e-Visa not valid during Hajj in Jeddah & Medina, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia restricts entry during Hajj 2023: e-Visas, tourist, or Omrah visas will not be accepted at Jeddah or Medina airports as of 1 June. Only Hajj, GCC, business, or medical-visit visas permitted.
The latest guidance from the General Authority of Civil Aviation in Saudi Arabia (GACA) clarifies entry-conditions for visas to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj season.
Effective 1 June and ending 28 June 2023, only the following visa categories will allow passengers to enter Jeddah (King Abdulaziz International Airport – JED) and Medina (Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport – MED):
Hajj visas (accepted only at these two airports)
GCC citizens (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar)
Business visas
Medical-visit visas
During this period, e-Visa, tourist, visit and Omrah holders will be denied boarding on flights serving these destinations. No visas will be issued on arrival.
e-Visa holders who wish to enter the kingdom may still do so by arriving at another eligible airport, up to and after 28 June 2023.
What is hajj?
Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and requires a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Every physically and financially capable adult Muslim is expected to perform Hajj at least once in a lifetime. It takes place during Dhu al-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
