Archive · 17 Nov 2025
Umrah 2025: New Rules for Visas, Bookings, and Insurance
Pilgrims wanting to go to Mecca for Umrah in 2025 will have some new rules.
First, you have to book your hotel and your transport inside Saudi Arabia before you can get a visa.
Saudi Arabia has a new website called Nusuk Umrah where you can do all of this, like applying for the visa and booking your travel.
Everyone going on Umrah also needs a special insurance policy that comes with the visa.
This insurance helps pay for medical care, accidents, or even if your trip gets delayed.
These changes are being made to make the journey safer and more organized for everyone.
Saudi Arabia has implemented new rules for Umrah visas in 2025, requiring confirmed hotel bookings and pre-arranged transport.
A new digital platform, Nusuk Umrah, has been launched to manage visa applications, flight and hotel bookings, and pilgrim services.
All Umrah visas are now linked to a mandatory insurance policy covering medical expenses, accidents, and travel disruptions.
The Umrah visa remains free of charge but requires a passport with at least six months validity and health certificates.
Women under 45 must travel with a legal Mahram, while women aged 45 and above can travel with recognized groups.
- Who
- Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah
- What
- Introduced new regulations for Umrah pilgrims including mandatory hotel and transport bookings, a unified digital platform (Nusuk Umrah), and compulsory insurance linked to visas.
- When
- New rules for bookings effective for 2025 Umrah season. Mandatory insurance policy introduced starting January 1, 2025.
- Where
- Saudi Arabia, specifically Mecca and Medina.
- Why
- To streamline and modernize the Umrah process, prevent fraudulent bookings, regulate pilgrim movement, improve crowd management, increase visitor capacity, and enhance pilgrim services as part of Vision 2030.
- Nusuk Platform
- Unified online platform for Umrah visas, bookings, and services.
- Visa Requirements
- Mandatory confirmed hotel bookings and pre-arranged local transport.
- Mandatory Insurance
- Linked to every Umrah visa, covers up to SAR 100,000 for 30 days.
- Insurance Provider
- Tawuniya
- Application Window
- 1st Safar to the end of Shaaban.
- Visa Cost
- Free of charge
- Visa Validity
- Only for the duration of the Umrah program as stated on the visa.