Umrah Visa: The Complete Guide to Obtaining It Yourself on Nusuk

Updated 2026, you can get your Umrah visa you can do it yourself, without going through an agency — provided you have an eligible passport. The process is handled exclusively by Nusuk, The official platform of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. This guide gives you, step by step, the exact procedure, the actual prices, the documents, and the pitfalls to avoid — including for the Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian passports from France, God willing.

Key takeaways (the essentials in 30 seconds)

• Season 1448 H is open The issuance of Umrah visas has resumed May 31, 2026, with entry to Mecca from the June 1, 2026 (according to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah).
• Single and mandatory platform: Nusuk (nusuk.saNo valid Umrah visa can be obtained outside of [the relevant country/region].
• French, Belgian, Swiss, Luxembourgish, Monegasque, Canadian passports : request 100 % online.
• Moroccan, Algerian, and Tunisian passports Umrah visa possible, but passing through a center VFS Tasheer for biometrics (see dedicated section).
• A decisive new feature for 2026 "No reservation, no visa." Hotel And transport must be booked via Nusuk Before the demand.
• Price : approximately 75 to 95 € (≈ 300 SAR); deadline : 48 to 72 hours in general.
• On a budget: the mandatory hotel can drop to ~20-35 $/night (Aziziyah area), and you can book only 2-3 nights (see the budget section).

1. What is an Umrah visa, and what is Nusuk?

THE Umrah visa is a permit issued by Saudi Arabia that authorizes a Muslim to enter the Kingdom to perform Umrah and visit the two Holy Places, in Mecca and Medina.

Nusuk (نُسُك) is the official digital platform of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Since the launch of the "Nusuk Umrah" service in 2025, pilgrims from eligible countries have been applying for their visas. directly online, without intermediaries, According to Gulf News, everything is now included: visa, hotel reservation, transport, Umrah permit and time slot for the Rawdah in Medina.

Quick definition — the BRN. THE Booking Reference Number is the hotel booking number, validated via Nusuk, required before submitting an Umrah visa application in 2026.

2. Are you eligible to complete the process yourself?

Eligibility depends of the passport you hold, not from your country of residence. Three possible scenarios:

Case A — European passports and similar documents (online application 100 %)

Passport holders French, Belgian, Swiss, Luxembourgish, Monegasque or Canadian (and more broadly from the EU, the UK, the US, Australia, Malaysia or the Gulf) make their request directly on Nusuk, without having to travel. 👉 This is the simplest and fastest way.

Case B — Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian passports (processed through VFS Tasheer)

Good news: the Umrah visa is accessible. According to several concurring specialist guides (2026), these nationals must, however, go to a center VFS Tasheer for the biometric fingerprinting, whether they reside in Europe or the Maghreb. An entire section is devoted to this below.

3. How to obtain your Umrah visa on Nusuk: the steps

Procedure for a European passport (Case A). Maghreb passports follow the same steps, with the addition of the VFS biometric step (next section).

1. Create your account. Go to umrah.nusuk.sa or download the Nusuk app on App Store Or Google Play. Enter your passport, email, phone number and nationality, then validate with the code received by SMS or email.

• You can choose a hotel with a free cancellation and refund option.

1. Pay online. Pay the visa fees and add insurance. Opt for a credit card (see the problems section below).
2. Follow the status. The treatment usually takes 48 to 72 hours (up to 7 business days at peak times). Your visa is arriving via email and in the app.

Good to know — hotel, transport and payment

• Hotel: in Nusuk only (for visa purposes). The reservation must be made on Nusuk, among the licensed hotels near the Haram. A hotel booked on Booking, Expedia or Hotels.com is not recognized by the system and made automatically reject the visa application. (Rule confirmed by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: accommodation contracts must be documented on Nusuk Masar before the visa is issued.)
• Transportation. Add it to Nusuk (airport transfer + journey Makkah↔Medina + return). Uber/Careem are not accepted for visa applications, but you can use them freely once there. THE Haramain train (Makkah–Medina in ~2h30, compared to 5-6h by road) is bookable via Nusuk or the official channels of Saudi Arabia Railways. (The official requirement mainly concerns the hotel; include transportation for safety reasons.)
• Can we book without paying right away? No: to generate the BRN, the reservation must be Confirmed, therefore paid. The trick : choose a refundable rate / free cancellation. You pay, get the BRN, then get a refund if your plans change — processing fee of 3 % apply to the refund, according to Nusuk's terms of use. Always read the hotel's cancellation policy before paying.

4. Moroccan, Algerian or Tunisian passport: obtaining your Umrah visa from France

This point is poorly explained elsewhere, so let's be precise. Yes, A Moroccan, Algerian, or Tunisian national can perform Umrah; and, according to several specialized guides (2026), it is even It is technically possible to apply for an Umrah visa individually. via Nusuk. The difference lies in a biometric step that European passports do not have.

Basic rule: this is the nationality of your passport which determines the procedure, not your French residence permit.

The procedure to follow from France

1. Prepare your application as for the online procedure (passport valid for 6 months, photo, vaccination, Nusuk reservations).
2. Make an appointment at a VFS Tasheer center — the official service provider for the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the collection of biometric data. In France, specialized guides indicate the center of Clichy (11-13 rue Madame de Sanzillon, 92110).
3. Introduce yourself in person for the fingerprinting. A valid residence permit country of residence is required.
4. Pay the VFS service fees : in the order of 60 € according to specialist guides, in addition to visa fees.

⚠️ Special case: Algeria. Some consulates require a 10-year residence certificate. Check this point with your center. Before to move around.

The dual nationality trick

If you own also a French passport (or Belgian, Swiss…), use it: you switch to the simplified online procedure (Case A), without VFS travel or biometrics, for a cost of approximately 95 €.

🔎 To be verified with the source. The center's address, exact fees, and required documents are subject to change. Confirm everything on the official website. VFS Global – Saudi visa from France before making an appointment. (Confidence level: 🟢 in principle — VFS transaction confirmed by VFS Global and several guides; 🟠 on the exact amounts/address, to be reconfirmed.)

5. The documents

According to Nusuk and the Saudi Ministry of Health, prepare:

• Passport valid at least 6 months after the travel date, with 2 blank pages.
• Recent digital photo, white background, according to Saudi standards.
• Return tickets confirmed covering your dates.
• Hotel and transport booked and linked to Nusuk (BRN).
• Meningitis vaccination certificate (MenACWY). Not mandatory
• For Maghreb passports : in addition, valid residence permit And VFS biometrics.

6. How much does an Umrah visa cost?

Details of the official Umrah visa fees on Nusuk:

• Visa fees : 80 USD (refundable in some cases).
• Visa digital service fees : 10.50 USD (non-refundable).
• Insurance digital service fees : 10.50 USD (non-refundable).
• Insurance premium : varies depending on the service provider.

➡️ In practice, the total is around 75 to 95 € (≈ 300 SAR) depending on the source and insurance chosen. For Maghreb passports, add the VFS fees (~€60).

Validity and entry requirements: check your visa. Depending on the type issued, the Umrah visa can be at single entrance (stay often limited to 30 or 90 days— Sources differ. In all cases, rule 2026 requires’enter Saudi Arabia within 30 days following delivery. Trust what is printed on your visa.

7. Getting your Umrah visa on a budget

The visa itself is inexpensive (~€75-95). What drives up the price is the’Hotel required on Nusuk (to generate the BRN). Good news: it can be significantly reduced. Here are the real tips, verified in 2026.

Price grid by zone (Mecca)

Nusuk ranks hotels by distance from the Haram:

Grid according to Wego — hotels in Mecca (May 2026). In Medina, the minimum budget is more like 30-50 $/night away from the Masjid An-Nabawi.

7 tips to pay as little as possible

1. Aim for the Aziziyah area (Area C). Free shuttle to the Haram, and ~20 to 35 $/night instead of 200 $+ near the Haram. This is the number one lever.
2. Book a quadruple room and share. A room for four saves 30 to 40 % per person: 30 $/night ÷ 4 ≈ 7.5 $ per pilgrim.
3. Only book your real nights — not 90! 🔑 You are not required to book a hotel for the entire duration of your visa (30 or 90 days). For a short Umrah, book only 2 or 3 nights in Mecca: the hotel must cover your actual stay, Not the visa duration. Note: the Saudi system verifies the number of nights and the consistency of the itinerary — book your actual stay, don't cheat on the number of nights.
4. Travel off-season. In low season (June-July), Prices are much lower than during Ramadan, when prices can double or triple.
5. Focus on a single city. The BRN requires at least a confirmed hotel A stay in Mecca (Aziziyah) is sufficient for the visa. Medina remains highly recommended for spiritual reasons, but is not required for the application.
6. Consider a refundable fare as a safety net. Book with "free cancellation", get the BRN, then adjust if needed — a 3 % fee applies to the refund (Nusuk conditions).
7. Transport at the lowest price. For the journey from Mecca to Medina, the Haramain train in Economy class It is much cheaper than a private transfer.

💡 Concrete example. 3 nights in a quadruple room in Aziziyah (~30 $ ÷ 4, i.e. ~22 $ per person in total) + visa ~85 € = a budget visa + hotel Very reasonable. Book and compare prices live on umrah.nusuk.sa (filter "price" + "free cancellation").

8. The official schedule for the 1448 H season (2026-2027)

The Umrah visa automatically locks during Hajj. According to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (reported by Gulf Business, May 2026), remember these key dates:

• May 31, 2026 : resumption of visa issuance and arrivals.
• June 1, 2026 : entry to Mecca and Umrah permit via Nusuk.
• March 9, 2027 : last date for issuing Umrah visas.
• March 23, 2027 : last date of entry of the pilgrims.
• April 7, 2027 : deadline for departure from the Kingdom.

Plan your entry well before March 2027 to avoid any overruns, which can lead to fines.

9. Common problems & solutions (real feedback from pilgrims)

The Nusuk platform is powerful but sometimes temperamental. These difficulties are frequently mentioned in reviews (Trustpilot, TikTok, press) — note that the harshest complaints mainly concern the portal. Hajj, much more intense than the Umrah.

• The website or application crashes during peak hours. (White screen, "Invalid Session", error 504). ➡️ Solution : use the web portal on computer rather than the mobile app, outside of peak hours, and do not refresh the page too often.
• The payment failed. The pilgrims report that Debit cards are often refused. ➡️ Solution use a credit card and check with your bank that the international payments in SAR are allowed.
• The photo was rejected. ➡️ Solution strictly adhere to the white background and the requested dimensions.
• The one-time passcode (OTP) is not arriving. ➡️ Solution : check your spam and wait a few minutes.
• The Rawdah slot opens in seconds during Ramadan. ➡️ Solution : in low season (June–July), The slots remain available for much longer.

⚠️ 10. Beware of scams

The U.S. State Department warns: Beware of visa and permit offers outside of Nusuk, as well as fake guides or tour operators. Never pay for an "Umrah visa" anywhere other than Nusuk, an official VFS Tasheer center, or an agency actually approved by the ministry.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is it possible to obtain an Umrah visa without an agency? Yes. With a French, Belgian, Swiss, Luxembourgish, Monegasque, or Canadian passport, the application is made directly on Nusuk. With a Moroccan, Algerian, or Tunisian passport, individual applications are still possible but require a visit to a VFS Tasheer center for biometrics.
• How much does an Umrah visa cost? Approximately 75 to 95 € (≈ 300 SAR). For Maghreb passports, expect ~€60 VFS fee in addition.
• How long does it take to obtain an Umrah visa? In general 48 to 72 hours, and up to 7 working days during peak periods.
• I have a Moroccan, Algerian or Tunisian passport and I live in France: what should I do? Prepare your file, then make an appointment at a VFS Tasheer center (biometrics), with a valid residence permit. If you also have a French passport, use it for the online procedure, which is simpler.

Verified sources

• Nusuk — Official Omra Platform (Visa application, hotel/transport booking and permits)
• Nusuk — Terms of Use (cancellation and refund fees of 3 %)
• VFS Global — Saudi visa from France (appointments and biometrics)
• Saudi Ministry of Health — Pilgrim Health (MenACWY vaccine)

Warning. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rules, dates, and prices are set by the Saudi authorities and are subject to change. Always verify critical information from official sources (Nusuk, VFS Global) before booking.

Are you preparing for your Umrah? Join our Medinatouna channel for visa updates, guides from Medina, and practical advice, in sha Allah. May Allah make your pilgrimage easy and accept it.

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