2026 Hajj: Saudi officials cite visa overstays as Nigeria faces Umrah visa shortfall

Saudi officials link reduced allocation to overstays, hint at possible review

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Saudi Arabian officials have linked ongoing difficulties faced by Nigerian tour operators in securing Umrah visas to past cases of pilgrims overstaying in the kingdom, a problem they say prompted a reduction in Nigeria’s visa allocation.

The explanation was given by a delegation from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah during discussions with state Muslim pilgrims welfare boards and private Hajj and Umrah operators in Nigeria.

According to the Saudi officials, repeated incidents of Nigerian pilgrims remaining in the country beyond the validity of their visas forced authorities to tighten controls and limit the number of Umrah visas issued to Nigerians.

They said, however, that compliance has improved in recent months, noting that Nigeria has now been reclassified as a low-risk country for visa overstays, a development they said could pave the way for a review of current restrictions.

Saudi officials expressed cautious optimism that the improved classification would allow for measures to ease visa access for Nigerian pilgrims, though no timeline was provided.

Challenges in securing Umrah visas began to intensify last year, particularly during the Ramadan season, when many intending Nigerian pilgrims were unable to travel. At the time, officials cited the exhaustion of available slots and delays in the departure of earlier pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s decision to extend Umrah visa validity from one month to three months has also contributed to the strain on available slots, allowing pilgrims and tourists to remain in the country longer and reducing turnover for new applicants.

Private tour operators say the situation has worsened this year, with visa shortages persisting months ahead of Ramadan. Industry sources estimate that Saudi authorities currently issue about 250 Umrah visas daily to Nigerian agents, a figure operators say falls short of demand in Africa’s most populous country.

Nigeria is among the world’s largest sources of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, ranking fifth globally in Hajj participation, according to industry data.

Some tour operators have suggested that additional factors beyond overstays may be influencing the continued scarcity of visas, though no specific details were provided.

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