Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimage Travelers

Millions of people from around the world undertake the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Umrah is a pilgrimage that can be completed at any time of the year.

Saudi Arabia’s Hajj

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah offers the Nusuk Hajj platform, the only official platform authorized for booking and managing your Hajj journey. The Nusuk platform provides information on your Hajj package, flight, payment, and visa.

In order to perform Hajj, pilgrims from the United States must obtain a Hajj permit and visa issued through Nusuk. U.S. citizens living in Saudi Arabia must also register through Nusuk to perform Hajj. 

Hajj bookings, visas, and payments cannot be made through third-party travel agents outside of the Nusuk platform. If you perform Hajj without a permit, you may be deported, detained, fined, or banned from future visits to Saudi Arabia.  

Refer to Nusuk for all related information, including required vaccines and medical insurance, awareness guides, specific mobile apps needed to enter holy sites, and other details. Please also review the current Travel Advisory and country information for Saudi Arabia for further information on safety, security, local laws, special travelers, and health issues. 

Once you arrive in Mecca and begin your Hajj journey, you are restricted from departing Saudi Arabia until after the completion of Hajj. In case of an emergency, you must get permission from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to depart Saudi Arabia early.

Personal security tips 

Travelers seeking to perform Hajj and Umrah are often targets for scammers. 

Be aware of scams offering Hajj visas and permits outside the Nusuk platform.
Watch out for dishonest guides or people pretending to be tour operators. They may leave pilgrims stranded without paying their bills.  
Be cautious of hotels that demand to keep your passport. 
Protect yourself against pickpocketing, theft, and other crimes in Mecca and Medina. Be particularly vigilant when you are in large crowds.  
Always carry contact information for your hotel and tour operator. 
Keep travel documents (your U.S. passport or U.S. “green card” residency permit) secure during your trip. Make copies of your passport—including pages stamped with Saudi visas—with 1 saved digitally and the other in a safe place while you travel. 
Unauthorized agents and tours are not safe. Some have dropped off passengers at unofficial entry points without water or shelter. This has led to serious harm, including dehydration, stroke, exposure, and even death.

Emergency contact information for U.S. citizens

For emergencies, use these numbers to reach the American Citizens Services unit or an after-hours duty officer for assistance: 

For the U.S. Consulate General Jeddah dial +966-12-220-5000
For the U.S. Embassy Riyadh dial +966-11-835-4000
For the U.S. Consulate General Dhahran dial +966-13-839-5700

Hajj and Umrah visa requirements

The Hijri calendar is used in Saudi Arabia for all official purposes.  Please review the dates on your visa carefully. Make sure you know when it expires. 

U.S. citizens visiting from outside Saudi Arabia can perform Umrah on a tourist or Umrah visa, however Hajj can only be performed on a Hajj visa issued through Nusuk.

Do not overstay your Hajj or Umrah visa. If you stay in Saudi Arabia longer than you are allowed, you may have to pay fines in order to depart the country. This can amount to thousands of dollars. You might also be held in detention until your deportation proceedings. You could also be banned from returning to Saudi Arabia in the future.

Permitted areas of travel and duration of stay 

If you are unsure, ask Saudi airport officials or the Passport Office (jawazat) for clarification upon arrival. 

Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage visas are not valid for work or residency. 
Non-Muslims are not allowed to travel to Mecca or the sacred parts of Medina. 
All pilgrims visiting for Hajj must leave Saudi Arabia after the completion of Hajj or after their visits to Medina and Jeddah if part of the authorized Hajj package.

Women pilgrims

Women can register for and perform Hajj without a male guardian.

Accessibility needs for pilgrim travelers 

While most of the Holy Sites, such as the Grand Mosque in Mecca, are accessible to all people regardless of abilities, most hotels and transportation options are not. Check with your tour group provider to ensure your needs are well known and can be accommodated. 

Photographs

While limited personal photos are generally allowed, photographing others performing prayers or without their permission is still prohibited. If you break this rule, your device may be taken away or you could be fined.

Additionally, photography of Saudi government or security personnel and assets such as buildings and vehicles is strictly forbidden throughout the Kingdom. Please adhere to instructions by local authorities on personal photography. Commercial photography or videography has its own requirements.

Safety and emergency information 

Summer temperatures in Mecca for June may easily rise over 105 degrees Fahrenheit (41 Celsius). Plan out how you will stay hydrated.

Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages from the U.S. embassy or consulate for your destination. STEP also makes it easier to reach you or your emergency contact in an emergency. 

Follow us on X @KSA_ACS and @TravelGov as well as the U.S. Mission Saudi Arabia, Consulate General Jeddah, and Bureau of Consular Affairs on Facebook, and @TravelGov on Instagram.

Emergency contact information for Hajj authorities 

Nusuk, Pilgrims Care Center

Website:  https://www.haj.gov.sa/Contact
Street Address:  Ibrahim Khalil Street, Misfalah, Makkah

Care@haj.gov.sa

+966-92-000-2814 from inside or outside the Kingdom

1966 from inside the Kingdom

Emergency Services

911 for all emergencies, including ambulance service

What the U.S. Government can and can't do in an emergency

We hope you have a trouble-free Hajj or Umrah like thousands of other pilgrims from the United States do every year. If something goes wrong, U.S. Embassy Riyadh and Consulate General Jeddah can help with consular services.

Ways we can help:

Arrange for emergency U.S. passports for U.S. citizens, as well as “boarding foils” for lost I-551 (“green cards”) for U.S. lawful permanent residents. After Hajj, please bring a report from the police station regarding the theft or loss, and a copy of your U.S. passport or green card if possible. 
Make contact with you within 24 hours of being told that you are arrested.  
Provide information on local lawyers and medical care. 
Inform your family or others who can assist you if you are involved in an accident, are arrested, or die.

The U.S. government cannot: 

Arrange for travel outside of the designated areas in Mecca and Medina.
Resolve alleged or actual immigration violations. 
Become involved in any disputes involving a travel agency, hotel, airline, or any other service provider. 
Manage airline, hotel, or other travel bookings. 
Pay for hotel, legal, medical, travel, or other bills. 
Obtain your release from prison. 
Give legal advice or intervene in court cases or criminal investigations.