Hajj visa violators face fines and bans from Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia will impose a fine of 20,000 riyals ($5,331) on pilgrims without the correct visa requirements who enter, attempt to enter, or remain in Mecca and the holy sites during the Hajj season.

The kingdom issues specific Hajj visas to undertake the pilgrimage.

However, those who attempt to perform Hajj using a tourist, personal or business visa will be fined, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported. 

Illegal entrants for Hajj will also face deportation to their home countries and a ban on re-entering Saudi Arabia for 10 years, the report said.

Earlier this month the government said that only residents holding valid permits will be allowed to enter Mecca from April 13.

Authorities set April 18 as the deadline for foreign pilgrims on Umrah visas to leave the kingdom. From the same date Umrah permits will be suspended for all categories, including citizens, residents and GCC nationals, until May 31.

Saudi Arabia received 1.67 million pilgrims during the last Hajj season, including 1.5 million who entered the country from various ports of entry, Al Eqtisadiah, an Arabic newspaper, reported

Almost 1.4 million came through airports, 66,000 via land ports and 5,094 through seaports, the newspaper said.

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