Which visa do you need for Umrah from France? The tourist e-Visa, the free stopover visa or an agency Umrah visa: eligibility, cost, the mandatory vaccine, Nusuk registration and timing for Ramadan 2027.
Performing Umrah from France no longer requires going through an agency to get a visa. Since Saudi Arabia opened to tourism, French nationals can apply for an e-Visa online and perform Umrah outside the Hajj season. But between the tourist e-Visa, the stopover visa and the Umrah visa issued through agencies, it is easy to get lost. This guide explains which visa to choose, what it costs, which other formalities apply (vaccine, Nusuk, passport) and when to apply for Umrah in Ramadan 2027. The information was checked against the French Foreign Ministry’s official travel advice for Saudi Arabia.
Umrah visa from France at a glance
Which visa do you need for Umrah from France?
Saudi Arabia offers a tourist e-Visa to nationals of 65 countries, including France. According to the French Foreign Ministry’s France Diplomatie travel advice, entry for religious purposes is done with this e-Visa, requested on the official Visit Saudi portal, and it lets you combine Umrah with a tourist stay. In practice there are three options: the tourist e-Visa, the stopover visa and the Umrah visa issued by an approved agency.
Option 1: the tourist e-Visa (the simplest)
This is the visa most French pilgrims choose today. You apply online on the Visit Saudi portal; it is valid for one year with multiple entries and allows up to 90 days in total, leaving time to perform Umrah and then visit Madinah. The mandatory medical insurance is built into the application, and approval usually arrives within a few days. Note that it cannot be used for Hajj.
Option 2: the free stopover visa
Little known, the stopover visa is free and lets you enter Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah during a layover. The conditions listed by France Diplomatie: you must fly with Saudia or Flynas, stay less than 96 hours, and apply when you buy your ticket (up to 90 days before departure). The visa is issued within 4 hours at most. It is a smart option if you are continuing to another country, but the time on the ground is very short for Umrah plus a visit to Madinah.
Option 3: the Umrah visa through an agency
The classic Umrah visa is issued only through approved agencies, usually as part of a package with flights, hotels and transfers. It is still useful for pilgrims whose nationality is not eligible for the e-Visa, or for those who prefer a professional to handle everything. If you book Umrah packages from France or from Paris with Yuusr, our team will guide you through the visa and Nusuk bookings that apply to your passport.
Umrah visa without an agency: how to apply
1. Check that your passport is valid for at least six months after your arrival date. 2. Get the ACWY meningitis vaccine at least 10 days before departure. 3. Complete the e-Visa application on the official Visit Saudi portal and pay online. 4. Download the Nusuk app and book your Umrah slot, plus a Rawdah visit in Madinah if you wish. 5. Print or keep on your phone your visa, Nusuk permit and vaccination certificate, as they may be checked at the airport. Our Umrah calendar for 2026 to 2027 shows the best windows month by month.
France residents with Algerian, Moroccan or Tunisian nationality
e-Visa eligibility depends on your passport. Holders of certain residence permits or visas (including Schengen) may be eligible under conditions even if their nationality is not on the list, so check your own case on the Visit Saudi portal before paying anything. Otherwise, an Umrah visa through an approved agency remains the safest route.
How much does an Umrah visa cost from France?
Official e-Visa fees are set in Saudi riyals and include medical insurance; depending on the exchange rate, expect a little over €100, to be confirmed on the official portal when you apply. The stopover visa is free. Be wary of intermediary websites that imitate official portals and charge high service fees: a price well above the official rate should be justified by real service such as paperwork help, Nusuk bookings or support. For a full budget, see our guide to Umrah prices from France.
Is the meningitis vaccine mandatory?
Yes. France Diplomatie states that the quadrivalent ACWY vaccine is mandatory for all pilgrims performing Umrah, whether they hold an Umrah visa or a tourist visa and travel to Makkah or Madinah for Umrah. Proof may be requested at the airport and during checks at the holy sites, and the vaccine must be given at least 10 days before departure. Use our Umrah checklist and packing list so nothing is forgotten.
Ramadan 2027 Umrah: when to apply for your visa
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, subject to the moon sighting. Searches for an Umrah visa peak every year between December and February, so plan ahead: apply for your e-Visa as soon as your flights are confirmed, book your Nusuk slot early and get the vaccine in January at the latest. See our Ramadan Umrah 2027 departures, our guide to the best time for Umrah and all our packages. All the expected dates are in our article on Ramadan 2027 dates in France.
Frequently asked questions
Can you perform Umrah on a tourist visa?
Yes, outside the Hajj season, provided you book your Umrah on Nusuk and have the ACWY meningitis vaccine.
How long does the e-Visa take?
Usually a few days, sometimes less. Do not leave it to the last minute in Ramadan, when processing can take longer.
Explore our Umrah packages from France.
Yuusr.com helps pilgrims from France and across Europe plan Umrah with confidence: flights, hotels close to the Haram in Makkah and Madinah, transfers and help with visas and Nusuk.