How to Apply for Umrah E-Visa from Australia: A Complete Guide

Australian passport holders can apply for an Umrah eVisa online through the official Saudi visa website. You’ll need a valid passport, a suitable photo, your travel details and a payment card.

You don’t usually need to visit a Saudi consulate. The form itself often takes about 15 to 30 minutes if your documents are ready.

This guide explains how to apply from Australia, what to prepare and what commonly causes delays. It applies whether you’re travelling alone, taking children or organising a group.

Umrah is different from Hajj and can normally be performed outside the Hajj period. Australian passport holders are included in Saudi Arabia’s tourist eVisa programme, which permits Umrah under the stated conditions.

Rules can change, especially around Hajj and busy travel periods. Check the official Saudi portal, Nusuk and Australian Smartraveller advice before paying for non-refundable flights.

What is an Umrah eVisa?

The Saudi eVisa is a digital travel permit. Australians generally apply under the tourist eVisa system and select Umrah as their reason for travel.

The visa allows access to Saudi Arabia and travel for Umrah outside restricted periods. Makkah itself is open only to Muslims, while Madinah has rules covering access to sacred areas.

The eVisa is normally valid for 365 days from issue. It allows multiple entries, with stays of up to 90 days and a total limit of 90 days during its validity.

Your approved visa arrives electronically, usually as a PDF. The fee includes basic health insurance for emergencies, but that isn’t a replacement for full travel insurance.

Keep the PDF on your phone and print a copy. At a busy airport, a flat battery or weak internet connection can turn a simple check into a long wait.

Quick comparison: walking distance and nightly rates

These hotels show how much location can affect your daily routine. A five-minute walk may feel longer after Tawaf, especially with children, elderly parents or a pushchair.

Starting rates are for the lowest room type and change by season. Treat them as a guide, not a confirmed quote.

Who can apply from Australia?

Australian citizens with Australian passports are generally eligible for the tourist eVisa. Your passport should remain valid for at least six months after arrival in Saudi Arabia.

Check these basic points before starting:

• Age: Adults can apply for themselves. Travellers under 18 should travel and apply with a parent or legal guardian.
• Passport: Use the same Australian passport for the application, flight booking and entry.
• Purpose: Select Umrah if that is the main reason for your journey.
• Health: Check current Saudi vaccination rules, including any meningococcal ACWY requirement for Umrah pilgrims.
• Travel record: Previous overstays, immigration offences or security concerns may affect approval.

Adult Muslim women may travel without a mahram, subject to current Saudi entry rules. For children, keep birth certificates and consent documents available, particularly when surnames differ.

Permanent residence in Australia doesn’t automatically make every foreign passport eligible. If you aren’t an Australian citizen, check eligibility using your passport nationality and carry proof of Australian residency.

This is where people often get it wrong. They choose “Australia” because they live there, even though the form is asking for passport nationality.

Which documents should you prepare?

Prepare clear digital files before opening the form. This saves time and reduces the risk of your session ending halfway through.

• Passport: A clear colour scan of the information page, usually under 2MB.
• Photo: A recent passport-style photo with a white background and a clear view of your face.
• Accommodation: Your confirmed Makkah and Madinah hotel details.
• Travel plan: Return flights, arrival airport and planned stay dates.
• Insurance: Basic cover is included with the eVisa. You can still buy wider travel cover.
• Financial records: Bank statements showing at least AUD 1,000 per person may be useful for a group application.
• Nusuk details: Keep your Nusuk registration or account information ready for permit arrangements.

Children may need birth certificates showing their link to the accompanying parent. Non-citizens should also keep a copy of their Australian permanent residence evidence.

English documents are generally accepted. If a supporting document isn’t in English or Arabic, arrange a certified translation if requested.

Check every scan at full size. A passport image can look clear on a phone but become unreadable when opened on a computer.

How do you apply online?

The application is completed online through Visit Saudi. We usually tell families to gather everyone’s passports first and enter each name exactly as printed.

Step 1: Open the official portal

Go to visa.visitsaudi.com. Create an account with your email address and a strong password, then complete the required verification.

Avoid unofficial websites that look similar. Some charge service fees, and others may not clearly explain what they are submitting for you.

Step 2: Start your application

Choose the tourist eVisa option and select Umrah as your travel purpose where shown. Enter your full name, birth date, nationality, passport number and travel dates.

Register with Nusuk if required for your pilgrimage arrangements. You can use the official platform at umrah.nusuk.sa.

Step 3: Upload your files

Upload your passport scan, photograph and any requested booking details. Follow the file type and size shown on the portal, usually PDF or JPEG under 2MB.

Don’t photograph a passport under a ceiling light. Glare across the passport number is a common reason the upload fails.

Step 4: Check and pay

Read the entire form before paying. Check names, passport numbers and expiry dates one character at a time.

Pay using an accepted Visa or Mastercard. Australian cards are generally accepted, though your bank may ask you to approve an international transaction.

Step 5: Submit and track it

Submit the form and save the reference number and payment receipt. You can normally follow progress through your account dashboard or email.

Approval often takes one to three days, but busy periods can take longer. Apply four to six weeks before departure rather than leaving it until the final weekend.

Once approved, download and print the eVisa. Check every detail again before linking your travel arrangements with Nusuk.

How much does the visa cost?

The stated eVisa fee is SAR 535, including basic insurance. That is roughly AUD 200 when one Saudi riyal is around AUD 0.37, but exchange rates and card charges move.

Some Nusuk services or package options may add about AUD 40 to AUD 80. Read the payment page carefully so you know which service you’re buying.

Processing is commonly 24 to 72 hours. It may take longer during Ramadan and other busy periods.

The visa can’t simply be extended after you overstay. Fines can reach SAR 10,000, so check your permitted stay and leave on time.

How can you avoid delays?

Use a laptop and reliable internet if possible. Mobile forms can refresh unexpectedly, especially while uploading several family passports.

Arrange vaccines early through your GP or travel clinic. Keep the certificate with your passport, not inside checked luggage.

Print one visa copy per traveller. At check-in, airline staff may want to see it before issuing your boarding pass.

For families, use one adult as the main organiser. Keep a simple folder for passports, visas, vaccination records, hotel bookings and return flights.

Airport immigration queues can feel slow after the long flight from Australia. Keep documents together and let elderly relatives sit while one adult checks the correct line.

What mistakes cause visa problems?

The most common problems are mismatched names, expired passports and poor photographs. Using a nickname instead of the passport name can also cause trouble.

Don’t book under one passport and apply with another. This matters for dual nationals who hold both Australian and overseas passports.

Another mistake is assuming the visa covers every travel period. Hajj restrictions can affect entry to Makkah, even if your eVisa remains valid.

If your application is rejected, read the stated reason before applying again. Correct the document or detail rather than sending the same form twice.

What should you arrange after approval?

After approval, confirm your Nusuk arrangements, flights, hotels and airport transfer. Save offline copies of every booking on your phone.

Choose accommodation with your family’s walking ability in mind. A cheaper hotel farther away may save money, but taxis and shuttle queues can become tiring.

In our experience, even a 400-metre walk feels longer with a pushchair after a crowded prayer. Hotel lifts also become busy, so allow extra time when travelling with luggage.

You can search for hotels in Makkah through HotelsInMakkah.com. Compare the real walking route, room size, lifts and access to Masjid Al-Haram, not only the straight-line distance.

What should you check before booking?

• Location: Jabal Omar Marriott is listed about 0.7 km away. Emaar Al Manar is about 0.8 km away, with rates shown around AUD 95 per night.

• Price: Some Makkah hotels start near AUD 55 per night, with advertised savings of up to 30%. Rates rise during busy periods.

• Practical needs: Check AUD pricing, payment terms, cancellation rules, family rooms and customer support before booking.

Use book your Makkah stay with us to compare holy city hotels. For Madinah, check which gate you’ll use and whether the route works for elderly family members.

Once the visa is issued, book hotels near Haram through official Makkah hotel booking site if the room and terms suit your needs. Keep enough time between arrival, check-in and your planned Umrah.

If you’re arranging travel from another country, read these guides:

• How to Apply for an Umrah E-Visa from the UK

• How to Apply for an Umrah E-Visa from Canada

• How to Apply for an Umrah E-Visa from the USA

You can also learn how to book five-star Umrah packages at lower rates before completing your travel plan.

When you’re ready to price your stay, compare Madinah hotels near the Prophet’s Mosque. Choose what fits your dates, budget and walking needs.