Visas and travel documents
Nusuk Explained: Umrah Permits, Rawdah Appointments and Umrah Packages
Nusuk is Saudi Arabia’s official platform for pilgrims. You use the Nusuk app to book the Umrah permit every visitor needs and appointments to pray in the Rawdah, and the Nusuk Umrah platform to buy packages that come with an Umrah visa. Here is how each part works.
Part of: Umrah Visa and Travel Documents from the USA: The Complete Guide
General guidance, not a religious ruling. Practice can differ between schools of thought; for your own circumstances, consult a qualified scholar.
Quick answers
- What is Nusuk used for?
- Booking the Umrah permit every visitor needs, booking appointments to pray in the Rawdah at the Prophet’s Mosque, and, on the Nusuk Umrah platform, buying packages that include an Umrah visa.
- Do I need a Nusuk permit if I have a tourist visa?
- Yes. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah says all Muslim visitors need an official Umrah permit, whatever their visa type, obtained exclusively through the Nusuk app.
- How often can I book the Rawdah?
- According to a December 2025 Saudi Press Agency report, a Rawdah permit is valid once every 365 days. Check the app for the current rule.
Nusuk is the official Saudi platform for Hajj and Umrah. For a pilgrim from the USA it does three jobs: the Nusuk app issues the Umrah permit every visitor needs before performing Umrah, it books appointments to pray in the Rawdah at the Prophet’s Mosque, and the Nusuk Umrah platform sells service packages that come with an Umrah visa. Your visa gets you into the country; Nusuk is how you book the rites themselves.
Requirements vary by nationality, visa type and the rules in force when you apply, and they change often. This guide is general information checked against official sources on October 21, 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Visa decisions are made solely by the Saudi authorities, and no agency, including ours, can guarantee approval.
This guide is part of our Umrah visa and travel documents guide.
The parts of Nusuk
| What | Where | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| Umrah permit | Nusuk app | Every visitor performing Umrah, whatever their visa |
| Rawdah appointment | Nusuk app or website | Anyone who wishes to pray in the Rawdah |
| Umrah packages and Umrah visas | umrah.nusuk.sa | Pilgrims using an Umrah visa rather than a tourist eVisa |
The Umrah permit
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s Umrah visit guide says that all Muslim visitors, regardless of visa type, need an official permit before heading to Masjid al-Haram to perform Umrah, and that it is issued exclusively through the Nusuk app. The permit is for a time slot, so you choose when you plan to perform the rites.
How it usually works
- Download the official Nusuk app and create an account with your passport details as a visitor.
- Link your visa when prompted.
- Choose the Umrah permit service, pick a date and time slot, and confirm.
- Save the permit; you may be asked to show it.
Screens and steps change with app updates, so follow what the app shows. Book for each family member as the app requires.
Timing tips
- Pick a slot that allows for your flight, immigration, the drive from Jeddah and some rest.
- In Ramadan and on busy weekends, slots can be scarce. Book as soon as your arrival time is confirmed.
- Holders of the multiple-entry Umrah visa announced in July 2026 must have their permit issued before arrival, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
- Permits are suspended around Hajj. In 2026 the suspension ran from April 18 to May 31.
Rawdah appointments
The Rawdah is the area of the Prophet’s Mosque between his house and his minbar. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah lists the Rawdah permit service as free and available to visitors through the Nusuk app and website. A December 2025 Saudi Press Agency report said each permit is valid once every 365 days and set separate visiting hours for men and women, broadly late night to Fajr and late morning to Isha for men, and after Fajr to late morning and after Isha to 2:00 a.m. for women, with different hours on Fridays.
Slots are limited and released by the authorities. Nobody can guarantee one, and you should be wary of anyone who promises to.
The Nusuk Umrah platform: packages and Umrah visas
The Nusuk Umrah platform lets pilgrims buy service packages from approved providers, and an Umrah visa is issued with the package. This is the main route for nationalities not on the tourist eVisa list. U.S. citizens can use it too, but most use the tourist eVisa and book hotels separately. Compare the routes in Saudi visa options for Umrah.
Before you leave the U.S.
- Install the official app from your phone’s app store; check the publisher.
- Set up your account at home, where you have time and good Wi-Fi.
- Make sure your phone will have data on arrival. See phones, SIMs and apps for Umrah.
- Help older relatives set up their accounts and keep screenshots of their permits.
Common problems and what to do
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Your flight is delayed and you will miss your permit slot | Open the app and look for a later slot; rest until you have one rather than going without a permit |
| Your name or passport number in the app does not match your visa | Correct your profile so it matches your passport exactly before booking |
| An older relative does not have a smartphone | Ask whether the app lets you book on their behalf; keep a printed screenshot of their permit in their document pouch |
| Your phone has no battery or signal at the Haram | Carry a power bank and keep a screenshot or printout of each permit |
| No Rawdah slots appear | Check again at different times of day; new slots are released by the authorities, but none are guaranteed |
Use only the official app and website. Be wary of third-party sites or messages offering to sell permits or Rawdah slots.
Hypothetical examples
A family from Minneapolis lands in Jeddah at 9 a.m. and books Umrah permits for after Asr, giving them time to clear immigration, drive to Makkah and rest. A couple from Dallas starts in Madinah and tries for Rawdah appointments as soon as they arrive; they get one slot for the wife and keep checking for the husband. A daughter from Boston manages permits for her elderly father on her phone and keeps a printed screenshot in his pouch.
How we help
We explain how Nusuk works, suggest permit times that fit your flights and transfers, and help you plan around Ramadan demand. We cannot guarantee permits or Rawdah appointments, which are allocated by the authorities. Request a quote, or see Ramadan Umrah packages if you are planning for the busiest season. Before you go, check your passport and document checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nusuk free to use?
The app is free to download, and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah lists the Rawdah permit service as free. Packages bought on the Nusuk Umrah platform, which include services and an Umrah visa, are paid.
What if no Umrah permit slot is available when I arrive?
Check other times the same day or the next day; slots open and change. Rest and pray at the Haram in the meantime. Do not attempt Umrah without a permit.
Is the Nusuk app the same as the Nusuk Umrah website?
They are parts of the same official platform. The app is where visitors book Umrah permits and Rawdah appointments; umrah.nusuk.sa is where pilgrims buy packages from approved providers that come with an Umrah visa.
Can I pray in the Rawdah more than once on my trip?
Under the rule reported in December 2025, a Rawdah permit is valid once every 365 days, so most visitors get one appointment per year. You can still pray anywhere else in the Prophet’s Mosque without a permit.
Do I need to arrange anything through Nusuk?
Yes. Nusuk is the official Saudi platform for pilgrims: every visitor books an Umrah permit in the app for a set date and time, whatever their visa type, and Umrah visas are issued against bookings registered there. Praying in the Rawdah at the Prophet’s Mosque needs a separate Nusuk booking, and the authorities limit how often one person can book it. Slots depend on availability, especially in Ramadan, so we explain the steps but cannot guarantee a time. Read Nusuk explained.
What visa can I use for Umrah?
Most travelers from the U.S. use either the Saudi tourist eVisa or an Umrah visa. The tourist eVisa, for citizens of eligible countries including the United States, is valid for one year with multiple entries, allows stays of up to 90 days per visit and permits Umrah outside the Hajj season. An Umrah visa is issued against bookings registered in Nusuk, and under the current rules it must be used within 30 days of issue. Either way, you also book an Umrah permit in the Nusuk app. Compare both in our guide to Saudi visa options for Umrah.
Can you guarantee a Rawdah appointment in Madinah?
No. Rawdah visits are booked by each pilgrim in the official Nusuk app, and slots are released and capped by the authorities, with a limit on repeat visits. We can show you how to book, but no agency can honestly guarantee an appointment.
Sources and official references
- Nusuk: official platform for Hajj and Umrah (opens in a new tab)
- Nusuk Umrah platform (packages and Umrah visas) (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Umrah visit guide (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Rawdah permit service (opens in a new tab)
- Saudi Press Agency: Rawdah visiting hours and Nusuk permits (December 5, 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- Saudi Press Agency: multiple-entry Umrah visa valid for one year (July 20, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Saudi Press Agency: Interior Ministry Hajj 1447 AH arrangements (April 13, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Umrah season calendar for 1448 AH (May 17, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
Sources checked . Rules for visas, travel and health change. Always confirm with official sources before you travel.
Questions about your visa or documents?
We can explain the current process for your passport and help you plan around it. Visa decisions are made by the Saudi authorities, not by us.
Ask a specialist
Safa Rihla Umrah Editorial Team
Umrah travel specialists
Guides from the Safa Rihla Umrah team are written for pilgrims traveling from the United States. They combine practical travel planning with mainstream explanations of the rites, note where scholarly opinions differ, and say so when a guide is still awaiting review by a qualified reviewer. They are general information, not personal religious rulings; please consult a qualified scholar about your own circumstances.
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