Saudi Arabia fines visit visa holders up to SAR20,000 for entering Makkah during Hajj season
Saudi Interior Ministry warns visit visa holders that entering or remaining in Makkah and the holy sites without an official Hajj permit will attract penalties, including fines up to SAR20,000, deportation and a 10-year ban. The ministry reiterated that holders of any type of visit visa are not authorised to perform Hajj and urged the public to comply with the season’s regulations. (spa.gov.sa)
Interior Ministry statement and legal basis
The Interior Ministry issued a formal statement setting out the penalties and the enforcement window for the 1447 AH Hajj season.
The release stressed that obtaining a valid Hajj permit is a mandatory precondition for performing the pilgrimage and that other visa categories, including visit visas of all kinds, do not confer the right to enter Makkah for Hajj. (spa.gov.sa)
Penalties for unauthorised entry and stay
Authorities will impose a fine of up to SAR20,000 on any person holding a visit visa who enters, attempts to enter, or remains in the city of Makkah or the holy sites during the specified Hajj period.
In addition to financial penalties, violators are subject to deportation and to being banned from re-entering the Kingdom for a period of up to 10 years, measures the ministry said are intended to preserve public order and pilgrim safety. (spa.gov.sa)
Heavier fines for facilitators and accommodation providers
The ministry also identified a separate tier of sanctions targeting those who shelter, harbour or otherwise assist unauthorised individuals to remain in Makkah and the holy sites.
In such cases, a fine of up to SAR100,000 may be applied to anyone who provides accommodation, conceals, or helps visit visa holders to stay in the holy places without a Hajj permit, with penalties multiplied according to the number of people involved. (spa.gov.sa)
Specific acts that trigger maximum penalties
Officials listed specific violations that carry the highest fines and additional enforcement, including applying for a visit visa with the intent of enabling its holder to perform Hajj without a permit.
Transporting or delivering visit‑visa holders to Makkah or the holy sites, or otherwise facilitating their travel and stay with the explicit or implicit objective of letting them perform Hajj, is likewise subject to the SAR100,000 penalty and deportation. (spa.gov.sa)
Timing and how the rules will be applied
The ministry made clear that the measures apply for the Hajj season window from 1 Dhu al‑Qi’dah through the end of 14 Dhu al‑Hijjah (Umm al‑Qura calendar), which this year corresponds to the period beginning Saturday, April 18, 2026 and ending Sunday, May 31, 2026.
Authorities said the rules will be enforced across entry points, accommodation facilities and within the holy precincts to prevent irregular arrivals and to protect the safety and logistics of the pilgrimage. (pep.gov.sa)
Enforcement, reporting channels and public cooperation
The Interior Ministry urged hotels, landlords, transport operators and the public to cooperate with security and civil authorities by refusing to host or transport unauthorised visitors for pilgrimage purposes.
It also called on members of the public to report suspected violations to the relevant authorities promptly so that enforcement can proceed and penalties applied where necessary. (moi.gov.sa)
Those planning to undertake Hajj were reminded to secure an official Hajj visa and follow established registration channels. Travel organisers and hosts were warned that fines escalate with the number of beneficiaries and that facilitating unauthorised pilgrims carries both heavy financial and legal consequences.
The ministry framed the measures as part of wider preparations to ensure a safe, orderly and dignified pilgrimage for authorised pilgrims, stressing that compliance with visa and permit requirements is essential to protecting public safety and the integrity of Hajj operations.
