Planning Umrah from Pakistan starts with one decision that matters more than any other: choosing a genuine, government-listed operator. Get that right and the visa, hotels and transport usually fall into place. Get it wrong and you risk losing your money, or the trip.
Voyfaro is not an Umrah operator and does not arrange Umrah visas. This guide explains how the process generally works, with links to the official sources we checked in October 2026. Rules change each season, so confirm anything important before you pay.
Quick answer
- Umrah visa for Pakistani passport holders: most people in Pakistan use a company on the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) list of attested Umrah tour operators. The operator arranges the visa with its Saudi partner.
- Check first: find the company on MoRA’s list before you pay, and get a written contract.
- Health: a meningococcal (ACYW) vaccine for all pilgrims, plus a polio dose for travellers from Pakistan.
- In Saudi Arabia: book your Umrah time slot in the Nusuk app.
- Living abroad? UK and Gulf residents may have other routes. Check the official portals.
How the Umrah visa from Pakistan works
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah runs Nusuk, the official Umrah platform. Nusuk says an Umrah visa can be issued through Nusuk or a Saudi embassy or consulate. It also says visit, tourist and work visa holders can perform Umrah.
In Pakistan, Umrah services fall under the Hajj and Umrah (Regulation) Act, 2024. MoRA attests travel agencies’ Umrah contract documents and publishes a live list of attested operators.
In general, an Umrah visa from Pakistan works like this:
- You choose an attested operator and agree a package (visa, hotels, transport and often flights).
- The operator submits your documents through its Saudi partner company.
- Once the visa is issued, the operator gives you your visa and travel documents.
Saudi Arabia also runs Nusuk Umrah (umrah.nusuk.sa), where Ministry-approved providers sell packages. Nusuk Umrah says packages are offered based on the countries open for individual Umrah. Check what it offers for your country, and book only on the official .sa site.
Step 1: Check the operator on MoRA’s attested list
MoRA’s List of Attested Umrah Tour Operators is a searchable table showing each company’s name, address, city, DTS licence number, IATA number, phone and email.
- Search by company name, then by city in case the spelling differs.
- Match the address, phone and licence number with the company’s receipts and contract.
- Dealing with a sub-agent? Ask which listed company they work for, and confirm with that company.
- The list is updated, so check again just before you pay.
What to ask before you book an Umrah package
Before you book any Umrah package from Pakistan, get these in writing:
- What is included: visa, flights and baggage, hotels, transport, meals, ziyarat and insurance
- Hotel names and nights in Makkah and Madinah
- A contact in Saudi Arabia if something goes wrong
- Refund terms if the visa is refused or a flight is cancelled
- Receipts on company letterhead, with payment to a company account
Red flags and where to complain
Walk away if the company:
- Is not on MoRA’s list
- Is far cheaper than listed operators
- Wants cash, or payment to a personal account
- “Guarantees” a visa, or offers a visit visa for work
- Will not name your hotels
MoRA’s website lists its complaint channels, including an official WhatsApp complaint number and a complaints portal, and the 2024 Act sets up complaint committees. Keep your contract, receipts and messages.
Step 2: Passport, photos and documents
Your operator will give you its document list. As general guidance, expect:
- A passport with at least six months’ validity on arrival (confirm with your operator)
- Your CNIC and photos in the required format
- Proof of relationship for family groups, if asked
- Vaccination records
Your name must match exactly on passport, visa and ticket.
Step 3: Vaccinations and health requirements
Saudi Arabia’s Umrah health requirements (the 1447H/2026 version on the Ministry of Health website, checked October 2026) say:
- Meningococcal vaccine (all pilgrims): must cover serogroups ACYW and be given at least 10 days before arrival. Conjugate vaccines count for 5 years, polysaccharide for 3. If your certificate does not show the type, it counts for 3 years.
- Polio (travellers from Pakistan): at least one dose of oral (bOPV) or injected (IPV) vaccine, whatever your age or past vaccinations. The guidance recommends having it at least 4 weeks before arrival.
- COVID-19: proof needed for some higher-risk groups, such as people over 65 and pregnant women.
- Recommended: routine vaccines and a seasonal flu jab.
Carry regular medicines in their original packaging, with a doctor’s note about your condition.
Pakistan-side certificates: Pakistan’s health ministry says polio and yellow fever doses for international travel are recorded in NADRA’s NIMS system. You can then download a digital certificate. In September 2026, Pakistani media reported that airports would check this NADRA certificate for Umrah travellers. We could not confirm that airport rule on an official page. Ask your vaccination centre and operator which certificates you need, and allow extra time at the airport.
Step 4: Flights: Jeddah or Madinah?
Many packages include flights, so check the airline, route and baggage before you sign. If you book yourself, wait until your operator confirms your dates. Direct flights run from Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and other cities.
- Jeddah (JED) is the usual gateway to Makkah. You cross the miqat in the air, so many pilgrims enter ihram before boarding. Ask your scholar or operator.
- Madinah (MED) suits pilgrims who visit Madinah first.
- Open-jaw tickets (into Madinah, out of Jeddah) save backtracking. Nusuk says pilgrims can use any international or regional Saudi airport.
- Avoid the Hajj period: the UK government notes that Saudi authorities have stopped non-Hajj visitors flying into Jeddah, Madinah and Taif around Hajj.
Compare routes on our flights page.
Step 5: Hotels near the Haram, and how they link to your visa
In an operator package, hotels and transport are booked as part of the package behind your visa application, so late changes can be difficult. Confirm the current rules with your operator, get hotel names and check the distance to the Haram on a map.
Booking hotels separately is mainly for overseas travellers on a tourist visa, or for extra nights around a package. Compare Makkah and Madinah hotels on our hotels page.
Step 6: Getting between Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah
According to Nusuk, the Haramain High Speed Railway has stations at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport, at Sulaymaniyah in Jeddah and in Madinah. Trains run to Makkah station in Al-Rusaifah, near Masjid al-Haram. Allow for a taxi, bus or app ride between the station and your hotel. Check timetables on the official Haramain railway website.
Nusuk also lists hire cars, taxis, ride-hailing apps and shuttle buses from car parks at Makkah’s entrances. Packages often include buses or cars. Otherwise, you can pre-book an airport transfer.
Step 7: Phone, data and the Nusuk app
You will need data for the Nusuk app, maps and WhatsApp with your group leader. Nusuk asks pilgrims to arrive at the time on their Umrah permit; if you miss it, you can book again after it expires.
Choose roaming, a travel eSIM or a Saudi SIM, and keep your Pakistani number active for bank codes. Our eSIM for Umrah guide compares them.
Step 8: Travel and medical insurance
Ask your operator what insurance comes with your visa or package. As general guidance, visa-linked cover may focus on medical care in Saudi Arabia and leave out cancellations, lost bags or missed flights. For wider cover, compare policies on our travel insurance page.
Overseas Pakistanis: UK and Gulf residents
Saudi tourist eVisa and other visa routes
Looking for an Umrah visa for a Pakistani passport from the UK, or as a UAE resident? Your route depends on your passport and residence:
- Saudi residents: Nusuk says work visa holders can perform Umrah.
- Tourist eVisa: the official Saudi eVisa portal says it covers Umrah (excluding Hajj), but Pakistan is not on its list of eligible passports.
- GCC residents and UK, US or Schengen visa holders: you may hear these groups qualify for the eVisa. We could not confirm current conditions on the official portal in October 2026, so check the Saudi eVisa portal or a Saudi embassy first.
- Dual nationals on a British passport: the UK government lists an ETA and an electronic visa waiver that cover Umrah outside the Hajj season.
- Transit visa: Nusuk says holders can apply to perform Umrah during their stopover.
Whatever your visa, the vaccine rules and Nusuk permit still apply. See our visa guidance page.
Booking through a licensed operator where you live
MoRA’s list covers operators in Pakistan. Abroad, check the operator’s local licence.
- UK: the UK government advises researching the company “even if family or friends recommended it”. It also advises ATOL-protected Umrah bookings and paying by credit card where possible. It warns that organised crime groups target pilgrims.
- UAE and the Gulf: use a licensed travel company and get a written contract.
Umrah from Pakistan cost: what drives the price
We do not quote prices because they change week to week. The main factors:
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Season | Ramadan and school holidays see the highest demand. |
| Hotel distance | Hotels closest to the Haram cost the most. |
| Room sharing | Quad and triple rooms lower the price per person. |
| Flights | Departure city, routing and baggage change the fare. |
| Length of stay | Total nights, and the Makkah and Madinah split. |
| Transport and extras | Bus, car or train; meals, ziyarat and insurance. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Paying an agent before checking MoRA’s list
- Getting the meningitis vaccine less than 10 days before arrival
- Forgetting the polio dose required for travellers from Pakistan
- Buying non-refundable flights before your visa and dates are confirmed
Umrah planning checklist
- Operator found on MoRA’s attested list, details matched
- Written contract covering visa, hotels, transport and refunds
- Passport valid, documents submitted
- Meningococcal (ACYW) and polio vaccines done, certificates ready
- Flights and baggage confirmed
- Nusuk app installed, Umrah permit booked
- Data plan ready, Pakistani number active
- Insurance checked, document copies on your phone
How Voyfaro can help
We do not sell Umrah packages or arrange visas. Once your operator has confirmed what is included, we can help you compare the rest. That can mean flights to Jeddah or Madinah, extra hotel nights, airport transfers, a Saudi eSIM and travel insurance. You book and pay directly with our trusted travel partners. Send us your plans and we will reply with options.
FAQ
Can I apply for an Umrah visa myself from Pakistan?
Nusuk says Umrah visas can be issued through Nusuk or a Saudi embassy, but most pilgrims in Pakistan use a MoRA-attested operator. Nusuk Umrah only offers packages for countries open for individual Umrah, so check it for your country.
How do I check whether an Umrah company is genuine?
Search MoRA’s attested list by name and city, and match the address, phone and DTS licence number with your contract.
Can a Pakistani passport holder living in the UK or UAE do Umrah on a Saudi tourist visa?
The tourist eVisa covers Umrah outside Hajj, but Pakistan is not on its eligible list. Routes for residents and visa holders may exist, so check the official eVisa portal or a Saudi embassy, or use a licensed local operator.
Which vaccines are required for Umrah from Pakistan?
A meningococcal ACYW vaccine at least 10 days before arrival, plus a polio dose for travellers from Pakistan. Some higher-risk groups also need COVID-19 proof.
What is the best time of year for Umrah from Pakistan?
Ramadan and school holidays are usually the busiest and most expensive. UK government advice warns summer heat can pass 50°C, and flights are restricted around Hajj. Cooler, quieter months usually mean thinner crowds.
Sources
Official pages we checked in October 2026:
- Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Pakistan, List of Attested Umrah Tour Operators (live table; the site also lists MoRA’s complaint channels)
- MoRA, Umrah: Important Updates & Links, including the notice on attestation of Umrah contract documents (15 July 2026)
- MoRA, Hajj and Umrah (Regulation) Act, 2024
- Nusuk (Ministry of Hajj and Umrah), Umrah journey (visa routes, airports and Haramain stations) and FAQ (other visa types, transit visas, airports and Umrah permit times)
- Nusuk Umrah, official package platform
- Saudi Ministry of Health, Health Requirements and Recommendations for Travelers to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, 1447H (2026)
- Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Pakistan, Digital vaccination certificate (NIMS)
- Haramain High Speed Railway, official timetable and ticket portal
- Saudi Tourism Authority, Saudi eVisa portal
- UK Government (FCDO), Saudi Arabia: entry requirements and Pilgrimage (written for British travellers; useful for UK residents)