VACCINE REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA (HAJJ AND UMRAH)
In August 2021, after 18 months of closure, Saudi Arabia announced that it would reopen its borders to foreign pilgrims, provided that they are vaccinated against covid 19 and that they comply with the rules enacted by the country. .
The pilgrimage to Mecca includes the Hajj, or great pilgrimage, which takes place between the 8th and 13th of the lunar month of Dhû al-hijja, and Umrah, or small pilgrimage, which can be done all year round. Each year, between 4 and 5 million pilgrims, including approximately 25,000 French, go to Mecca.
This news aims to inform visitors traveling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, Hajj or seasonal work in the Hajj and Umrah regions. The Saudi Ministry of Health has published a guide for the health of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Further information can also be found on the website of the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
If you are looking for Umrah packages 2022 Almuslim Travel offers the carefully designed and Umrah Packages 2022 for the pilgrims departing from the United Kingdom. Almuslim Travel takes responsibility for all the arrangements and administrative tasks on our shoulders without any hesitation. You can now visit the holiest places in the world’s beautiful cities “Makkah” & “Madinah” with utmost peace of mind.
1. Preparation of the stay
1.1. Covid 19
The Saudi authorities have announced the lifting of the ban on entry into the kingdom, as of August 1, 2021, for holders of a tourist visa (e-visa) obtained via the official website VisitSaudi.com.
The conditions for entering Saudi Arabia are detailed and regularly updated on the website of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (diplomatie.gouv).
Entry into Saudi Arabia remains prohibited for non-Saudi nationals from the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Pakistan and Turkey, South Africa. These travelers must spend a minimum of 14 days outside the aforementioned countries before they can claim entry into the kingdom.
In the absence of vaccination against covid 19, since May 20, 2021, any non-Saudi traveler from abroad must undergo a septaine in an accommodation structure approved by the Saudi government in the city of arrival in the territory. The reservation of the quarantine place must be made through the airline. A PCR test must be performed on the 1st day and the last day of this septaine (children aged 8 years or less are exempt from performing PCR tests).
However, these quarantine measures do not apply to people considered to be immune to covid 19. The Saudi authorities consider as immune non-residents and first-time visitors who have received for more than 14 days, outside the kingdom:
two doses of the Comirnaty vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech), the Vaxzevria vaccine (AstraZeneca) or the Spikevax vaccine (Moderna);
a single dose of the COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen vaccine;
two doses of the SINOPHARM BIBP COVID-19 vaccine (Sinopharm) or Coronavac (Sinovac) vaccines supplemented by a single booster dose of one of the above four vaccines.
The presentation of a vaccination certificate translated into English or Arabic and issued by the Ministry of Health or by the health insurance (downloadable from www.ameli.fr) is required. The vaccination must be registered on the page https://muqeem.sa/#/vaccine-registration/home no more than 72 hours before arrival in the territory.
In addition, regardless of the country of origin, travelers aged 8 years and over must produce, upon check-in with the airline and upon arrival on Saudi territory, the negative result of a PCR test. carried out less than 72 hours before arrival in Saudi Arabia.
All travelers, with the exception of Saudi nationals, residents (holders of an iqama, a document used for the management of foreign recruitments in Saudi Arabia) and nationals of the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, must also imperatively subscribe medical insurance covering medical costs related to covid 19.
Vaccinations covered by the International Health Regulations
Anyone over the age of 2 arriving from Umrah travel agency, Hajj or for seasonal work in Hajj areas is required to be vaccinated against invasive meningococcal infections with a tetravalent meningococcal vaccine conjugate A, C, Y, W. This vaccination is compulsory for obtaining visas for the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
The vaccine must be administered at least 10 days before the intended arrival in Saudi Arabia. Vaccination must be certified by an International Vaccination Certificate (see Annex 6 of the International Health Regulations) on which the vaccine label indicating the name of the vaccine and the batch number will be affixed.
