How to Apply for Umrah?

Every religion has some practices that are mandatory for every practitioner and also has some rites that provide eternal peace and bring the practitioner close to the creator. In Islam, the mandatory practices are  Shahada, Salat, Hajj, Zakat, and Fasting. Moreover, in Islam, there are many practices as well that provide peace and help to build a pure connection with the creator. Umrah is one of them. Undoubtedly, for muslims, Umrah is one of the most performed and most wanted practices. The reason for this is that you can do Umrah all year, and performing Umrah costs less compared to performing Hajj. Moreover, you can perform Umrah more than once according to your financial conditions. All these points make Umrah popular among people, and those who can not perform Hajj for any reason wish to perform an Umrah once in their lives.

The most common question for many people is how to apply for Umrah.  In Pakistan, there are so many travel agencies that are helping people to go for Umrah and Hajj, but very few agencies are doing their work with honesty and according to international rules. Hejaz-e-Moqaddus is one of them. In today’s blog, we will discuss all the major points for Umrah travel that can be beneficial for new goers, too. 

Policies and Guides for Umrah Pilgrims for the Year 2026 

For Umrah pilgrims, there is the Latest Umrah policy 2026. These policies are the combined policies of the Pakistani and Saudi governments. Therefore, by seeing these guidelines, you can gather ideas about your travel. However, before booking your Umrah travel, make sure to check all guidelines from official portals to get yourself updated on any changes.

• Compulsory Booking of Hotel via Nusuk Masar

From the Ministry of Hajj Saudi Arabia, update 2026, there is a clause for mandatory hotel bookings before arrival. These bookings can be done from the official hajj/ Umrah portal of the Saudi government, the Nusuk Masar. This app will help you find a suitable place according to your budget in a licensed hotel. Pre-booking will make your journey comfortable and hassle-free.

• Visa Issuance in Effective Periods 

There is a time period every year when Umrah visa issuance has been suspended. This happens near the Hajj season. Therefore, the Umrah visas are generally resuspended after the Hajj season ends. For example, this year, 2025, the issuance of umrah visas started from June 10. 

• Health Requirements

There are strict policies from the Saudi government regarding vaccinations and health certificates. To enter Saudi Arabia, you must present a valid Umrah health & vaccine certificate, which includes an Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) certificate. This certificate is mandatory to present to the officials. There was also the requirement of a meningitis certificate, but it has been lifted from the start of the year 2025. Therefore, right now, it’s only the OPV certificate.

• Visa Type and Validation

Before applying for a visa, do check in which category you are actually applying for, let’s say for Umrah or tourism. Because different categories have different entitlements and rules. On February 1, 2025, the Saudi government changed policies for many countries, including Pakistan. For tourism and family visas, the multiple-entry visa has been changed to a single-entry visa that will be valid for 30 days.

• No Mehram Requirement for Women Pilgrims

Due to policy liberalization, the Saudi government has ended the policy of the compulsory presence of Mehram ( male guardian) with women pilgrims. This exemption is for Hajj, but it is assumed that a similar relaxation can be applicable for Umrah, too.

• Rules on Misusing Visa

In addition to Umrah visa requirements from Pakistan, there are strict laws for Pakistani pilgrims because some of the pilgrims violate the Saudi government rules many times; therefore, for Pakistani pilgrims, especially, there is a strict rule to sign an affidavit, which clearly states that no pilgrim will be involved in begging or overstaying. Violation of this affidavit can result in being blocked or blacklisted by the government.

• Digital Platforms 

 You can use the Online Umrah registration portal Pakistan to get all the bookings and information regarding your journey. The Nusuq app is an official digital portal from the Saudi government. With this app, you can easily figure out hotel bookings, accommodation options, and manage permits and visas. Failure to comply with this digital portal can result in visa cancellation or delays.

• Dates and Timing Considerations 

Always make sure to plan your Umrah journey with dates that fall outside the suspension season. Check the Islamic calendar for accurate confirmations. During the Hajj season, you can get an Umrah visa.

Document Requirement for Umrah

After learning about the main policies, the next step in applying for Umrah is to know about the documentation. Without complete papers or applying with wrong documents can make you a suspect, waste your time, and also lead to other obstacles, too. Therefore, it is very important to pile up mandatory documents. 

• The most important thing for your Umrah registration is to have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for at least 8 months from the date of application.
•  Then you need an original and a copy of your National Identity Card (NIC).
• You also need 4 recent, passport-sized photographs. The background for these photographs should be white, and the picture should be front-facing.
• You need a complete and filled Umrah form. Take help from an authorised travel agent to save yourself from hassle.
• You need to upload the proof of your hotel/accommodation registration on the Nusuk Masar app. Nususk app confirmation proof is mandatory for a visa application.
•  You also have a confirmed return ticket that shows your stay dates. 
• The Saudi government has strict policies over Umrah vaccine requirements 2026; therefore, it is mandatory to have an OPV certificate for Pakistani pilgrims.
• In some cases, you must have an affidavit that states that you will not misuse your visa for other purposes. Moreover, women pilgrims can travel alone or in groups, as the Saudi government has removed the policy of mandatory presence of  Mehram for women pilgrims.

These are the mandatory things required for Umrah. You should take care of the above requirements before leaving for the Umrah journey from Pakistan.
Ready to embark on your pilgrimage? Click here to book your Hajj or Umrah package.

How to Book an Umrah Package in Pakistan 2026?

Below, we will share a step-by-step guide for Umrah Booking from Pakistan. Let’s have a look.

• The important part for booking the Umrah journey is to set your travel preferences and budget. Decide on your stay dates, accommodation, and travel plans.
• Next, you have to choose a licensed or reputable travel agency to keep yourself safe from obstacles. For this purpose, Hejaz-e-Moqaddus is the best and finest option.
• After that, check the availability of tickets. If you are planning to go in peak season, like in Ramadan, check and confirm the availability of your desired package. Choose early bookings to stay hassle-free.
• Keep yourself informed about the package details. Check carefully that your package is according to your preferences.
• Ensure that your accommodation is confirmed via the Nusuk app. Without this, you can face visa cancellation or delay.
• Prepare your documents accordingly. Keep all the required documents while filing for the Umrah visa.
• Keep track of your payments. Keep all the receipts and payment proofs for the record. 
• Make sure to do all pre-travel checkups. Check your documents, accommodation, and other details.
• On the final day, arrive on time at the airport, keep copies of your evidence documents, and keep a valid phone number and other information of your agent for any emergency case.

Begin your spiritual journey. Click here to explore our Umrah packages.

Why Choose Hejaz-e-Moqaddus for Umrah Guidance?

After knowing about the whole process of how to apply for Umrah, there is still a problem of which travel agency is best for this international journey. The answer to this question is very simple, Hejaz-e-Moqaddus is the best and trustworthy travel agency for your Umrah travel. The reason behind this answer is clear. Hejaz-e-Moqadus has been serving Pakistani and other international pilgrims for the past 25 years. Their good reputation enables them to have good relationships with national and international governments. These good relations benefit the pilgrims in many ways, such as accommodation and the visa process.

Therefore, if you are planning for Umrah, then do not wait and contact Hejaz-e-Moqaddus today. Our professionals will help and guide you on this sacred journey!