Planning your Umrah is exciting. Getting the visa should not be the hard part. But for many Canadian Muslims, it is. The rules change often. The forms are confusing. And one small mistake can delay your whole trip.

Islamic Tour Canada explains the Umrah visa process based on the latest Saudi rules and Government of Canada travel guidance. And if you'd rather skip the paperwork completely, our team at Islamic Tour Canada has been handling Umrah visas for over 8 years. We're authorized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, so your application is in safe hands.

What Is an Umrah Visa?

An Umrah visa is a travel permit that lets Muslims enter Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, the sacred pilgrimage to Makkah. It is different from a Hajj visa, which is only issued during the Hajj season. Umrah can be performed almost all year round, so the visa is available for most of the year too.

The Saudi government has made the process much easier recently. Everything now runs through digital systems, and Canadians are among the nationalities that qualify for the fastest options. Still, the details matter. Applying with the wrong visa type, the wrong dates, or missing documents is the number one reason Canadian pilgrims face delays.

Do Canadians Need a Visa for Umrah?

Yes. Every Canadian citizen and permanent resident needs a valid visa to enter Saudi Arabia for Umrah. There are no exceptions. The good news? Canadian passport holders qualify for the Saudi eVisa, which is one of the simplest visa processes in the world.

Here's something many first-time pilgrims don't know: the Government of Canada confirms that Muslim visitors who are not residents of Saudi Arabia can perform Umrah with almost any type of Saudi visa, including a tourist visa. Only Hajj requires a special, dedicated visa. That gives Canadians real flexibility in how they apply.

Which Umrah Visa Options Do Canadians Have?

Canadian passport holders have three main routes into Saudi Arabia for Umrah. Each one works. The right choice depends on your plans.

The Saudi Tourist eVisa (Most Popular for Canadians)

The Saudi eVisa is a one-year, multiple-entry visa that allows stays of up to 90 days. It's fully online, so there is no embassy visit needed. Saudi Arabia officially permits tourist eVisa holders to perform Umrah outside the Hajj season. It also includes mandatory health insurance for your trip, and it lets you travel freely across the Kingdom. Many of our pilgrims add a visit to Madinah, or a few days in Jeddah, before flying home.

Most eVisa applications are approved within two business days, though we always recommend applying early, especially before Ramadan, when demand is highest.

The Nusuk Umrah Visa

This is the dedicated pilgrimage visa, issued through Nusuk, the official platform of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. It's single-entry and valid for 90 days from issuance. The catch: every application must be linked to verified hotel and transport bookings made through the Nusuk system. That's where a licensed agency saves you time, because we handle those bookings as part of your package.

Through a Licensed Travel Agency

This is the option most of our clients choose. It's also the one the Government of Canada recommends. Canadian officials advise pilgrims to organize their trip through the official Nusuk platform or a licensed travel provider connected to Saudi systems. Islamic Tour Canada is authorized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which means we submit your visa directly through the official channels. You send us your documents. We do the rest.

Umrah Visa Requirements for Canadian Citizens

Here's exactly what you need. Get these right, and your approval is usually smooth.

• A valid Canadian passport. It must be valid for at least six months from your application date, with at least two blank pages side by side. It should be in good condition, damaged passports get rejected.
• A recent photograph. Passport-style, on a plain white background, taken within the last month.
• Confirmed travel bookings. Return flights and hotel reservations. If you book a package with us, these are already included and correctly linked to your visa.
• Proof of vaccination. Saudi Arabia requires the meningococcal (ACWY) vaccine for pilgrims. Health rules can change with little notice, so we confirm the current requirements with every client before departure.
• A completed application. Filed through the correct Saudi system, error-free. This is the step where most do-it-yourself applications go wrong.

Important for dual citizens: If you hold more than one nationality, you must apply with your Canadian passport.

What About Permanent Residents of Canada?

Permanent residents can absolutely perform Umrah, but the process depends on your passport country. Some nationalities qualify for the eVisa directly. Others must apply through a licensed Umrah operator. You'll also need to submit a clear copy of the front and back of your valid PR card along with your passport.

This is where things get confusing for many families, especially when one spouse is a citizen and the other is a PR. Don't guess. Call us at (780) 801-8610, tell us which passports your family holds, and we'll tell you the exact route for each person, free of charge.

How to Apply for an Umrah Visa from Canada? Step by Step

Gather your documents, choose your visa type, apply online through the official Saudi system (or let a licensed agency do it), pay the fee, and receive your eVisa by email. With Islamic Tour Canada, the entire process takes you about ten minutes of your time.

Here's how it works when you book with us:

1. Contact us. Call (780) 801-8610 or message us on WhatsApp. Tell us your travel dates and who's travelling.
2. Send your documents. A scan of your passport, a photo, and your PR card if you're a permanent resident. That's it.
3. We prepare and submit your application. Our visa specialists check every detail before submission. One typo in a name or a date can cause a rejection, so nothing goes out unchecked.
4. We link your bookings. Your flights, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, and ground transport are attached to your visa file the way the Saudi system requires.
5. You receive your visa by email. Print a copy, save one on your phone, and you're ready to go.
6. We book your Umrah permit. Entry to perform Umrah is arranged through the Nusuk app. We guide you through it so you're never standing in Makkah wondering what to do next.

How Much Does an Umrah Visa Cost from Canada?

Costs vary by visa type and season, and Saudi fees can change during the year. The most reliable way to know your exact cost is to request a current quote. At Islamic Tour Canada, visa processing is included in our all-inclusive Umrah packages, which start from C$1,670 per person. That price covers your flight, hotel, visa, and transport together.

We're careful about pricing promises for one simple reason: Saudi visa fees, insurance charges, and service costs shift throughout the year. Any website showing you a fixed price from months ago may be showing you an old number. When you call us, you get today's real price, in Canadian dollars, with no hidden fees. That's been our policy for over 8 years, and it's a big part of why our clients come back.

One more money-saving tip: you can reserve your spot in any of our packages with a deposit of just CAD 100 and pay the rest later.

How Long Does Umrah Visa Processing Take?

Most eVisa applications for Canadian passport holders are approved within two business days. Applications through the Nusuk platform can take a little longer because hotel and transport bookings must be verified first.

Our honest advice after two decades in this business: never cut it close. Apply at least two to three weeks before your travel date. Before Ramadan, apply even earlier because demand spikes, systems slow down, and flight prices from Toronto, Calgary, and other Canadian cities can double. The pilgrims who plan early travel calm. The ones who plan late travel stressed

When Can You NOT Get an Umrah Visa?

This catches people off guard every single year. Umrah visas are not issued during the Hajj window. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah closes the Umrah season before Hajj begins and reopens it afterward. In 2026, Hajj is expected to run from May 24 to 29. The new Umrah season opens shortly after and runs until about two weeks before the next Ramadan.

The Ministry publishes official last-entry and last-departure dates each year. We track these dates for every client, so you will never book a non-refundable flight for dates when the visa system is closed.

One more date warning: Saudi visas use the Hijri (Islamic) calendar, not the Gregorian one. The Government of Canada specifically warns travellers to convert these dates correctly and note the real expiry date. We do that conversion for you and print both dates clearly in your travel file.

Common Umrah Visa Problems | and How to Avoid Them

We've helped thousands of Canadian pilgrims. These are the real problems we see and how we prevent them.

Visa rejections from small errors: A name spelled differently than the passport. A photo with the wrong background. A passport with less than six months' validity. Our team triple-checks every file before it goes to the Saudi system.

Overstaying by accident: Because of the Hijri calendar confusion, some pilgrims think they have more days than they do. The penalties are serious: fines up to 50,000 Saudi riyals, possible detention, and deportation. We build your itinerary well inside your visa validity, so this can never happen to you.

Visa scams and fake agents: The Government of Canada warns that pilgrimages attract fraudsters and advises Canadians to deal only with licensed agencies authorized by Saudi Arabia. Islamic Tour Canada is authorized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah & TICO protected. Ask any agency for proof of authorization before you pay. We'll gladly show you ours.

Travel restrictions surprises: Dedicated Umrah visas are valid for travel around Jeddah, Makkah, and Madinah. If you're dreaming of also seeing other parts of Saudi Arabia, tell us. We'll set you up with the tourist eVisa instead, which allows travel across the kingdom.

Vaccination timing: The meningococcal vaccine needs time to become effective, and travel clinics in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary fill up fast before Ramadan. We remind every client to visit a clinic four to six weeks before departure.

Can Women Travel for Umrah Without a Mahram?

Yes. Since 2022, Saudi Arabia allows adult women to perform Umrah without a male guardian. The Government of Canada confirms that a notarized letter of no objection from a mahram is no longer required. Many of our sisters travel solo or in women's groups every year. If you'd feel more comfortable travelling with a group, ask us. We regularly arrange group departures from cities across Canada.

Why Get Your Umrah Visa Through Islamic Tour Canada?

We won't pretend the visa is impossible to do yourself. It isn't. But here's what you get with us that you can't get alone:

• 8+ years of real experience: We've processed Umrah visas through every rule change Saudi Arabia has made. When policies shift, and they do, sometimes with little notice, we already know what changed.
• Official authorization: We're authorized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and TICO protected. Your money and your trip are secure.
• A real Canadian office: We're based in Calgary, Alberta, and we serve pilgrims departing from 14 airports across Canada, including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Halifax.
• 24/7 support, before and during your trip. If something happens at 3 a.m. in Makkah, you can reach us. Our on-site representatives in Saudi Arabia handle problems on the spot.
• Everything in one place: Visa, flights, hotels near the Haram, transport, and Ziyarat. One booking, one point of contact, no juggling.

Our reviews say it better than we can. Pilgrims like Farhan, Amina, and Ayaan have shared how our team handled flight changes, paperwork, and last-minute issues so they could focus on worship not logistics.

Ready to Start Your Umrah Journey?

Your visa is the first step toward standing in front of the Kaaba. Let us make it the easiest one. Call us today at (780) 801-8610, message us on WhatsApp, or email info@islamictour.ca. Tell us your travel dates, and we'll handle your Umrah visa from start to finish along with your flights, hotels, and transport if you'd like the full package. Reserve your spot with just CAD 100.

Islamic Tour Canada trusted by Canadian pilgrims for over 8 years. Authorized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. TICO protected.

Visa rules are set by the Saudi authorities and can change with little notice. Information on this page reflects guidance current as of 2026. We verify all requirements at the time of your booking.