UAE
Saudi ArabiaAt a glance
- Issued by
- Saudi Arabia, through the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's systems
- How to book
- A Saudi-licensed package through a Pakistani Umrah operator or the Nusuk Umrah platform
- When
- Outside the Hajj period; each season has announced last dates for visas and entry
- Permits
- Umrah and Rawdah visit permits are booked in the Nusuk app
- Vaccines
- Meningococcal (ACYW) for all pilgrims, and polio for travellers from Pakistan, under current Saudi rules
- Regulator in Pakistan
- Ministry of Religious Affairs, under the Hajj and Umrah (Regulation) Act 2024
Who this is for
- Pakistani citizens and residents who want to perform Umrah and visit Madinah
- Families and groups who want hotels, transport and the visa arranged together
- Women travelling with family or in a group; Saudi rules currently allow women to come for Umrah without a mahram
- Elderly pilgrims who need a package with transport and hotels close to the Haram
When another route fits better
- You want to perform Hajj: an Umrah visa cannot be used for Hajj. Apply through Pakistan's Government Hajj Scheme or a MORA-registered private Hajj company.
- You want to work in Saudi Arabia: you need a Saudi work visa sponsored by an employer.
- You mainly want to visit relatives living in Saudi Arabia: a family visit visa may suit you better, and holders of other valid Saudi visas can book Umrah through Nusuk outside the Hajj period.
Documents to prepare
Everyone
- Pakistani passport with the validity Saudi rules require; ask your operator for the current requirement
- CNIC
- Recent photographs to the specification your operator or Nusuk gives
- Meningococcal (ACYW) vaccination certificate
- Polio vaccination certificate
- Confirmed return ticket and the hotel and transport bookings for your package
Families and children
- NADRA Family Registration Certificate or marriage certificate to show relationships, if asked
- Each child's own passport and NADRA Child Registration Certificate (B-Form)
Health
- A doctor's note about any long-term condition, with medicines kept in their original packaging
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination if you are in a group the Saudi health rules list, such as older pilgrims or pregnant women
Step by step
- 1
Choose your dates
Check the season calendar from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Umrah visas are not issued for travel over the Hajj period, and Ramadan is the busiest time of year.
- 2
Decide how to book
Book with a Pakistani operator on the Ministry of Religious Affairs' list of attested Umrah tour operators, or directly on Nusuk Umrah, where packages come from Saudi-licensed providers.
- 3
Get your vaccines
Have the meningococcal and polio vaccines in good time before you travel, and keep the certificates with your passport.
- 4
Apply for the visa
Your operator or the Nusuk platform submits the visa application with your passport details and photo. When the visa is issued, check every detail against your passport.
- 5
Book your permits
Use the Nusuk app to book your Umrah permit and, if you plan to pray in the Rawdah in Madinah, a time slot there.
- 6
Travel and return on time
Carry printed copies of your visa, tickets and hotel bookings, and leave Saudi Arabia before your permitted stay ends.
Costs to plan for
- The Umrah package, which usually bundles the visa, hotels and transport
- Air tickets, if they are not part of the package
- Vaccines and certificates
- Any insurance the visa or package requires
- Ziyarat tours, meals and local transport the package does not cover
- Extra hotel nights or rooms closer to the Haram
Why applications get refused
- Booking with an unregistered agent who takes payment and does not deliver the visa or hotels
- Errors in the name or passport number on the visa, which can stop you boarding
- Missing vaccination certificates at check-in or on arrival
- Planning travel after the Ministry's last date for Umrah visas or entry before Hajj
- A package where the hotel or transport promised is not what was actually booked
- Overstaying, working, or trying to stay on for Hajj, which can lead to fines, deportation and entry bans
Tips before you apply
- Ask for a written contract that lists hotels, distance from the Haram, transport, dates and what happens if plans change.
- Pay into the company's business account and keep receipts. Avoid cash and payments into personal accounts.
- Keep your return ticket, hotel booking and package papers with you at the airport, as immigration officers may ask about your trip.
- Install the Nusuk app and register before you travel so you can book permits as soon as you arrive.
Questions people ask
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah says women may come for Umrah without a mahram. Rules can change, so check the current position before you book.
Yes. Nusuk Umrah, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's platform, lets pilgrims book packages with or without a visa from Saudi-licensed providers. What is offered depends on your country of residence.
Holders of other valid Saudi visas can book Umrah through Nusuk. However, visit-visa holders are not allowed into Makkah during the Hajj period.
Under the Saudi Ministry of Health's current rules, all Umrah pilgrims need a meningococcal ACYW vaccine before travel, and travellers from Pakistan need a polio vaccine. Some higher-risk groups also need proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Check the latest edition before you travel.
No. Hajj needs a Hajj visa and permit. Staying on an Umrah or visit visa to perform Hajj breaks Saudi law and can lead to fines, deportation and an entry ban.
Official sources
Fees, fund requirements and processing times change. Check the current figures on the official site before you apply.
- Nusuk Umrah (Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah)
- MORA: List of attested Umrah tour operators
- Saudi Ministry of Health: Pilgrims' health requirements
Last reviewed 8 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice. VisaWala is not affiliated with any embassy or government, and only the issuing authority decides a visa application.