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Hajj from the UK, USA, Canada and Europe: how the Nusuk Hajj route works

Hajj from the UK, USA, Canada or Europe: how Saudi Arabia's Nusuk Hajj platform works, who can register, the Hajj visa, health rules and scams to avoid.

  • 18 min read
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  • Last reviewed
  • By Voyfaro

For: every passport

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If you live in the UK, the US, Canada, an EU country, Australia or New Zealand, there is one official way to book Hajj: Nusuk Hajj (hajj.nusuk.sa), the platform run by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. You register, choose a package from an authorised provider and pay on the platform. The Hajj visa is issued as part of that process.

This guide explains that route step by step, from official pages checked on 7 October 2026. It covers logistics only, not religious rulings. Voyfaro does not sell Hajj packages.

Hajj from the UK or USA: quick answer

  • One official channel: the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah says Nusuk Hajj is “the sole official and approved platform” for Hajj in countries under its Direct Hajj Program. GOV.UK says you can only book a Hajj place through Nusuk Hajj.
  • Who it serves: people living in the countries on the Nusuk Hajj “Serviced Countries” list. For Hajj 1447 (2026) the list included the UK, the US, Canada, all 27 EU countries, Australia and New Zealand. Your country of residence counts, not only your passport.
  • Hajj 1448 (2027): on 7 October 2026 Nusuk Hajj still showed the 1447 season. No official opening date for 1448 registration or booking had been published. Canada’s travel advice expects Hajj from 14 to 19 May 2027, pending the moon sighting.
  • Registering is not a booking: Nusuk Hajj says registration “does not mean that you will be accepted for Hajj”.
  • Hajj visa only: the Nusuk Hajj terms say you cannot perform Hajj on a tourist visa or any other visa. The Saudi eVisa, the Saudi ETA and Umrah visas do not cover Hajj.
  • Penalties (1447 season): up to SAR 20,000 for Hajj without a permit, plus deportation and a 10-year entry ban for violators, including residents and overstayers.
  • Health: a meningococcal ACYW vaccine at least 10 days before arrival is required for every pilgrim. Some countries have extra polio or yellow fever rules.
  • Scams: pay only through Nusuk Hajj. A seller outside the platform is not an official channel.

Who this applies to

Muslims planning Hajj who live in a country on the Nusuk Hajj list, whatever their nationality. That includes, for example, a British citizen in Leeds, a Pakistani citizen who has lived in Birmingham for years, a Nigerian citizen living in Texas, an Indian citizen living in Toronto, a French citizen in Lyon or an Australian citizen in Sydney.

The Nusuk Hajj terms define users as “citizens and residents of the target countries”. A resident must confirm they have lived in that country “for a full year or more”.

If you live in a country that is not on the list, such as Türkiye, India, Nigeria, Indonesia, Malaysia or a Gulf state, this route is not for you. See If your country is not on the list below.

What the Direct Hajj Program is

Nusuk Hajj describes the Direct Hajj Program as a Ministry programme for “countries with Muslim minorities that do not have official missions to manage pilgrims’ affairs”. The Ministry qualifies the companies, creates the packages, monitors service quality and checks that prices are suitable. Pilgrims book directly on the platform, without intermediaries.

In practice, you do not need a travel agent. Providers are approved by the Ministry and listed on Nusuk Hajj, and packages, deposits and payments all go through the platform.

Which countries are on the Nusuk Hajj list

The Nusuk Hajj Serviced Countries page is headed “Included For Nusuk Hajj 1447 H - 2026 G”. The platform says the target countries are set “on a yearly basis”, so check the page again for 1448. On 7 October 2026 it listed 128 countries and territories, including:

Region Examples on the 1447 list
Europe United Kingdom, Ireland, all 27 EU countries, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Ukraine, Georgia, Serbia
North America United States of America, Canada, Mexico and many Caribbean countries
South America Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Peru
Oceania Australia, New Zealand, Fiji
Asia Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan
Africa South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho

On the sign-up page you select your current country of residence from this list. The page says it “includes all countries served for Hajj 1447H - 2026G”.

If your country is not on the list

Countries such as Türkiye, Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Gulf states were not on the 1447 list. In April 2025 the Ministry said Hajj visas can be arranged “in coordination with Hajj affairs offices in 80 countries” or through Nusuk Hajj. If you live in one of those countries, contact your own country’s official Hajj authority.

Nusuk Hajj also has a separate form to register interest in “Global Packages” from any country. It says this “does not constitute a booking confirmation” and only collects expressions of interest.

Hajj 1448 (2027): what is officially published

  • Registration dates: not published on 7 October 2026. Nusuk Hajj asks users to subscribe to its newsletter “to follow up on the opening dates for reservations”.
  • Hajj dates: Canada’s travel advice expects Hajj from 14 to 19 May 2027, “pending the official moon sighting in Saudi Arabia”.
  • Umrah cut-offs: the Ministry’s 1448 Umrah calendar sets 1 Shawwal 1448 (9 March 2027) as the last day for Umrah visa issuance, 15 Shawwal (23 March 2027) as the last day for Umrah pilgrims to enter, and 30 Shawwal (7 April 2027) as the last departure date.
  • Service providers: the Nusuk Hajj providers page still showed the 1447 heading and said no providers were currently available.

Last season: on 9 January 2026 the Ministry opened a “Package Preference Phase” for 1447, where pilgrims picked up to five preferred packages before booking. The 1448 timetable may differ.

How Nusuk Hajj registration works

Nusuk Hajj lists ten steps for the 1447 season:

  1. Create an account on hajj.nusuk.sa, choosing your country of residence and confirming it.
  2. Upload your documents as the platform asks.
  3. Fill in the application.
  4. Application verification: the platform checks your data and notifies you of updates.
  5. Select your preferred category of package.
  6. Top up your e-wallet on the platform.
  7. Browse service providers approved for that season.
  8. Select your preferred package.
  9. Book your package.
  10. Review your itinerary.

The Ministry encourages pilgrims to add family members who want to perform Hajj to the same application. It also asks you to keep your personal data and documents accurate. The terms say registration is currently free, but the Ministry may introduce a fee.

Women travelling without a mahram: Canada’s travel advice says women of all ages may travel without a mahram for Hajj or Umrah, and a notarised letter of no objection is no longer required. Check the package conditions on Nusuk Hajj.

Packages and service providers

The Ministry describes all-inclusive packages: visa issuance, flights, accommodation in Makkah and Madinah, catering, transport between cities, Mashair services and guidance.

  • Shifting packages: accommodation near the Mashair (the holy sites) during Hajj, plus a second stay in Makkah before or after.
  • Non-shifting packages: one accommodation in Makkah for the whole stay.
  • Minimum length: 6 days for Mashair packages, 10 days for non-shifting and 14 days for shifting. In the category table on the platform (1447 season), the Standard non-shifting category (3-star hotels or residential buildings) had a 14-day minimum. Only Luxury and Premium non-shifting had 10 days.
  • Hotels: 5-star, 4-star, or 3-star hotels and residential buildings, depending on category.
  • Rooms: most rooms are shared (double, triple or quadruple). Choosing your roommates is not guaranteed.

Prices depend on the package, its length and its category, and are shown on Nusuk Hajj. We do not quote or rank packages. Choose only from the providers listed on the platform for your season.

Paying, cancelling and refunds

The Nusuk Hajj terms say:

  • you can pay by card (Mastercard or Visa) or by topping up the platform’s e-wallet. The Ministry also describes deposits in instalments through the wallet
  • you can cancel within 72 hours of buying a package, or until bookings close, whichever comes first
  • refunds go to your Nusuk wallet, or back to the card you paid with
  • a refund can take up to 45 working days, and a 2% processing fee (plus tax) is deducted when money is refunded from the wallet
  • flight bookings follow the flight policy shown when you choose the flight
  • the Ministry can change the cancellation and refund policy without notice

Read the policy on the platform before you pay, because it may change for 1448.

Hajj visa vs tourist visa, eVisa or Umrah visa

The Hajj visa is separate from every other Saudi visa, and it comes through your Nusuk Hajj booking. GOV.UK says it is for a set length of time and cannot be extended. What the official pages say:

  • Nusuk Hajj terms: “You will not be able to do Hajj on a tourist visa or any other visa.” The Hajj visa does not allow work. Saudi authorities “usually won’t allow you to travel outside” Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah on it.
  • Ministry of Interior (April 2026): all types of visit visa, apart from Hajj visas, “do not entitle their holders to perform Hajj”.
  • Ministry of Hajj and Umrah FAQ: an Umrah visa cannot be extended for the Hajj season.
  • GOV.UK: the Saudi eVisa, Saudi ETA and electronic visa waiver are not for Hajj. The ETA and visa waiver cover Umrah outside the Hajj season, and for Hajj you need a separate Hajj visa.
  • Flights around Hajj: GOV.UK and Canada say Saudi authorities stop visitors who are not performing Hajj from flying to Jeddah, Madinah and Taif around Hajj. You may need a Hajj visa to board. Both say you can still enter Saudi Arabia through other airports or entry points.

Overstaying can lead to large fines, jail or deportation, and a ban on returning, according to the Nusuk Hajj terms and GOV.UK.

For Umrah at other times of year, see our Umrah visa options guide.

Penalties for Hajj without a permit (1447 season)

On 14 April 2026 the Ministry of Interior announced penalties for the 1447 season, from 1 Dhu al-Qi’dah to 14 Dhu al-Hijjah:

  • a fine of up to SAR 20,000 for anyone performing or trying to perform Hajj without a permit
  • the same fine for visit-visa holders who enter, try to enter or stay in Makkah or the holy sites in that period
  • a fine of up to SAR 100,000 for anyone who applies for a visit visa for such a person, or transports, houses or hides them, multiplied by the number of people
  • deportation and a 10-year entry ban for people who try to perform Hajj illegally, including residents and overstayers

The penalties for 1448 had not been announced on 7 October 2026. Expect similar rules and check them before you travel.

Health requirements

The latest Hajj health document from the Saudi health authorities, published on the Ministry of Health website, is for 1447H (2026). A 1448 version was not published when we checked. It says:

  • Meningococcal (all pilgrims, all countries): an ACYW conjugate (or ACYWX) vaccine within the last 5 years, or an ACYW polysaccharide vaccine within the last 3 years. Either must be given at least 10 days before arrival. If the certificate does not show the vaccine type, it counts for 3 years only.
  • Fitness to travel: countries must declare pilgrims free of listed conditions. These include kidney failure needing dialysis, heart failure with symptoms on minimal effort, dementia, the last three months of pregnancy or a high-risk pregnancy, and active cancer treatment that severely weakens the immune system. The document includes a health status certificate for a doctor to sign.
  • COVID-19: “individuals from specific groups” need proof of one of: a 2025-2026 updated vaccine dose, a primary series (two or more doses) received in 2021 to 2024, or lab-confirmed recovery in 2025. The document does not say which groups. Ask your Nusuk Hajj provider or your doctor.
  • Polio: travellers from listed countries, such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Indonesia, need at least one polio dose. Spain is on a separate list where one dose of IPV is advised.
  • Yellow fever: required from listed countries in Africa and South America, including Brazil, Colombia and Argentina, for anyone older than 9 months.
  • Advised: the seasonal flu vaccine and routine vaccines. Carry medical notes and enough medicine in its original packaging.

Nusuk Hajj’s health page adds that medical insurance is not automatically provided for pilgrims, and suggests comprehensive cover. The health document warns about heat: avoid direct sun and drink enough fluids.

Check current travel advice

Read your government’s latest advice before you pay and again before you fly.

  • UK: on 6 October 2026 the FCDO updated its Saudi Arabia advice on regional tensions. It reports missile and drone attacks and a heightened threat to airports and infrastructure, including Jeddah. It advises against all travel within 10 km of the Yemen border, and against all but essential travel 10 to 80 km from it, including Abha and Khamis Mushait. GOV.UK warns that travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice.
  • US: the State Department’s Saudi Arabia advisory (published 16 September 2026 by the US Mission in Saudi Arabia) is Level 3: Reconsider travel. The Yemen border region is Level 4: Do not travel.
  • Canada: the advice (updated 17 September 2026) says to avoid non-essential travel to Saudi Arabia because of the volatile security situation in the region. It also says to avoid all travel to Asir, Jazan and Najran provinces and within 30 km of the Yemen border.

Hajj packages do not go to the border areas, but check them if you plan side trips. Travel insurance may not cover you if you travel against your government’s advice, so check your policy wording.

Notes by where you live

United Kingdom

GOV.UK says you can only book a Hajj place on Nusuk Hajj, and the Hajj visa is not extendable. For queries about a Nusuk package, it points you to Nusuk Hajj. For other consular help, it lists the British Consulate General in Jeddah. If you lose your passport during Hajj, an Emergency Travel Document costs £125.

United States

The United States of America is on the Nusuk Hajj list. Check the State Department’s Saudi Arabia advice on travel.state.gov before you book.

Canada

Canada’s advice says you need a valid Hajj visa, valid only for Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah, and that “Pilgrims performing Hajj must make arrangements on a dedicated online platform”. It also warns about overcrowding at religious sites.

EU countries, Australia and New Zealand

All were on the 1447 list, and the same Nusuk Hajj steps apply. Check your own government’s travel advice for Saudi Arabia.

Common mistakes and scams

  • Paying an agent outside Nusuk Hajj. The Ministry says all deposits and bookings must be made only through Nusuk Hajj. It calls offers through unofficial channels “misleading”.
  • Believing registration is a confirmed place. It is not. Wait for the booking phase and a confirmed package.
  • Planning Hajj on a tourist eVisa, Saudi ETA or Umrah visa. None of them is valid for Hajj.
  • Booking non-refundable flights or hotels first. All-inclusive packages include flights and accommodation, so book the package before anything else.
  • Look-alike websites. Type hajj.nusuk.sa yourself. Do not follow links in messages or adverts.
  • UK scams: GOV.UK warns that organised crime groups target people planning Hajj and Umrah, and many victims are over 65. Pay by credit card where possible, keep records and get everything in writing. Report fraud to your local police, the City of London Police Fraud Desk or Action Fraud.

Planning the rest of the trip

  • Travel insurance: Nusuk Hajj says medical cover is not automatic. Compare travel insurance and check that a policy covers Saudi Arabia, your dates and any medical conditions.
  • Mobile data: you will rely on your phone for package updates and messages. Some providers offer SIM cards as an extra. See our eSIM guide for Saudi Arabia.
  • Flights and hotels: only for travel outside your Hajj package, for example a stopover on the way. Compare flights or compare hotels.

How Voyfaro can help

  • Hajj packages, visas and permits: we point you to Nusuk Hajj and the official Saudi pages. We do not sell Hajj packages or apply for, issue or guarantee Hajj visas or places.
  • Bookings: we help you compare travel insurance, eSIMs, flights and hotels from partners we reach through the Travelpayouts affiliate network. You book and pay directly with the partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
  • Questions? Contact us with where you live, your passport and your dates.

FAQ

How do I apply for Hajj from the UK?

Register on Nusuk Hajj (hajj.nusuk.sa), choosing the United Kingdom as your country of residence. When booking opens, choose a package from an approved provider and pay on the platform. GOV.UK says you can only book a Hajj place through Nusuk Hajj.

How do I apply for Hajj from the USA?

The same way. The United States of America is on the Nusuk Hajj list, so you register, book and pay on hajj.nusuk.sa. The Hajj visa comes through the platform as part of your package.

When does Hajj 2027 registration open?

On 7 October 2026 Saudi Arabia had not published a date. Nusuk Hajj still showed the 1447 season and asked users to subscribe to its newsletter for booking dates. Canada’s travel advice expects Hajj from 14 to 19 May 2027, pending the moon sighting.

Can I go for Hajj on a Saudi tourist visa or Umrah visa?

No. The Nusuk Hajj terms say you cannot perform Hajj on a tourist visa or any other visa. The Ministry of Interior says only Hajj visas allow Hajj. In 1447, violators faced a fine of up to SAR 20,000, deportation and a 10-year entry ban.

I am not a citizen of the UK, US or Canada. Can I still use Nusuk Hajj?

Yes, if you live in a country on the list. The terms cover “citizens and residents of the target countries”, and residents must have lived there for a full year or more. For example, an Indian citizen living in Canada registers with Canada as their country of residence.

Does registering on Nusuk Hajj guarantee me a place?

No. Nusuk Hajj says registration “does not mean that you will be accepted for Hajj”. Your place is confirmed only when you book and pay for a package on the platform.

Can I book Hajj through a travel agent in my country?

For Direct Hajj Program countries, the Ministry says Nusuk Hajj is the only official and approved platform. All deposits and bookings must go through it. Providers are approved by the Ministry and listed on the platform.

Can Voyfaro book my Hajj package or visa?

No. Voyfaro does not sell Hajj packages and cannot apply for Hajj visas. Book only on Nusuk Hajj. We can help you compare travel insurance and an eSIM.

Sources

Official pages we checked on 7 October 2026. Voyfaro is not affiliated with any government.

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