General Directorate of Passports starts granting Makkah entry permits for expatriates who intend to work during Hajj

The General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat) announced on Tuesday that it has started to accept applications and issue electronic permits for foreign nationals planning to work in Makkah during the 2018 Hajj season. The Muqeem portal and Absher Individuals, the Ministry of Interior's computerized platform, are being used to grant the permits.

The technical integration with the Tasreeh platform, the recently announced unified digital platform for awarding Hajj permits, eliminates the need for expatriates working for the Hajj to physically visit the Jawazat offices in order to obtain the permit.

After submitting the necessary paperwork, the Absher Individuals platform authorizes domestic workers, dependents, investors, mothers of citizens, and citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council nations to get licenses.

Workers of Makkah-based enterprises will be granted entry permits to Makkah via the Muqeem portal. Through this portal, individuals who have employment contracts with Makkah-based enterprises during the Hajj season, as well as those who possess seasonal work visas, can also get the permit.

The platform is intended to grant licenses and permissions that entitle its holders—both domestic and foreign pilgrims—to access Makkah and the sacred locations. Using the extensive nationwide application Tawakkalna, the platform also lets workers and volunteers engaged in all Hajj operations, as well as the cars carrying them, to enter Makkah and the sacred places.