Claim
Reports are circulating that Saudi Arabia has imposed a temporary visa suspension on 14 countries, including India, until the completion of the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.
Fact Check Summary
TRUE, with context. Saudi Arabia has reportedly suspended certain visa categories—Umrah, business, and family visit visas—for travelers from 14 countries, including India. However, Hajj pilgrims with valid permits are not affected by this suspension.
What’s Happening?
Ahead of the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia has introduced temporary travel restrictions for citizens of specific countries to prevent unauthorized participation in Hajj. These new measures are focused on curbing the misuse of visit visas—such as Umrah or business visas—for performing the pilgrimage without proper registration.
Importantly, this is not a blanket visa ban, and does not apply to individuals holding valid Hajj permits. The goal is to regulate crowd management and prevent tragedies like those seen during previous pilgrimage seasons.
When Does the Visa Suspension Start?
According to reports, the suspension will begin after April 13, 2025, and remain in place until mid-June 2025, which coincides with the conclusion of the Hajj pilgrimage.
Why This Ban?
This measure follows the 2024 Hajj tragedy, where over 1,000 lives were lost, many of whom were unauthorized pilgrims. Extreme temperatures and overcrowding contributed to the catastrophe. In response, Saudi authorities have introduced preventive steps to ensure only authorized and properly registered pilgrims are allowed to participate in Hajj 2025.
Under orders from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, stricter visa enforcement is being rolled out to ensure a safe and organized pilgrimage.
Which Visa Types Are Temporarily Suspended?
- Umrah Visas
- Business Visit Visas
- Family Visit Visas
Only pilgrims with official Hajj permits will be allowed entry into Mecca and Medina during the Hajj season.
Countries Affected by the Visa Ban
Reports identify 13 countries so far, with one more currently unnamed. The confirmed countries are:
- India
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Egypt
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Nigeria
- Jordan
- Algeria
- Sudan
- Ethiopia
- Tunisia
- Yemen
Official Response
As of now, there is no formal confirmation from the Saudi Foreign Ministry, and platforms like FactCheck India have not independently verified the reports. However, several media outlets are reporting the same.
Verdict: TRUE, With Clarifications
Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended certain visa types for 14 countries, including India, to ensure a safe and controlled Hajj pilgrimage in 2025. However, pilgrims with valid Hajj visas remain unaffected. The visa restrictions are temporary and aim to prevent unauthorized travel and crowd-related incidents during one of the world’s largest religious gatherings.