Saudi Arabia has fixed the key deadlines for the 1448 AH Umrah season and confirmed that pilgrims holding almost any category of Saudi visa may now perform Umrah, a combination of changes that reshapes how millions plan their journeys to Makkah and Madinah. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah published the season calendar alongside a set of visa rules that came into force earlier in the cycle.
According to the ministry calendar reported by Gulf News and travel platform Wego, visa issuance for the season began on 31 May 2026, with pilgrim entry to Makkah and permit access through the Nusuk platform opening on 1 June 2026.
The Deadlines That Matter
The 1448 AH season carries firm cut-off dates tied to the approach of the Hajj 2027 window. The final day to issue Umrah visas is 9 March 2027. The last date for pilgrim entry into the Kingdom is 23 March 2027, and all Umrah pilgrims must depart by 7 April 2027.
These deadlines are not flexible. Pilgrims holding a visa near the end of the season need to plan so that they enter before 23 March 2027 and leave by 7 April 2027. Overstaying can trigger fines and affect future applications, so travellers booking late in the season should build in a margin for delays.
All Visa Types Now Accepted
In a significant broadening of access, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has confirmed that holders of all visa types are now eligible to perform Umrah outside the Hajj season. The accepted categories include the tourist eVisa, personal and family visit visas, and transit and work visas.
The change means a traveller who enters Saudi Arabia on a tourist or transit visa no longer needs a separate dedicated Umrah visa to visit the Haram and perform the rites. There are limits: Hajj still requires its own dedicated visa, and Umrah visas do not grant the right to work or reside in the Kingdom.
Even with an eligible visa, every pilgrim must still register on Nusuk and book an Umrah permit through the platform. Nusuk registration is now mandatory for everyone, with no country-based exemptions.
Booking Rules Still Apply
The wider eligibility sits alongside stricter booking requirements introduced for the season. An Umrah entry visa is now valid for 30 days from issuance, down from the previous 90 days, though the permitted stay after arrival remains up to 90 days. Applicants must also link confirmed Nusuk hotel and transport bookings, generating a Booking Reference Number, before a visa is approved.
Practical guidance for pilgrims: apply closer to your travel date so the 30-day entry window does not lapse before you fly, lock in flights before the visa is issued, and confirm hotel and transport bookings on Nusuk in advance. Those travelling near the season's end should aim to complete their pilgrimage well before the 23 March 2027 entry deadline and the 7 April 2027 departure cut-off.