Saudi Arabia: How Hadj (Hajj) groups are organized; whether passports are necessary to enter Saudi Arabia for Hadj or Umrah pilgrimages; whether the Saudi immigration authorities retain the passports of pilgrims; regulations for women travelling alone or with children with respect to passports and male escorts; penalties imposed by the Saudi authorities for those who stay beyond the expiry of their pilgrimage visas
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SAU30539.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Saudi Arabia: How Hadj (Hajj) groups are organized; whether passports are necessary to enter Saudi Arabia for Hadj or Umrah pilgrimages; whether the Saudi immigration authorities retain the passports of pilgrims; regulations for women travelling alone or with children with respect to passports and male escorts; penalties imposed by the Saudi authorities for those who stay beyond the expiry of their pilgrimage visas, 1 November 1998, SAU30539.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ace038.html [accessed 17 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The attached information, obtained from the website of the Islamic Affairs Department, Royal Saudi Embassy contains detailed instructions and administrative procedures for the organization of pilgrimages. The document sets out: Duties of the Pilgrim; Charges for Services and Transportation and the Method of Payment; Schedule of Arrivals and Departures; Duties of and Services Offered by The National Pilgrim Service Establishments; Pilgrim Lodging Rules (omitted); Instructions for the General Car Syndicate and the Pilgrim Transport Companies (omitted); Instructions Pertaining to the Return of the Pilgrims to their Countries; Instructions Pertaining to Official Pilgrimage Missions; and General Instructions. According to this information, all pilgrims, whether travelling individually or with an organized group, are brought within the system of "establishments," which both look after and are responsible for the pilgrims (ibid.).
In a telephone interview with the Research Directorate a counsellor at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Ottawa stated that Saudi immigration authorities do not retain the travel documents of pilgrims during their stay in Saudi Arabia (19 Nov. 1998). However, pilgrims are required to temporarily turn over their travel documents to National Pilgrim Service Establishments, National Guide Establishments and the Agent's Unified Office for the duration of their pilgrimage (Saudi Arabia Islamic Affairs Department "Pilgrimage Organizing Instructions").
Passports are not required for entry into Saudi Arabia for pilgrims holding Hajj or Umrah visas provided that they are also in possession of all other documentation required for their return or onward journey (Travel Information Manual Nov. 1998, 347).
The counsellor at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Ottawa confirmed that a male relative must accompany women and children travelling to Saudi Arabia for both the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. The counsellor further stated that upon reaching the age of 16, males are no longer defined as children and can perform the role of an accompanying male relative (19 Nov. 1998). However, according to the Pilgrimage Organizing Instructions, there are special rules for women over the age of 45, who must be accompanied by a Mahram (a person with whom marriage is forbidden) or, if travelling with an organized group, must present a letter of no-objection from their husbands or sons (Saudi Arabia Islamic Affairs Department "Hajj and Umrah").
In April 1998, the Saudi Gazette reported that the fine for those who remain beyond the expiry of a Hadj or Umrah visa would be one months imprisonment or a fine of SR1,000 (CDN$413) and deportation at the expense of that person (13 Apr. 1998). These measures came in the wake of a September 1997 amnesty declared by the Saudi government for "overstayers," following which there had been a rush to leave the country that included approximately 100 Chadians per week (Saudi Gazette 30 Sept. 1997). In June 1998 a large number of overstayers were apprehended, including 45 Chadian women (Saudi Gazette, 11 June 1998). Shortly thereafter, the Director General for Passports, Major General Asad Abdel-Karim Al Fireh was cited as stating that "those who illegally stay back after performing Haj and Umrah and all violators of regulations will be forced to leave the country irrespective of their nationalities" (Riyadh Daily 30 Aug. 1998).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Riyadh Daily. 30 August 1998. "Saudis Jailed for Violating Iqama Rules." (Middle East Newsfile/NEXIS)
Saudi Gazette. 30 September 1997. "Overstayers Rush to Leave as Amnesty Deadline Nears." (Moneyclips/NEXIS)
_____. 13 April 1998. "Heavy Fines, Jail for Violators of Iqama Rules." (Saudi Middle East Newsfile/NEXIS)
_____. 11 June 1998. "Fines, Jail terms for Saudi Violators Of Residency Laws." (Middle East Newsfile/NEXIS)
Saudi Arabia Islamic Affairs Department. n.d. "Pilgrimage Organizing Instructions." [Internet] <http://www.iad.org/books/POI.html> [Accessed 6 November 1998]
_____. n.d. "Hajj and Umrah." [Internet] <http://www.iad.org/books/HU.html> [Accessed 6 November 1998]
Travel Information Manual. November 1998. Hoofddorp, The Netherlands.
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. 19 November 1998. Telephone interview with counsellor.
Attachments
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia Islamic Affairs Department. n.d. "Pilgrimage Organizing Instructions". [Internet] <http://www.iad.org/books/POI.html> [Accessed 6 November 1998]
Saudi Gazette. 13 April 1998. "Heavy Fines, Jail for Violators of Iqama Rules." (Middle East Newsfile/NEXIS)
