Pilgrims planning Umrah during the 1448 (2026-27) season face a stricter set of booking and verification rules than in previous years. Under regulations enforced through the Nusuk platform, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah now requires confirmed accommodation and transport bookings before an Umrah visa is issued, and a full readiness submission before an entry permit is granted. Officials describe the measures as a way to cut out unlicensed brokers, reduce fraud and ensure every pilgrim arrives with confirmed arrangements.

The 1448 Umrah season reopened in mid-June 2026, following the close of the Hajj period. With arrivals climbing sharply, authorities have tightened the digital checks that pilgrims must clear before travelling.

The "No Booking, No Visa" rule

The central change is a "No Booking, No Visa" policy. Every Umrah visa application must now be linked to a verified Booking Reference Number, or BRN, for both accommodation and transport before the visa is issued.

According to guidance published around the Nusuk platform, two bookings are required:

  • Hotel BRN: The booking must cover the full duration of the stay. Staying with relatives in Makkah no longer exempts a pilgrim from booking a verified hotel.
  • Transport BRN: An airport transfer from Jeddah or Madinah must be attached to the pilgrim's file.

Bookings must be made through Nusuk or a licensed partner so that the reference number syncs with the ministry's visa system. Without a valid BRN attached to the application, the visa request is rejected.

Pre-Arrival Readiness Data

Beyond the visa stage, pilgrims must complete a Pre-Arrival Readiness Data submission on Nusuk before an Umrah permit is issued. The submission brings together the documents authorities cross-check ahead of arrival, and typically includes a verified hotel booking reference, confirmed round-trip flight tickets, passport and visa details, and proof of meningitis vaccination.

Incomplete submissions block permit issuance, even when the electronic visa itself has already been approved. In practice this means a pilgrim can hold a valid visa yet still be unable to secure the permit needed to enter Masjid al-Haram until every required field is verified.

Why the permit matters at the gates

For the current season, a valid visa on its own is no longer sufficient to enter the Grand Mosque. Only pilgrims holding a valid Nusuk-issued permit are allowed entry to Masjid al-Haram and the Rawdah, and officials scan the permit's QR code at the gates. Pilgrims are advised to register on the app as soon as their visa is issued and to secure the permit before heading to the Haram.

A further timing change reinforces the need to plan carefully. The Umrah visa now requires entry into Saudi Arabia within 30 days of issuance, down from the earlier 90-day window, although the permitted stay of up to 90 days after arrival remains in place.

Practical tips for pilgrims

The sequence of steps matters. Pilgrims should confirm flights and a hotel first, obtain the accommodation and transport booking references, and only then apply for the visa, ideally around three weeks before departure so the 30-day entry window is not wasted.

All bookings should be made through Nusuk or a licensed provider so the reference numbers sync automatically with the ministry system. Pilgrims should complete the Pre-Arrival Readiness Data in full, including uploading proof of meningitis vaccination, which remains a standing requirement at Saudi immigration. Finally, the Nusuk permit QR code should be saved and accessible on arrival, as it is scanned at every entry point to the holy sites. Booking through unlicensed intermediaries risks a rejected visa and offers no guarantee of a valid permit.