Umrah step-by-step planner

The Ministry lists three channels for Umrah visa and package bookings: the Nusuk Umrah platform, the Saudi Visa Platform, and an authorized external agent. Nusuk also lists other visa routes, including tourist, electronic, diplomatic mission, and family visit visas.

The Ministry guide says an official permit is required before heading to Masjid al-Haram and must be obtained through the Nusuk app. The guide says the permit should be issued before proceeding to Makkah or the Grand Mosque.

Nusuk says Umrah is available any time of year except during the Hajj season, when procedures are regulated. For the 1448 AH season, entering Makkah and issuing permits through Nusuk begin on 1 June 2026; the last day for departure is 7 April 2027.

Saudi MoH 1447H (2026) guidance requires all Umrah travelers to have a meningococcal vaccine: conjugate ACYW or ACYWX within the last five years and at least 10 days before arrival, or polysaccharide ACYW within the last three years and at least 10 days before arrival. Additional requirements depend on the country of arrival, and COVID-19 proof is required only for listed risk groups.

The Ministry guide advises checking that your passport, insurance document, and vaccination certificates are valid before travel.

Nusuk’s packing list includes a passport, vaccination certificates and permits, medications with a medical note or prescription, a wallet with cards and cash, clothes for after ihram, comfortable shoes, a phone and charger, a three-pin Gulf-standard adapter, earphones, and a Quran or book. Men wear an izar and rida, with white recommended; clips or a belt are allowed. Women may wear loose, modest, non-ornamental clothing that does not restrict movement.

The Ministry guide advises taking required vaccinations, consulting a doctor about chronic conditions, practising walking before the trip, and drinking sufficient water. Nusuk suggests walking at least half an hour daily before the Umrah date.

The Ministry visit guide lists ghusl, perfume on the body (not the garments), and beginning after a prayer among the Sunnah before ihram. It recommends two rak'ahs after entering ihram; the intention is made in the heart and does not need to be spoken.

The Ministry Ihram guide lists Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali) for Madinah, Al-Juhfah for Syria, Yalamlam for Yemen, Qarn al-Manazil (As-Sayl al-Kabir) for Najd, and Dhat Irq for Iraq. Pilgrims arriving from afar enter ihram at or in line with a Miqat; airlines usually announce when the plane is approaching it.

The Ministry Ihram guide says ihram is entered at the Miqat with the intention, followed by the talbiyah. It gives “Labbayka Allahumma Umrah” as the wording to state. For those concerned about being prevented, the guide gives a conditional intention: “If I am prevented by an obstacle, then my place of release is wherever I am prevented.”

The Ministry Ihram guide says men raise their voices in the talbiyah and women recite quietly. For Umrah, the talbiyah ends on seeing the Kaaba or starting Tawaf.

The Ministry Ihram guide lists sexual intercourse, entering a marriage contract, hunting animals, shaving the head or cutting nails, and wearing perfume among the prohibitions. It also lists specific restrictions for men and women: men should not cover the head or wear tailored garments; women should not wear a niqab or gloves. The guide lists bathing, wearing sandals, bandaging wounds, and a woman covering her face in the presence of non-mahram men as not prohibited.

The Ministry Ihram guide advises avoiding sexual relations, disobedience, and disputes, showing good character, and following organizing authorities.

The Ministry guide describes Tawaf as seven anticlockwise circuits, with the Kaaba on your left and each circuit starting and ending at al-Hajar al-Aswad. Nusuk says to begin beside al-Hajar al-Aswad when it is on your left, say “Allahu Akbar” when aligned, and repeat this at each completed circuit. The Ministry guide says a green light marks the starting point, in line with al-Hajar al-Aswad, and exact alignment is not necessary.

The Ministry guide describes raml as walking briskly with short steps during the first three circuits, and idtiba' as wearing the upper garment under the right arm with the right shoulder exposed. It advises doing raml carefully for others’ safety; idtiba' ends after the seven circuits, before the two rak'ahs. The Nusuk Umrah journey and the Ministry guide give these instructions for men during the Tawaf of Umrah.

At al-Rukn al-Yamani, the Ministry guide says to touch it if possible, then gesture toward al-Hajar al-Aswad and say “Allahu Akbar.” The guide describes kissing al-Hajar al-Aswad as Sunnah for those able, though crowding can make it difficult.

The Ministry guide says to pray two rak'ahs behind or in line with Maqam Ibrahim, or anywhere in the Grand Mosque to avoid crowding. Before the takbir, recite part of Quran 2:125; recite Al-Kafirun after Al-Fatiha in the first rak'ah and Al-Ikhlas in the second. On upper floors, pray anywhere in the mataf facing the Kaaba.

The Ministry Umrah guide says it is Sunnah to drink Zamzam after Tawaf with a specific intention, quoting: “Zamzam water is for whatever it is drunk for.” The visit guide advises not to put Zamzam containers in checked luggage or perform ablution with Zamzam containers.

The Ministry guide says the ground-floor mataf is for people in ihram; wheelchairs and electric carts use the first and second floors. It gives an estimated duration of about 2 to 3 hours on foot for the whole Umrah, or 1.5 to 2 hours with electric carts. The guide warns against pushing to touch the Kaaba or Maqam Ibrahim, and against wiping against Maqam Ibrahim or the chamber window to seek blessings.

Sa'i consists of seven laps on al-Mas'a, starting at Safa and ending at Marwah. Safa to Marwah is one lap, and Marwah back to Safa is the next.

Sources differ Sahih Muslim 1218 reports the verse being recited when approaching Safa at the start; the Ministry guide mentions it at Safa or Marwah.

Sa'i is seven laps (ashwat): going from Safa to Marwah is one lap, and returning from Marwah to Safa is the second, so laps 1, 3, 5 and 7 run from Safa to Marwah and laps 2, 4 and 6 run from Marwah to Safa; Sa'i starts at Safa and ends at Marwah. The Ministry Umrah guide says each one-way trip is about 394 m, about 2,761 m in total, and usually takes 45 to 60 minutes.

The Ministry guide says men walk briskly between al-Milayn al-Akhdarayn (the green lights) on the Sa'i path, then resume normal walking.

The Ministry guide says Sa'i can be done on the basement, ground, second floor or mezzanine, where electric wheelchairs are available; it recommends upper floors to avoid crowding. The original Mount Safa remains as rock on the ground floor.

The seventh lap ends at Marwah and the rites of Umrah conclude. The Ministry guide recommends exiting ihram.

For Umrah al-Ifrad, the Ministry guide says men may shave or trim; for Umrah al-Tamattu before Hajj, it says to trim without shaving. Nusuk says men shave the entire head or shorten the hair, and women shorten theirs.

The Ministry guide says women cut a fingertip length from the ends of their hair. Nusuk describes this as 1–2 cm from the ends.

Sources differ The Ministry guide says a fingertip length; the Nusuk platform says 1–2 cm from the ends.

Nusuk advises using licensed barbershops around the Haram, including the outer courtyards on the Marwah side and nearby malls and hotels. It says to check that a new razor or scissors is used for each pilgrim, tools are sterilized and the barber wears a mask; Haram restrooms are not meant for showering or changing.

After halq or taqsir, ihram ends and its restrictions are lifted. Nusuk says the cutting may be postponed until returning to the residence, but the restrictions remain until it is done.

The Ministry treats “Umrah and Visit” as two parts, with authorization needed for Umrah and for visiting the Prophet’s Mosque; Nusuk’s four pillars of Umrah are ihram, Tawaf, Sa'i and halq/taqsir. Madinah can be reached by Haramain train, direct flights to Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport or by road. The Madinah train station is 9 km from the Prophet’s Mosque, with shuttle buses.

SPA advises entering the Prophet’s Mosque with the right foot and praying two rak'ahs; in the Rawdah, pray without harming others and greet the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). It also advises avoiding excessive phone use and photography, and visiting and praying at Quba Mosque. Men may visit the graves at Al-Baqi and the Martyrs of Uhud; the Ministry FAQ says a booking is not required to pray in Al-Masjid an-Nabawi itself, while a permit is for the Rawdah.

The Ministry visit guide says to book a prayer appointment in Al-Rawdah Ash-Sharifah through the Nusuk app; the service is free, uses Nafath login, and lets you select a date and slot. Nusuk says the main booking feature allows one visit a year; repeat visits can be booked through Instant Track, which releases slots every 20 minutes for people near the Prophet’s Mosque central area. A group can include up to four visitors through Visitor Group Management, with invited visitors approving in their Nusuk accounts; a waiting list is also available, one slot at a time.

Nusuk says the visit lasts 20 minutes; arrive 30 minutes before the slot with the single-use QR entry code, and confirm attendance from 48 to 2 hours beforehand. Unconfirmed or unattended bookings are automatically cancelled; once confirmed, a booking cannot be modified, but it can be cancelled and rebooked. Entry directions differ between the SPA and Nusuk guidance, so follow on-site signs; elderly visitors may use wheelchairs.

SPA lists men’s hours as 2:00 am until Fajr, then 11:20 am until Isha; on Fridays, there is also a session from 9:20 am to 11:20 am and another from after Friday prayer until Isha. Women’s hours are after Fajr until 11:00 am and after Isha until 2:00 am; on Fridays, the morning session is after Fajr until 9:00 am, with the evening hours unchanged.

The Ministry visit guide says it is Sunnah, when offering greetings, to face the Prophet ﷺ and his two Companions and say, "As-salamu alayka ya Rasulallah, wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh". If supplicating for yourself, face the Qiblah. The guide says seeking blessings from the grave and raising your voice in its presence are not permissible; men and women use the designated areas.