Saudi Arabia has required would-be hajj pilgrims from many Western countries to apply for visas via a government portal online, a move intended to crack down on fake travel agencies.
The new system was put in place as the kingdom prepares to welcome 850,000 Muslims from abroad for the annual hajj after two years during which pilgrims not already in Saudi Arabia were barred because of Covid pandemic restrictions.
Officials say It applies to the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia to avoid a system that sometimes led to scams, with fake agencies.
State media announced the online portal a week ago, and the registration period ended Monday.