Visa and Health for Umrah and Hajj | Samaway — Compare Umrah & Hajj Packages from Trusted Companies Worldwide

Visa routes

Umrah visa. Arranged through Nusuk or a licensed Umrah company. Many packages include it; check the package page.
Tourist e-visa. Citizens of eligible countries can apply on the Saudi visa platform. It allows Umrah outside the Hajj season.
Hajj visa. Hajj needs a Hajj visa and a Hajj permit, issued only through an authorized Hajj provider or Nusuk for your country. A tourist or Umrah visa does not allow Hajj.
Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you arrive.

Meningitis ACWY vaccine

Saudi Arabia requires proof of the quadrivalent (ACWY) meningococcal vaccine for all travelers aged one year and older arriving for Hajj or Umrah.
Have it at least 10 days before you travel. It counts for 3 to 5 years, depending on the type of vaccine.
Ask your doctor or a travel clinic about other vaccines for this season, and carry the certificate with your passport.

Hajj-season rules

In the weeks around Hajj, Umrah visas stop being issued and entry to Makkah is limited to people with a Hajj permit, residents and workers with a permit. The dates change each year; check Nusuk and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Hajj without a permit is not allowed and is fined.
Summer heat is severe. Drink water often, use an umbrella and rest in the shade. Makkah Weather by Month

This page gives general travel information only, not religious rulings. For any question about your own case, please meet the imam of your nearest masjid and let him guide you.

Sources

Rules change. Check the official source and your travel company before you book or travel. Last reviewed: 14 November 2026.