Nusuk Update

Every Nusuk Update Every Pilgrim Must Know Before Booking Umrah

Nusuk (nusuk.sa) is the official Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah platform, and it now controls almost every step of the Umrah journey — visa, hotel, transport, and even mosque entry. The rules have changed significantly, and missing even one requirement can mean visa rejection.

Nusuk is always working to help pilgrims by making the Umrah journey as smooth and comfortable as possible. That’s why the platform updates its rules every year. In 2025 and 2026 alone, Nusuk introduced changes across almost 11 major rules. That’s why it’s essential to read this Rule Guide by Adam Travel before you go on your Umrah journey.

⚠️ Important Notice for Umrah Visa

The Nusuk platform requires female applicants to submit a photo with a hijab.

✅ Photo with Hijab — Accepted Photo without Hijab — Not Accepted

Please follow these guidelines to avoid delays or rejection of your application.

Other photo requirements to keep in mind:

Plain white background only — off-white, cream, or coloured backgrounds cause rejection
Face fully visible from hairline/forehead to chin — no niqab or accessories covering facial features
Neutral expression, mouth closed, eyes open, looking straight at the camera
No glasses (to avoid glare or obstruction over the eyes)
High-resolution image so it doesn’t blur when uploaded to the system

1. "No Booking, No Visa" Rule

This is the single biggest change to the Umrah visa process. Your visa application will not be approved unless it is already linked to confirmed bookings inside Nusuk:

Accommodation: A confirmed hotel stay in Makkah, Madinah, or both, registered directly on Nusuk
Transport: Pre-booked ground transport — airport arrival transfer, Makkah–Madinah intercity travel, and airport departure transfer
Booking Reference Number (BRN): A unique reference generated once your hotel and transport are confirmed — required before the visa can even be submitted

Hotel bookings made on third-party sites (Booking.com, Agoda, etc.) are not accepted. Only Nusuk-registered accommodation counts.

2. Transport Is Now Compulsory

Transport is no longer optional or something you can arrange after arrival. Every pilgrim must have all three of the following pre-booked and logged into Nusuk before the visa is issued:

Airport arrival transfer
Intercity transport (Makkah ↔ Madinah)
Airport departure transfer

Ride-hailing apps like Uber or Careem are not accepted as proof of transport for the visa application – only licensed, Nusuk-compliant providers qualify. (You can still use ride-hailing apps for casual local trips once you’ve already arrived.)

3. Proof of Hotel Booking Is Mandatory

Your hotel must be verified and confirmed on the Nusuk platform, with check-in and check-out dates logged.
Independent bookings outside Nusuk-approved channels will not satisfy the visa requirement, even if the hotel itself is legitimate.
Most licensed tour operators (like Adam Travel ) handle this registration for you as part of an Umrah package.

4. Shorter Visa Validity — 30 Days, Not 90

The Umrah entry visa is now valid for only 30 days from the date of issuance (previously 90 days).
The countdown starts from the issue date, not your travel date — so don’t apply too far in advance.
Once you’ve entered Saudi Arabia, your stay limit remains up to 90 days.
If you don’t enter within the 30-day window, the visa is automatically cancelled.

5. All Visa Types Now Accepted for Umrah

Saudi authorities now allow Umrah to be performed on any valid visa type, not just a dedicated Umrah visa, including tourist eVisas, family visit, business, and transit visas. However, regardless of visa type, every pilgrim must still register on Nusuk and book an Umrah permit before performing the rituals.

6. Mandatory Nusuk App Registration for Everyone

Nusuk is mandatory for all pilgrims, with no country-based exemptions.
Even if you already hold a valid entry visa, you cannot perform Umrah without a Nusuk-issued digital permit and entry code.
No entry to the Grand Mosque is permitted without this permit.

7. Rawdah Visit Slots Must Be Booked Separately

Wanting to visit the Rawdah al-Sharifah (the area near the Prophet’s ﷺ burial chamber in Madinah) requires its own separate booking through Nusuk once you’re in Saudi Arabia — it isn’t automatically included with your Umrah permit.

8. Mahram Rule Update for Women

Women aged 18 and above can now apply for and perform Umrah without a mahram (male guardian).
This applies whether travelling solo or in an organised group, though many pilgrims are advised to still travel in licensed group arrangements for comfort and safety.
Solo female travellers should keep hotel arrangements and return flight proof ready for the visa stage

9. Vaccination Requirements Still Apply

Meningitis (MenACWY) vaccination is mandatory for all pilgrims aged one and above, administered at least 10 days before departure.
Polio (OPV) certification is mandatory specifically for pilgrims from certain countries (e.g., Pakistan), valid within the last 12 months.
Missing or expired certificates are a common cause of visa rejection.

10. Digital Crowd-Management Tools at the Haramain

A traffic-light indicator system now operates at Grand Mosque entrances — green means space is available, and red means the area is full.
The Mataf area (around the Kaaba) is now strictly reserved for pilgrims in Ihram actively performing Tawaf.

11. Stricter Enforcement Against Unlicensed Operators

Saudi authorities have suspended Umrah companies that failed to provide the housing they promised to pilgrims. Booking only through a Ministry-licensed operator protects you from this kind of risk, since licensed agencies are directly accountable through the Nusuk system.

Quick Reference Checklist

Quick Reference Checklist

Requirement	Status
Nusuk-registered hotel booking	✅ Mandatory
Pre-booked transport (arrival, intercity, departure)	✅ Mandatory
Booking Reference Number (BRN)	✅ Mandatory before visa issuance
Female applicant photo with Hijab	✅ Mandatory
Photo on plain white background	✅ Mandatory
Visa entry within 30 days of issuance	✅ Mandatory
Meningitis (MenACWY) vaccination	✅ Mandatory
Polio vaccination (select countries)	✅ Mandatory where applicable
Mahram for women 18+	❌ No longer required
Third-party hotel booking (Booking.com, Agoda)	❌ Not accepted
Uber/Careem as visa-stage transport proof	❌ Not accepted

Why This Makes Umrah Packages the Easier Choice

With so many mandatory, interlinked steps now enforced through Nusuk, arranging everything individually has become far more complex than it used to be. A licensed Umrah package handles the Nusuk hotel registration, transport booking, BRN generation, and visa filing all together—so nothing falls through the cracks and your application isn’t rejected over a technicality like a missing transport leg or a non-compliant hotel booking.

Verified Travel Specialist

Written By: Yasir Ali

Our content and package information are carefully reviewed by experienced Umrah travel specialists to ensure accuracy, reliability, and the latest updates.