Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 25-04-2019
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Hajj Ministry has officially rolled out its E-Visa system for Umrah from 21 April making it an easier and faster process to obtain a visa.
The South African Muslim Travel Association (Samta) says with the exception of foreign passports, all South Africans intend embarking for Umrah are no longer required to send their passports to the Saudi Arabian Embassy for a visa.
To obtain an e-visa, travellers are required to adhere to the following process:
- Passports must be submitted to a local Umrah Operator, who is also regarded as the External Agent (EA) which is licensed with The Ministry of Hajj (MOH) via a local Saudi Umrah Operator (UO).
- The EA will then scan the passport onto a web based application submitting all the passport information to UO who will then make payment for the visa to the MOH.
- Once payment is received by the MOH, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs number will be generated. This is commonly referred to as a MOFA.
- The EA then takes the MOFA number and accesses the Engaz Ministry website completing an online form requesting:
- Applicants home address & telephone number
- Marital status & Mahram information
- Confirmation of vaccines
- Blood type (for now this is left blank)
- Select Yes or No answers relating to common questions on all visa applications including ‘have you served in the army, have you been deported from KSA previously, have you ever been involved terrorism,’ amongst others.
- Once the above has been successfully completed an E Visa is generated and e-mailed to the client.
This e-Visa system apply’s to applicants travelling for Umrah only and not Hajj.
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