and medical care, which worsens safety risks and creates major logistical challenges. Officials believe that stricter visa rules are necessary to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stated that the new measures aim to improve organisation and safety and are not related to any diplomatic issues. Reports confirm that those with valid Hajj visas, diplomatic documents, or residency permits can continue their travel plans as usual. However, Saudi authorities have warned that anyone attempting to perform Hajj without official approval or overstaying their visa could face a five-year ban from entering the country.

This comes after Saudi Arabia suspended one-year multiple-entry visas and limited travel from 14 countries to 30-day single-entry visas in February 2025. The current restrictions build on that policy, tightening access even further ahead of the Hajj 2025, scheduled for June 4 to 9. The decision is part of more exhaustive efforts to control the number of pilgrims and ensure everyone follows official Hajj guidelines.

India has been included on the list because of confirmed incidents where some nationals misused visas to participate in the Hajj without proper authorisation. Saudi Arabia introduced this temporary visa suspension for 14 countries to address such issues. Officials say this misuse disrupts the quota-based system for Hajj and creates logistical and safety risks during the pilgrimage. The ban is also meant to enforce stricter use of official pilgrimage channels and ensure order during the event. Reports have listed 13 countries by name, confirming that 14 are affected in total. While the 14th country isn’t consistently mentioned across all sources, Morocco is often identified as the likely addition based on similar patterns in various reports.