Caudiya has increased the punishment for "illegal pilgrims"
As part of efforts to regulate the flow of pilgrims ahead of the upcoming Hajj season, Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry has warned that those with expired visas will face "severe punishment."
Violators of the law can be fined up to $13,000, imprisoned for six months, and deported after serving their sentence.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has urged Umrah visa holders to leave Mecca by April 29 to avoid punishment.
The ministry also reiterated that holders of a visitor visa are not eligible to perform the Hajj pilgrimage, and recommended that all foreign tourists strictly adhere to visa requirements.
These measures include a rule requiring citizens to obtain official permission to enter Mecca, which will take effect on April 23. Entry is restricted to those with a work permit for the holy sites, proof of residency in Mecca, or an official Hajj permit.
For your information, this year's Hajj is expected to begin on June 6 and end on June 11.
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The Committee for Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Digital Technologies will develop the "Single Portal for Hajj and Umrah" and its mobile application by September 1, 2025. This is stipulated in the presidential decree on taking reforms in the religious sphere to a new level.
