Why visa timing trips up reunion families
You'd think a Saudi visa is a Saudi visa. It's not. Three Passports = three Processes.
In the United Kingdom, the application for the UK family visa is done through the Nusuk app (Saudi's e-Visa). The US family is the same but is subject to greater scrutiny by US-passport officials. The BD family is not able to use Nusuk directly, they have to go through a Bangladeshi agency that is approved by MoRA.
Three processes. Three timelines. One travel date. The slowest visa (usually BD) is the critical one, and if it is delayed, then the whole reunion will be in jeopardy.
This guide will help you to time it properly so that everyone can have visas in time before the trip.
Visa rules for each passport
Dual citizenship holders with UK passport (Dual citizens of Bangladeshi and UK)
- For applications, please use the Nusuk app or visit.saudi.
- Fee: ~£90 + processing (~£15)
- Timeline: 7-10 working days
- This is a digital photo upload with a white background.
- Validity; 90 days, single entry.
- No proof of relationship is required.
US passport holders
- Fee: ~$115 + processing
- Timeline: 7-14 working days (may take longer)
- Upload photos digitally, with a white background.
- The validity of the card is 90 days and one entry.
- The vaccine status needs to be verified.
Bangladesh passport holders
• Process: Through MoRA-approved Umrah agency (cannot apply directly via Nusuk)
• Fee: Included in package + service charge (~BDT 5,000-15,000)
• Timeline: 2-3 weeks normal, 4-5 weeks during peak
• Photo: Passport-size, white background
• Validity: The validity is 90 days, single entry.
• MoRA license verification on agency required
Suggested visa submission order
The time is limited by the slowest visa. For most diaspora reunion families, it's the BD visa.
Recommended order:
Week -16 to -12: Submit BD passports for visa through MoRA agency
Week -10 to -8: UK passports submitted through Nusuk.
Week -10 to -8: Submit US passports via Nusuk (slight buffer for slower processing)
Week -6: All visas should be approved
Week -6 to -4: Book confirmed flights
But if you do this in reverse (UK family first, BD parents last) you may find that the parents of a BD family don't have visas in time
A reunion family visa timeline (composite)
The Hossain family. Father (68) and mother (65) of Sylhet. Daughter Mahi (40) from East London, UK. Tareq, 37, who was born in Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) but has lived in the United States since becoming a citizen 12 years ago, is from Dearborn, Michigan.
Their timeline for a 14-day reunion Umrah in April 2027:
Result: No visa stress. Everyone landed within a 6-hour window in Saudi.
Common visa problems and fixes
Problem 1: BD parent's visa rejected (passport less than 6 months valid)
Fix: Saudi requires 6+ months of passport validity. Renew BD passport first. Allow 4-6 weeks for renewal at Bangladesh Passport Office.
Problem 2: US passport visa held due to past Saudi visit issue
Fix: Rare but happens. Contact the Saudi consulate in Washington or DC. Some US-Bangladeshi dual citizens face extra scrutiny. Allow a 2-week buffer.
Problem 3: UK applicant didn't disclose vaccination status
Fix: Saudi insists on COVID-19 and meningitis shots for pilgrims. Update Nusuk profile. Resubmit.
Problem 4: BD agency holds passport without progress
Fix: Check the agency from mora.gov.bd. Get a passport back and experience a verified agency if verified. This is a typical scam by new agencies.
Problem 5: Passport name mismatch with airline ticket
Fix: All names on visa, flight and passport should be the same. Most common problem: middle names. Reissue Tickets if necessary before leaving.
Problem 6: Saudi Umrah visa restriction during Hajj season (May-July)
Fix: Saudi doesn't grant Umrah visas during the time of Hajj. Plan reunion for August-April. If you have dates that overlap, delay or make compromises.
Visa costs across three passports
For a 7-person reunion family (4 UK, 2 BD, 1 US):
For comparison, a UK-only family of 4 spends £420 on visas. A BD-only family of 7 spends ~BDT 1,75,000 (~£1,150) — because visas are part of the agency package, costs are higher.
Diaspora families pay roughly the same as UK families for the diaspora members, plus BD agency premiums for the BD members.
Vaccination requirements (all passports)
For ALL pilgrims regardless of passport:
• COVID-19: Up-to-date as per WHO standards
• Meningitis (ACWY): Required for Saudi Umrah visa (10+ days before travel)
• Yellow Fever: Required if traveling from certain African countries (rarely relevant for UK/US/BD)
• Polio: Required if traveling from polio-affected countries (rarely relevant for UK/US)
Vaccinations apply equally to UK, US, BD pilgrims. Get them ALL done 4-6 weeks before travel to be safe.
Family medical preparation for reunion Umrah
In addition to vaccinations:
• BD parents need GP letter listing all medications (in English)
• Diabetes, blood pressure, heart conditions: bring 14+ days supply
• Saudi has Western medicines but brand names differ
• Carry-on medications labeled and translated
• Travel insurance for elderly is critical
When to start visa coordination
For a typical April 2027 reunion Umrah:
• Year before (April 2026): Family WhatsApp consensus on dates
• Oct 2026: Pick agency, get quote, sign contract
• Nov 2026: BD parents' passports submitted for visa
• Dec 2026: UK and US family submit Nusuk applications
• Jan 2027: All visas should be approved
• Feb 2027: Final flights, hotels confirmed
• March 2027: Pre-trip preparation
• April 2027: Travel
For peak periods (December UK rush, Ramadan), add 4 extra weeks for visa processing.
How agencies coordinate diaspora visas
A reunion experienced agency:
• Tracks all 3 visa applications in one system
• Reminds each family member when documents needed
• Flags issues before they become emergencies
• Handles passport courier for BD family (saves trips to Dhaka)
• Provides agency-specific tips for US passport scrutiny
A regular agency only handles their primary market's visas. UK agencies don't know BD MoRA process. BD agencies don't know Nusuk for UK/US passports.
