Performing Umrah is set to become more expensive for many pilgrims after Saudi Arabia moved to make a Nusuk meal voucher a mandatory part of the Umrah visa process. According to Hajj Reporters, every pilgrim covered by the scheme will pay 20 Saudi riyals per day for the voucher, with the charge embedded directly in the visa fee rather than collected separately.
The measure is part of a wider push to route Umrah services through the Kingdom's official Nusuk platform. It follows a series of recent changes, including the new one-year multiple-entry Umrah visa and a requirement that pilgrims book verified accommodation before a visa is issued.
How the meal voucher works
Under the policy, the meal voucher will function in a similar way to the transport service that is already integrated into Nusuk. The value of the voucher is calculated based on the length of a pilgrim's stay, then verified before the Umrah visa is granted.
Hajj Reporters said the charge is fixed at 20 Saudi riyals for each day of the visit. A pilgrim planning a 10-day trip, for example, would see roughly 200 Saudi riyals added to the visa cost for the voucher alone. Because the fee is built into the visa rather than paid on arrival, pilgrims will need to budget for it before they travel.
The Kingdom says more than 10,000 restaurants linked to the Nusuk application are expected to take part in the programme. Pilgrims will redeem their vouchers at participating outlets during their stay in Makkah and Madinah, using the same app they already use for permits and other services.
Which pilgrims are affected first
The scheme will not be applied everywhere at once. According to the policy dispatch reported by Hajj Reporters, it will be introduced first in four countries with large numbers of Umrah pilgrims: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Egypt. A wider rollout is expected to follow once the system has been tested in these markets.
The change is timed to take effect from the start of Rabi al-Awwal. Pilgrims planning to travel around that period, particularly from the four launch countries, should expect the voucher fee to appear as part of their visa charges rather than as an optional add-on.
For pilgrims and the agents who serve them, the practical effect is a higher upfront cost and less flexibility over meals, since the voucher is tied to the length of stay declared at the time of the visa application. Families travelling together will see the fee multiplied across each traveller and each day of the trip.
Part of a broader Nusuk shift
The meal voucher continues a clear pattern in Saudi policy: bundling services that were once arranged informally into the digital Nusuk system. Transport between the holy cities is already handled this way, and accommodation must now be booked and verified through official channels before a visa is approved.
Supporters of the approach argue that it improves oversight, reduces exploitation of pilgrims by unlicensed operators, and gives authorities a clearer picture of pilgrim numbers and needs. Critics point out that mandatory bundling raises the total cost of Umrah and removes choices that pilgrims previously made for themselves.
Either way, the direction of travel is consistent. Pilgrims should expect more elements of the Umrah journey to be arranged, paid for and verified through Nusuk before departure, rather than settled after arrival in the Kingdom.
Practical tips for pilgrims
Budget for the full daily cost. If you are travelling from one of the four launch countries, add 20 Saudi riyals for every day of your planned stay, per person, when estimating your visa expenses.
Confirm the fee with your agent. Ask your licensed travel operator whether the meal voucher is already included in the package price or will be charged on top, so there are no surprises.
Declare your stay accurately. Because the voucher is calculated on length of stay, make sure your travel dates are correct before the visa is issued.
Keep the Nusuk app ready. Ensure the Nusuk application is installed and updated so you can locate participating restaurants and redeem your voucher easily during the trip.
As with all official rules, pilgrims should confirm the latest requirements through the Nusuk platform or a licensed operator before booking, as details and start dates can be updated.