Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah issued updated guidelines for Umrah visa applicants in 2025. The changes affect documentation, vaccination proof, and biometric photo standards. If you are planning Umrah from India this year, understanding these updates before you apply will save you from delays and rejections.
What Changed
The Ministry introduced three major changes effective from Muharram 1447 (July 2025):
- Meningococcal ACWY vaccination is now mandatory for all pilgrims regardless of age, replacing the older requirement that only applied to travellers from certain countries.
- Biometric passport photos must now meet updated ISO/IEC standards — specifically a 6×4 cm format with a plain white background, no borders, and a head coverage of 70–80% of the frame.
- Visa validity has been extended from 30 days to 90 days per visit, but the total stay in the Kingdom per visa is still capped at 30 days.
Who Is Affected
These rules apply to all Indian nationals applying for an Umrah visa through licensed Umrah operators, regardless of whether you are travelling for the first time or are a repeat pilgrim.
If your visa application was submitted before July 2025 but has not yet been approved, you will need to re-verify that your documents meet the new standards.
What To Do Next
- Book a meningococcal ACWY vaccination at a certified travel health clinic or government hospital.
- Get your passport photo retaken using updated specifications — ask the photographer to confirm ISO/IEC compliance.
- Contact your licensed Umrah operator to confirm that your application reflects the updated requirements.
- If your previous application was rejected for photo issues, resubmit with the corrected photo after checking the new specifications.
Vaccination Update in Detail
The previous meningococcal requirement accepted either MenACWY or MenC vaccines. From 2025, only the quadrivalent ACWY formulation is accepted. The vaccine must have been administered not more than 3 years and not less than 10 days before your travel date. Your vaccination certificate must be issued in English or Arabic.
Common brand names accepted in India include Menveo, Nimenrix, and MenQuadfi. Government hospitals in major cities have started stocking these vaccines; call ahead to confirm availability.
Photo Requirement Update
The new photo standard is stricter than the previous requirement. Specifically:
- Size: 6 cm × 4 cm (portrait orientation)
- Background: plain white only — no off-white, cream, or light grey
- Head coverage: 70–80% of the total frame
- Glasses: not permitted
- Face covering: not permitted (including niqab for photos, though it is permitted on arrival)
- Digital files: minimum 600 dpi, JPEG format, under 500 KB
Most commercial photo studios are not yet aware of the updated standard. Bring these specifications with you when getting photos taken.
Processing Times
Standard processing is currently running at 7–14 working days from the date of submission. Applications with incomplete vaccination certificates or non-compliant photos are being returned without processing, adding another 5–10 days to the timeline.
Plan for a total of 3–4 weeks from document submission to visa approval.
Apply Now
If you are ready to begin your application, our team handles the complete Umrah visa process — including verifying your documents, coordinating with licensed operators, and tracking your application. Start your application today and speak with a specialist on WhatsApp if you have any questions.