Pilgrims planning an Umrah in the 2026-2027 season face a tighter and more digital set of visa rules. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has confirmed a series of changes that affect how visas are issued, how long they remain valid before entry, and what bookings must be in place before an application can succeed. Understanding these rules in advance can save travellers from delays or refused applications.
Nusuk registration is now mandatory
Every Umrah pilgrim must now register on the Nusuk platform, with no country-based exemptions. The ministry has described Nusuk as the main medium for issuing Umrah permits, and the platform is also used to issue visas, book packages and arrange other travel services. Pilgrims who do not complete registration cannot obtain the permits needed to enter Makkah.
Shorter entry validity
The entry validity of the Umrah visa has been reduced. The visa now expires 30 days after it is issued if the holder does not enter Saudi Arabia within that window. The ministry cut the entry validity from three months to one month in late 2025. The stay limit after arrival remains up to 90 days, so the change affects when a pilgrim must travel, not how long they may remain once inside the Kingdom.
No booking, no visa
Under the current rules, a pilgrim cannot be issued an Umrah visa until confirmed hotel and transport bookings are logged in Nusuk. This includes a confirmed stay in a Nusuk-approved hotel in Makkah, Madinah or both, and pre-booked ground transport covering airport transfers and inter-city travel. A booking reference number linked to those reservations is required before the visa is approved. The policy is intended to reduce the number of stranded pilgrims and to improve crowd management.
All visa types now eligible
The ministry has confirmed that holders of all visa types are now eligible to perform Umrah. This includes tourist and certain other visa categories, giving travellers greater flexibility to combine a visit to the Kingdom with the pilgrimage. Even so, the rule that Hajj may only be performed with a dedicated Hajj visa remains firmly in place, and an Umrah or tourist visa does not permit Hajj.
How to stay compliant
To avoid problems, pilgrims should complete Nusuk registration early and keep their login details secure. Confirm hotel and transport bookings through approved providers before applying, and note the booking reference number. Because the entry visa now lapses after 30 days, travellers should apply only once their travel dates are settled. Keep digital copies of all permits and reservations, since verification at the holy sites is increasingly carried out through QR codes and the Nusuk system. Careful preparation is the surest way to a smooth and lawful Umrah.
The reasoning behind the rules
Saudi authorities have presented these measures as steps toward safer, better-organised pilgrimages. Requiring confirmed bookings before a visa is issued reduces the risk of pilgrims arriving without accommodation, a problem that in the past left some travellers stranded. Shortening entry validity to 30 days gives the ministry a more accurate picture of who intends to travel and when, which supports crowd planning at the holy sites. Mandatory Nusuk registration brings every pilgrim into a single digital system that can verify permits instantly.
What it means for travel agents
The rules also reshape how agencies operate. Because a booking reference number is now essential to the visa process, operators must confirm hotel and transport arrangements up front rather than finalising them later. Agencies that fail to log bookings correctly in Nusuk risk delaying or blocking their clients' visas. Pilgrims booking through an agent should ask for confirmation that reservations have been entered into the system and request the booking reference number for their own records.
A more digital pilgrimage
Taken together, the changes reflect a broader shift toward a fully digital pilgrimage under Vision 2030. Electronic permits, QR code verification and automated contracting are steadily replacing paper-based processes. For most pilgrims the practical effect is positive, offering faster verification and clearer records, provided they prepare their documents in advance and keep digital copies accessible throughout the journey.