When my uncle in Leeds started planning Umrah for himself and my aunt, the first quote he received listed the visa at £250 per person. He rang me, quite sure he was being overcharged, and he was right. The official fee was well under half that. The rest was an agent’s mark-up hidden inside the word “visa”.
The Umrah visa is one of the few fixed costs in the whole trip, which makes it a useful test. If an agent is honest about the visa price, they are usually honest about everything else. This guide sets out what the Umrah visa really costs from the UK in 2026, the hidden charges to watch for, and how to use that knowledge to find genuinely cheap Umrah packages from the UK.
The Saudi tourist eVisa, which British passport holders and many UK permanent residents can use for Umrah, costs SAR 535 on the official portal, about £105–£115 including compulsory medical insurance. A dedicated Umrah visa lodged through an approved agent has an official cost of SAR 400–480, roughly £80–£95, plus a reasonable agent fee of about £20–£60. Anything far above these figures is a mark-up.
Umrah Visa Price by Route
There are two main ways to get a visa for Umrah from the UK, and they cost different amounts.
| Visa route | Who can use it | Official price | Rough cost in pounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi tourist eVisa (online) | British passport holders; many UK permanent residents and UK visa holders | SAR 535, including medical insurance | About £105–£115 |
| Dedicated Umrah visa (via Nusuk-approved agent) | Anyone who does not qualify for the eVisa | SAR 300 visa fee plus SAR 100–180 insurance | About £80–£95, plus agent fee |
| Reasonable agent fee for lodging an Umrah visa | – | SAR 100–300 | About £20–£60 |
The pound figures depend on the exchange rate on the day you pay, so treat them as a guide.
The tourist eVisa is the simplest. You apply yourself at visa.visitsaudi.com, the price is shown before you pay, and it is valid for a year with multiple entries. It can be used for Umrah at any time except the Hajj period.
The dedicated Umrah visa looks cheaper on paper, but since the 2025 season it can only be issued alongside a confirmed hotel and ground transport booked through a Nusuk-approved provider. So in practice it always comes as part of a package rather than on its own.
Whichever route you use, the visa does not include the Umrah permit itself. That is booked free in the Nusuk app for a set date and time.
Hidden Visa Costs and Common Overcharges
The visa fee itself is fixed. What changes is what people add on top. These are the extras I see most often on UK quotes:
- Inflated “visa processing” fees. A fair agent fee for lodging an Umrah visa is roughly £20–£60. I have seen quotes of £150 or more for the same work.
- Duplicate insurance. Both visa routes already include compulsory medical insurance. Some agents add a second policy and charge for it.
- Copycat visa websites. Third-party sites that look official often charge £150–£200 for the standard eVisa. The only official addresses are visa.visitsaudi.com and umrah.nusuk.sa.
- Currency mark-ups. Quotes given in riyals or dollars can hide a poor exchange rate. Ask for the price in pounds.
- Fees for the free Nusuk permit. The Umrah permit in the Nusuk app costs nothing. If someone charges you for it, ask exactly what you are paying for.
A simple rule I use: ask every agent to show the visa as its own line on the quote. A trustworthy company will do this without fuss. If they refuse, or bundle it into a vague “documentation charge”, that tells you something.
How the Visa Route Changes the Package Price
Your visa route has a bigger effect on the total cost than the visa fee itself.
If everyone in your group can use the eVisa, you have the most freedom. You can apply for your own visas, book a flight-and-hotel package, or even book flights and hotels separately. That flexibility is often where the cheapest Umrah trips come from. Just make sure that if you book the hotel and flight together, the package is ATOL-protected.
If anyone needs a dedicated Umrah visa, that person’s hotel and transport must be booked through a Nusuk-approved provider. In practice, most families then book everyone through the same agent, which narrows the choice a little but keeps the trip in one booking.
This is also why two packages with the same hotel can differ by £100 or more per person. One agent may be including the visa, and another may be assuming you will apply yourself. Always check which, so you compare like with like.
When my uncle and aunt finally booked, they applied for their own eVisas online in about twenty minutes and took a package without the visa included. That alone saved them over £250 compared with the first quote.
Finding Cheap Umrah Packages from the UK
Once the visa is sorted, the real savings come from timing and choices rather than haggling.
- Travel in a quiet month. Late October, November and the second half of January are usually the cheapest. A seven to ten night package then can start at around £600–£800 per person, sharing a room. Ramadan and school holidays cost far more.
- Be flexible with the airport and day. Midweek departures and one-stop flights through Istanbul or a Gulf hub are often cheaper than weekend direct flights.
- Share a room. Triple and quad rooms bring the hotel cost per person down sharply.
- Do not save on hotel distance. A cheaper hotel far from the Haram costs you time and energy five times a day. It is the one area where I never cut back.
- Compare full quotes, not headline prices. Check that each one names the hotels, the airline, the transfers and whether the visa is included.
When I want a fair benchmark, I look at a UK specialist that lays everything out clearly. The cheap Umrah packages from UK listed by Islamic Travel show the hotel name, its distance from the Haram and what is included, and they are ATOL-protected. That makes it easy to see whether a lower price elsewhere is a genuine saving or simply a worse hotel.
Finally, pay by credit card where you can. Section 75 protection covers purchases between £100 and £30,000 if the company fails.
Small Costs to Budget For Besides the Visa
The visa is only one part of the paperwork. A few smaller costs catch people out, so it helps to plan for them from the start.
- Passport validity. Your passport needs at least six months left on it when you travel. If it is close, renew it first, as a fast-track renewal costs far more than the standard one.
- Meningitis ACWY jab. Saudi Arabia asks Umrah pilgrims to have this at least 10 days before travel. Many high-street pharmacies offer it privately, so ring around and compare prices.
- Travel insurance. The medical cover bundled with the visa is basic. A separate UK policy that covers cancellation, lost luggage and pre-existing conditions is still worth having, especially for older parents.
- Spending money. Allow something for food not included in your package, local taxis, Zamzam water and gifts for family at home.
None of these is large on its own, but together they can add £150 or more per person. Putting them in your budget early means a cheap package stays cheap.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Umrah visa price from the UK in 2026?
The Saudi tourist eVisa costs SAR 535, about £105–£115 including medical insurance. A dedicated Umrah visa through an agent has an official cost of SAR 400–480, roughly £80–£95, plus an agent fee.
Is the Umrah visa included in cheap Umrah packages from the UK?
Sometimes. Many packages include it, but some cheaper ones assume British passport holders will apply for the eVisa themselves. Always check, so you compare like with like.
Why is my agent charging more for the visa?
A fair agent fee is around £20–£60. Higher charges often include a mark-up, duplicate insurance or other services. Ask for a written breakdown.
Can I apply for the Umrah visa myself to save money?
Yes, if you hold a British passport or qualify as a UK permanent resident or UK visa holder. Apply for the eVisa at visa.visitsaudi.com.
How much is the Nusuk Umrah permit?
It is free. You book it in the Nusuk app after your visa is issued.
What is the cheapest month for Umrah from the UK?
Usually late October, November or the second half of January, when packages can start at around £600–£800 per person.
Knowing the real Umrah visa price is one of the easiest ways to spot a fair agent. Start there, choose your dates well, and keep your savings for what matters most on the journey. Before you leave, it is worth learning the dua for travelling too, so the trip begins as it should.
