By Akram Medhat
VFS Tasheel, the company responsible for issuing Saudi Arabian visas, will begin applying the biometric eye and fingerprint procedure at its offices in Egypt starting November 19, despite the suspension of the 1439 AH/2018 Umrah season in Egypt.
Egyptians wishing to complete this procedure can do so at any time before traveling for Umrah during the season, provided they register on the Tasheel website, www.vfstasheel.com, to book an appointment and go to the nearest of its offices for the eye and fingerprint scans. The service costs $4.5 per Umrah pilgrim, equivalent to EGP 80.
The biometric procedure is mandatory under the Saudi authorities as a condition for Umrah pilgrims to obtain a visa, as it is a sovereign decision. In previous years it was applied at Saudi airports before pilgrims' entry, but they have moved the procedure to each country to prevent pilgrims from crowding while completing their entry procedures at the airport.
Saudi Arabia had announced the mandatory application of the biometric system to those wishing to perform the rituals in the new 1439 AH/2018 Umrah season, for all pilgrims aged 12 to 69.
Pilgrims can currently have their fingerprints taken, provided their trip is at any time during the 1439 AH Umrah season, on condition that they keep the fingerprint code and give it to the tour company at the time of booking in order to obtain the Umrah visa.
It is worth noting that the Umrah season actually began early in Saudi Arabia this year, allowing companies and pilgrims to register on its electronic system at the beginning of the month of Muharram. The Mawlid Umrah season in Egypt usually begins with trips departing from mid-Safar and the beginning of Rabi al-Awwal, but the Ministry of Tourism has not approved this year's 1439 AH regulations, which include the actual start date of the Umrah season.
