Umrah Steps and Documents: A Practical Guide for 2026

To perform Umrah you need a valid basis to be in Saudi Arabia (citizenship, residency or a visa that allows it) and an Umrah permit booked through Nusuk for a set date and time. The rite itself has four steps: entering ihram at the miqat, tawaf around the Kaaba, sa'i between Safa and Marwah, and shaving or shortening the hair. Below we explain each stage, the documents to prepare and the official rules at the time of writing (October 2026).

Who can perform Umrah, and which visas allow it

Umrah is open to Muslims; how you prepare depends on where you travel from.

Citizens, residents and GCC citizens

If you live in Saudi Arabia, the permit is the only booking you need. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah lists Saudi citizens, residents, GCC citizens and visitors as eligible for its Umrah permit service.

Visitors from abroad

The KSA Visa platform of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs describes two routes:

• The Umrah visa. A visit visa for the purpose of Umrah, available to Muslims of all nationalities. You apply through Nusuk Umrah or authorised agents rather than the general visa form.
• Another active Saudi visa. The platform states that if you already hold an active Saudi visa, you can perform Umrah without applying for a new one. This covers the tourist eVisa, the business and family visit visas and the transit/stopover visa, provided you book a Nusuk permit.

Two limits apply to every visit visa: none can be used for Hajj, and Umrah is not available during the Hajj season, which the KSA Visa platform gives as 15 Dhu al-Qa'dah to 15 Dhu al-Hijjah. Travellers under 18 need a guardian with them, and women do not need a mahram for Umrah.

Booking your Umrah permit on Nusuk

The Umrah permit is a free, timed booking for entering the Grand Mosque to perform Umrah. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah sets out these steps:

1. Open the Nusuk app or website and sign in or create an account. Citizens and residents use the national single sign-on (Nafath). Visitors can register from outside the Kingdom with a valid visa, using their passport number, visa number, date of birth, nationality, mobile number and email.
2. Choose the Umrah permit booking service.
3. Pick a date and an available time slot.
4. Issue the permit and keep it on your phone. It is verified on arrival through Nusuk or Tawakkalna.

A practical tip: a permit's time cannot be edited. If your plans change, cancel it in the app before the slot starts and book a new one. You can hold only one active permit at a time. Praying in Al-Rawdah at the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah needs its own booking on Nusuk.

Documents to prepare

• A passport valid for at least six months.
• Your visa, or your national ID or residence permit (iqama) if you live in Saudi Arabia.
• Your Nusuk Umrah permit for the chosen date and time.
• Proof of meningococcal vaccination. The Ministry of Health's latest published Umrah requirements (the 1447H edition) ask everyone performing Umrah to be vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis (ACYW) at least 10 days before arrival: a conjugate vaccine within the last five years or a polysaccharide vaccine within the last three. Travellers from a listed group of countries must show the certificate.
• Other vaccinations where they apply to you: polio or yellow fever for travellers from the countries the Ministry of Health lists, and proof of COVID-19 vaccination or immunity for higher-risk groups such as people over 65, pregnant women and people with certain chronic conditions.
• A summary of any chronic condition, with enough medication in its original packaging.
• Ihram clothing, packed in your hand luggage if you will enter ihram on the plane.

Rules change between seasons, so check Nusuk, the KSA Visa platform and the Ministry of Health before you travel.

The rituals of Umrah, step by step

1. Ihram at the miqat

Ihram is the sacred state you enter with the intention of Umrah. It is Sunnah to perform ghusl and apply fragrance to the body beforehand. Men wear two unstitched sheets, the izar around the waist and the rida over the shoulders, preferably white. Women may wear any clothing that is loose, covers appropriately and is not decorative.

Make the intention in your heart and begin the talbiyah, saying "Labbayka Allahumma Umrah". You must enter ihram at, or parallel to, one of the miqat points before Makkah, and you may not pass a miqat without it. The Ministry's ihram guide names Dhul Hulayfah (Abyar Ali) for those coming from Madinah, Al-Juhfah, Qarn al-Manazil (As-Sayl al-Kabir), Yalamlam and Dhat Irq. If you fly to Jeddah, airlines usually announce when the aircraft is level with a miqat, so be dressed and ready on board. If you are already in Makkah, go to the nearest point outside the Haram boundary, such as Masjid Aisha.

While in ihram, avoid the prohibited acts, including perfume, cutting hair or nails and, for men, sewn garments and covering the head; women do not wear the niqab or gloves. If you fear that illness may stop you completing the rite, the guide recommends a conditional intention (ishtirat) when you enter ihram.

2. Tawaf

Stop the talbiyah when you begin tawaf. Walk seven circuits around the Kaaba, keeping it on your left, starting and ending at the Black Stone. Men uncover the right shoulder and walk briskly in the first three circuits; both are Sunnah. Afterwards, pray two rak'ahs behind the Station of Ibrahim if possible.

3. Sa'i

Walk seven laps between the hills of Safa and Marwah, starting at Safa and finishing at Marwah. Going from Safa to Marwah counts as one lap, and the return counts as another. Men jog lightly between the green markers.

4. Halq or taqsir

Men shave the head (halq) or shorten the hair (taqsir). Women cut a small length from the ends, around 1 to 2 cm according to Nusuk. This completes your Umrah and lifts the ihram restrictions.

Practical tips before you go

• Seasons and crowds. From our team: Ramadan and school holidays are the busiest times, so book permits, flights and hotels early. If your dates are flexible, quieter months make tawaf and sa'i easier for families and older travellers.
• Heat. The Ministry of Health advises avoiding direct sun during the rituals and drinking enough fluids, especially for older pilgrims.
• Women travelling. Women do not need a mahram for Umrah, according to the KSA Visa platform and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
• Elderly travellers and accessibility. Carry your medical summary and medicines, consider the conditional intention and rest between tawaf and sa'i. From our team: if walking long distances is difficult, arrange wheelchair or cart assistance at the Grand Mosque before you travel and allow extra time.
• Useful numbers in Saudi Arabia. 911 for emergencies and 937 for medical advice, as listed in the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's ihram guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I perform Umrah on a tourist visa?

Yes. The KSA Visa platform confirms that Muslim visitors on a tourist visa can perform Umrah outside the Hajj season. You still need a Nusuk permit for your date and time.

Is the Umrah permit free?

Yes. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah lists the Umrah permit as a free service, issued immediately through the Nusuk app and website.

Which vaccinations do I need for Umrah?

The Ministry of Health requires meningococcal (ACYW) vaccination at least 10 days before arrival, with extra requirements for some countries and groups. Check its latest edition before you book.

Can women perform Umrah without a mahram?

Yes. Women do not need a male guardian to accompany them for Umrah, according to the KSA Visa platform.

How Mosook can help

Mosook Travel & Tourism works as a partner and agent of licensed Hajj and Umrah providers. Visas and Umrah permits are issued through the official channels, and we help you plan the journey around them: flights, hotels in Makkah and Madinah, transport between the two cities and a clear checklist of what to prepare. Explore our Umrah and Hajj services, browse current religious travel packages or contact our team to talk through your plans.

Sources

• Umrah Permit Application, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah
• Frequently Asked Questions, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah
• Ihram Awareness Guide, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah
• Miqaats and Types of Rituals, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah
• Umrah Journey, Nusuk, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah
• Nusuk Umrah, Nusuk, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah
• KSA Visa: visit visa options (Umrah, tourism, family, business), Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Saudi Stopover Transit Visa, Visit Saudi, Saudi Tourism Authority
• Health Requirements and Recommendations for Travelers to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, 1447H (2026), Ministry of Health