On June 10, 2025, Saudi Arabia updated its Umrah rules. The decision was made to make Umrah more comfortable, secure, and organized for everyone. From the beginning of the Umrah process till the end, every step has been updated. Previously, Umrah travelers applied for the Umrah visa after booking hotels and transport. Now, it is mandatory to first apply for the Umrah visa, which must have confirmed hotel bookings and transport included. It is also to be noted that only Nusuk-registered hotels lead to Umrah visa approval. If anyone includes hotels in an Umrah package that are not registered on Nusuk, they may face Umrah visa rejection or a delay for an unspecified period of time. 

About the New Umrah Visa and Transport Policy

Umrah visa applications now must include confirmed hotel bookings and transport. As mentioned before, hotels must be registered on Nusuk Masar. Besides hotels, transport details must be included for a successful Umrah visa application. Previously, you could apply through your travel agent and just submit your passport and a photo. Now, without including registered hotels, licensed transport, and flight plans in the visa application, the Umrah visa will not be issued. When we talk about transport, it means all ground transport from Saudi Arabia's airports, from pickup to hotels in Makkah or Madinah, and to travel between holy cities. It is also mandatory to include flight reservation details when applying for a visa. All Umrah travelers and agents must follow the new rule for visa approval. 

Why This Change Is Important? 

Previously, many Umrah travelers applied for Umrah through unregistered travel agents. The hotel specified in the package was not provided most of the time. Most of the time, Umrah travelers were left stranded at the airports for hours despite the inclusion of ground transport in the package. To make sure pilgrims do not face scams and are prevented from fraudulent activities, Saudi Arabia updated the Umrah visa and transport policy. Now, Umrah travelers and agents must plan ahead and include every route and hotel stay in the travel itinerary. Choosing Nusuk-registered hotels ensures data is accurate. It also protects Umrah travelers from money loss and strengthens trust in the travel market. 

So, How Does This Work?

It all starts with the pre-planning. No more last-minute planning will be entertained. First, decide when you want to travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah. Umrah visas are not available during the Hajj season, so do not apply for Umrah during those days. After deciding on your travel month or dates, the next step is to contact a registered travel agent. Discuss your hotel requirement with your travel agent, and the agency will give you Nusuk-registered hotels. It is important to ensure that hotels included in your Umrah package are registered. It is also mandatory to add ground transport details when applying for a visa. After entering details about hotels, check-in and check-out times, ground transport details, and flights, your visa will be processed. 

Some people want to book on their own. In the current scenario, it is difficult for one to book services on their own. All Umrah services must be received through official and licensed providers. Travel agents booking a private car, shuttle, or group bus must enter the complete details for the visa process to begin. 

It is also to be noted that for applying for a visa, your passport must be valid for at least six months. Umrah travelers are required to show proof of certain vaccinations. The important vaccination certificates for diseases required are Meningitis, Polio, or the flu. 

Complete Route Information Is Crucial

Now, it's time to talk about ground transport in Saudi Arabia. As mentioned earlier, pilgrims faced many transport challenges before. It is now mandatory to plan a comprehensive travel route, such as if you want to visit Makkah first, then your travel route will be Jeddah to Makkah, Makkah to Madinah, Madinah to Madinah airport, or Jeddah airport. If you plan to visit any other city in Saudi Arabia, you must ask your travel agent to add that route. Every step of the route, every hotel must be mentioned in the travel itinerary for visa approval. The transport responsibility must be given to the licensed transport companies. These companies meet safety rules and follow official routes. Traveling through taxis or unapproved vehicles can result in fines or delays. 

The licensed transport companies included in your Umrah package are responsible for providing timely pick-ups and drop-offs from the places mentioned in the itinerary. If you choose a customized package for your family, ensure you have the vehicle type, driver details, and journey time in written form. All transport vehicles used for Umrah must be clean, air-conditioned, and well-maintained. Drivers must be trained and have proper travel permits. 

Final Thought

These steps for the Umrah process are necessary to follow for the Umrah visa approval. Saudi Arabia made changes to the transport system because of the large influx of pilgrims coming from various parts of the world. The millions of people in one place at the same time can create chaos. To make every travel organized and smooth, it is now mandatory to add registered hotels and licensed transport in the package. When everything is pre-arranged and every movement is monitored, there is no confusion and unnecessary waiting. Emergencies are handled better because authorities know where your group is and who the provider is. 

Planning early is the key to a successful pilgrimage. Apply for a visa, book a hotel and transport, and make sure your passport is updated. Make copies of all your bookings and keep them with you during travel. Umrah Companions is a registered agency offering complete Umrah Packages with assistance from start to finish. Their team understands the new rules and keeps everything updated. Umrah Companions make sure every step is stress-free and well-managed.