Umrah Visa for Pakistanis in 2026: The 30-Day Entry Rule, Season Dates and the Nusuk App Explained

If you are planning Umrah this winter or for Ramadan, the rules have changed more in the last year than in the five before it. Getting an Umrah visa for Pakistani passport holders in 2026 still starts with a licensed operator. But you now have only 30 days to use the visa, and almost everything inside Saudi Arabia runs through one app: Nusuk.

This guide is for first-time and returning pilgrims from Pakistan, and for the family members helping them. By the end you will know which visa route fits you, when to apply, the 1448 AH season deadlines, how to book your Umrah and Rawdah permits, and the mistakes that cost people their trip.

If you already know you want a ready-made package, see our Umrah packages from Pakistan. This page explains how the system works.

What are the ways a Pakistani can get an Umrah visa?

There are three routes. Which one fits depends on your passport, any other visas you hold, and how much you want to arrange yourself.

1. Through a Pakistani Umrah operator (most common)

An Umrah visa is an electronic visa issued by Saudi Arabia for pilgrims who want to perform Umrah (Ministry of Hajj and Umrah FAQ). It is not applied for at an embassy counter. A Saudi-licensed Umrah company works with an overseas agent (a Pakistani travel company), and the visa is issued against your package of hotels and transport in Saudi Arabia.

In Pakistan, Umrah services now come under the Hajj and Umrah Act 2024. The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) publishes a list of attested Umrah tour operators on its website. ProPakistani reported in July 2026 that MoRA issued a notification saying only ministry-approved companies may provide Umrah services, and that complaints will only be accepted against approved firms. Arab News reported in September 2025 that MoRA asks pilgrims to pay by bank transfer into the company's account and to keep the receipt and a written agreement.

2. Through Nusuk Umrah (Saudi Arabia's official booking platform)

In August 2025 the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah launched Nusuk Umrah, which lets pilgrims outside the Kingdom apply for an Umrah visa and book services online without intermediaries (Saudi National Transformation Program). Packages come from the Ministry's authorised service providers and can include the visa, hotels, transport and Rawdah booking.

The platform says availability depends on "the available countries for individual Umrah according to the ministry's regulations." So before you plan around it, enter Pakistan as your country of residence and check what is actually offered to you. As of October 2026, most Pakistani pilgrims we speak to still travel through a local operator.

3. On a Saudi tourist eVisa (only if you qualify)

Most Pakistani passport holders cannot get the Saudi tourist eVisa on their nationality alone. Gulf News and other outlets report that you may qualify if you hold:

• a valid US, UK or Schengen tourist or business visa that you have already used at least once to enter that country, or
• permanent residency in the US, UK or an EU country.

The same reports say the tourist visa allows Umrah outside Hajj season. Some older reports said the opposite, so confirm the current rule on the official Visit Saudi eVisa portal before you book. You still need a Nusuk Umrah permit on a tourist visa.

What is the 30-day entry rule?

Saudi media, including the Saudi Gazette, reported on 30 October 2025 that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah had cut the entry validity of Umrah visas from three months to one month from the date of issue, taking effect in early November 2025. If you do not enter Saudi Arabia within 30 days, the visa is cancelled automatically.

The length of stay after you arrive did not change. The Ministry's FAQ says the stay on an Umrah visa is 90 days and cannot be extended beyond that. Note that the same FAQ page still says you must enter "within three months" of issue. That line appears not to have been updated, so follow the stricter 30-day rule.

What this means in practice:

• Do not apply too early. A visa issued six weeks before your flight will be cancelled before you travel.
• Fix your flight first, then let your operator apply.
• Your stay is also capped by the season. Even with 90 days on the visa, you must leave by the season's last departure date (below).

What are the 1448 AH Umrah season dates?

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced the 1448 AH season calendar in May 2026:

Milestone	Hijri date	Gregorian date
Umrah visa issuance and pilgrim entry begin	14 Dhul Hijjah 1447	31 May 2026
Entry to Makkah and Umrah permits on Nusuk begin	15 Dhul Hijjah 1447	1 June 2026
Last day Umrah visas are issued	1 Shawwal 1448	9 March 2027
Last day pilgrims can enter Saudi Arabia	15 Shawwal 1448	23 March 2027
Last day pilgrims must leave Saudi Arabia	30 Shawwal 1448	7 April 2027

Two things to take from this. First, Ramadan 1448 falls inside the season, so Ramadan Umrah is possible, but demand and prices peak then. Second, the season deadlines override your visa. A visa issued on 9 March 2027 still only lets you enter until 23 March, and everyone must be out by 7 April.

What is Nusuk and why do you need it?

Nusuk is the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's official platform for pilgrims, available as the Nusuk app and website. For a pilgrim from Pakistan it does two essential jobs: it issues your Umrah permit and your Rawdah permit. The Ministry's FAQ says permits are shown and checked on arrival through the Nusuk and Tawakkalna apps.

How to book your Umrah permit, step by step

1. Wait for your visa. You need your visa number to register.
2. Download Nusuk from the official app store and create an account. The Ministry's FAQ lists the details needed: passport number, visa number, date of birth, nationality, mobile number and email.
3. Add family members travelling with you, each with their own passport and visa details.
4. Choose "Umrah" and pick a date and time slot that matches when you will be in Makkah.
5. Save the permit to your phone (a screenshot helps if signal is weak) and carry your passport.
6. Arrive for your slot and show the permit when asked.

If your operator manages permits for your group, still ask for a copy of each permit before you fly.

How does the Rawdah (Riyadh ul Jannah) permit work?

The Rawdah is the area in Masjid an-Nabawi between the Prophet's (peace be upon him) house and his minbar. The Ministry's FAQ confirms a permit is required to pray there, booked through Nusuk or Tawakkalna.

• Once per 365 days. Gulf News reported in January 2025 that the Ministry issues one Rawdah permit per person every 365 days.
• "Immediate Path" exception. The same report says worshippers near the Prophet's Mosque can sometimes make a repeat visit through Nusuk's Immediate Path service.
• Separate times for men and women. Timings change, so check the slot shown in the app.
• Book early. Slots can run out, especially in Ramadan. Book as soon as your Madinah dates are fixed.

What documents do you need?

Use this as your checklist. Your operator may ask for more.

• Passport valid for at least 6 months from your travel date, with blank pages
• Copy of CNIC (NADRA B-Form or CRC for children)
• Recent passport-size colour photo on a white background
• Meningitis (ACWY) and polio vaccination certificates (see our Umrah vaccination guide for Pakistan)
• Confirmed return flight dates
• For the tourist eVisa route only: your valid US, UK or Schengen visa with an entry stamp, or proof of residency

Can women go for Umrah without a mahram?

Yes. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's FAQ answers "Yes, it is allowed" to the question of a woman performing Umrah without a mahram. Many families still prefer women to travel with a relative or in a group, and some operators set their own conditions, so ask before you pay.

What are the rules for children?

The Ministry's FAQ says the minimum age for an Umrah permit is 5 years, and that children are allowed in the courtyards of both Haram mosques. Ajel reported in August 2026 that the Ministry's customer care account confirmed children under five do not need a Nusuk permit and accompany their parents. Every child needs their own passport and visa, so tell your operator each child's exact age when booking.

How long does an Umrah visa take?

Saudi Arabia does not publish a fixed processing time for Umrah visas issued through companies. Once your documents and package are complete, it is usually a matter of working days, but it can take longer in Ramadan. Because of the 30-day rule, the safest approach is to start two to three weeks before your flight, and never more than 30 days before it.

Step-by-step: from planning to Umrah

Step	What you do	When
1	Check the 1448 AH season dates and pick travel dates	1–3 months before
2	Choose a MoRA-attested operator, or check Nusuk Umrah	1–2 months before
3	Get vaccinated (ACWY at least 10 days before arrival)	3–6 weeks before
4	Book flights and confirm hotels and transport	3–5 weeks before
5	Submit documents; operator applies for the visa	2–3 weeks before
6	Register on Nusuk and book Umrah and Rawdah permits	As soon as the visa is issued
7	Travel within 30 days of visa issue	Before the 30-day limit
8	Leave Saudi Arabia before your visa or season deadline	Before 7 April 2027 at the latest

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying too early. A visa issued more than 30 days before you fly will be cancelled.
• Using an unattested agent. If the company is not on the MoRA list, your complaint may not be accepted.
• Paying in cash to an individual. Pay by bank transfer to the company and keep the receipt.
• Forgetting the Rawdah permit. Pilgrims often reach Madinah to find no slots left.
• Planning around the 90 days near the season's end. The 7 April 2027 departure deadline applies to everyone.
• Assuming a tourist eVisa works for you. It depends on a used US, UK or Schengen visa or a residency.
• Leaving vaccinations late. The ACWY vaccine must be given at least 10 days before arrival.

How Sky Raah can help

Sky Raah Travels arranges Umrah visa processing, flights, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, and guidance on Nusuk permits from our office in Lahore. We time your visa application to your flight so it stays inside the 30-day window. See our Umrah packages or message our team to talk through your dates.

Rules as of October 2026. Umrah regulations change often, so confirm on the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and Nusuk websites before applying.

Official sources

• Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: 1448 AH Umrah season calendar
• Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: FAQ
• Nusuk: official pilgrim platform
• Nusuk Umrah: packages and visa booking
• National Transformation Program: launch of Nusuk Umrah
• Ministry of Religious Affairs, Pakistan: attested Umrah tour operators
• Visit Saudi: tourist eVisa portal