After weeks of suspension during Hajj, the Kingdom has thrown open the doors to millions of pilgrims once again — with tighter systems, new digital requirements, and a season that runs all the way to March 2027.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has set May 31, 2026 — corresponding to 14 Dhul Hijjah 1447 AH — as the date on which Umrah visa issuance resumed, allowing international pilgrims to once again enter the Kingdom. From June 1, pilgrims have also been able to enter Makkah and obtain Umrah permits through the Nusuk application.
The resumption marks the opening of a new Umrah season that will carry the faithful well into the next Islamic year. Pilgrims will be allowed entry into Saudi Arabia for Umrah until March 23, 2027, with the final departure date set at April 7, 2027.
After the Hajj, the Doors Open Again
Every year, Saudi Arabia follows a carefully managed cycle. As the Hajj season approaches, Umrah visa issuance is suspended to allow authorities to direct all resources toward the world’s largest annual gathering of humanity. Once Hajj concludes, the Kingdom reopens — and the flow of pilgrims begins again.
This year’s announcement came on the heels of a Hajj season that saw participation from more than 1.6 million pilgrims from around the world. With the grand pilgrimage successfully concluded, the Ministry moved swiftly to restore access for those performing the lesser pilgrimage.
The Ministry said the updated calendar is part of ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency and enhance services provided to pilgrims throughout the season.
The Nusuk Requirement: No App, No Entry
Pilgrims planning to travel this season should be aware that the process has changed significantly in recent years. The Saudi government has made the Nusuk platform central to the entire Umrah experience — and compliance is not optional.
Nusuk is now mandatory for all pilgrims regardless of visa type, and is used to manage bookings, accommodation, and entry permits. Without confirmed Nusuk-linked bookings, Umrah permits will not be issued even if a pilgrim holds a valid visa.
Travellers visiting Saudi Arabia on a tourist e-visa outside the Hajj season must also obtain an Umrah permit through the Nusuk app before performing the pilgrimage.
Pilgrims applying for Umrah visas will need to use the Nusuk Umrah portal or apply through external agents approved by Saudi authorities. The Ministry had also instructed Umrah companies and international agents to finalise their service agreements ahead of the season’s opening.
Key Dates for the 1448 AH Season
For pilgrims and travel agents, the Ministry has released a full operational calendar:
- Visa issuance resumed: May 31, 2026
- Entry into Makkah and Nusuk permits: From June 1, 2026
- Last date to issue Umrah visas: March 9, 2027
- Last date for pilgrims to enter Saudi Arabia: March 23, 2027
- Final departure deadline: April 7, 2027
Officials said the calendar is aimed at helping internationally travelling pilgrims plan their travel and accommodation in advance, ensuring smooth entry into the Kingdom.
A Season of Millions
The scale of what Saudi Arabia manages each Umrah season is difficult to overstate. Unlike Hajj, which is bound to specific days of the Islamic calendar, Umrah can be performed at any time of year — making it a continuous, year-round undertaking for the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and its partner agencies.
For the Gulf’s large expatriate Muslim communities — Keralites, Pakistanis, Filipinos, Egyptians, and many others — the resumption of Umrah visas is also an economic signal. Travel agencies begin booking flights and hotel packages. Tour operators finalise their agreements with Makkah hotels. Families who have been saving and waiting begin to make their calls.
Saudi Arabia continues to strictly control religious tourism through digital permits and tightened travel procedures for international pilgrims — a recognition that the sheer volume of those wishing to visit the holy cities demands management on an industrial scale, handled with spiritual sensitivity.
What Pilgrims Must Do Now
For those eager to travel, the advice from travel agents and religious authorities is consistent: begin early, book through authorised channels, and ensure all Nusuk requirements are met before departure.
It is now mandatory for Umrah pilgrims to book packages with confirmed hotel bookings, transport arrangements, and compliance with visa rules through the official pilgrimage platform Nusuk.
The window is long — running nearly ten months — but demand is expected to be high, particularly as the cooler months approach and the season deepens toward Ramadan 2027, traditionally the busiest period for Umrah travel.
The gates, in short, are open. For millions who have been waiting, the journey can now begin.
