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Key points
- Keep your passport, visa printout and hotel details in your hand bag, not in the suitcase.
- At immigration your passport is checked and your fingerprints and photo are usually taken. Queues can be long, so be patient.
- After the bags, look for your group’s representative before you go anywhere. Do not leave the airport with a stranger.
- If you arrive tired, rest first. Your ihram rules still apply until the Umrah is complete, but there is no need to rush to the Haram straight from a long journey.
Before you land
- In your hand bag: passport, visa printout, flight ticket, hotel name and address, group leader’s number, medicines and a pen
- If you are in ihram, keep a safety pin, a small towel and slippers that are easy to take off
- Fill your water bottle on the plane, and use the washroom before landing; the immigration queue can take time
- Switch your phone to flight-safe settings, and keep it charged for the first call after landing
Step by step at the airport
- 1
Step 1
Immigration
Join the queue for visitors with your passport open at the visa page. The officer checks the passport and usually takes your fingerprints and a photo. Keep calm and follow the instructions; children stay with their parents.
- 2
Step 2
Bags
Collect your bags from the belt shown for your flight. Count them, and check that the lock and tag are yours. Report a missing bag at the desk before you leave the hall.
- 3
Step 3
Customs
Walk through the customs area. Large amounts of cash, and some medicines and goods, must be declared, so check the rules before you travel.
- 4
Step 4
Find your group
Outside the hall, look for the representative with your group’s name or sign. Stay together; elderly parents can sit while one person handles the bags.
- 5
Step 5
Bus to the hotel
The group’s bus takes you to the hotel in Makkah or Madinah. From Jeddah to Makkah is about 1 to 1.5 hours by road, depending on traffic and stops.
SIM card and internet
Mobile companies have counters at the airports, and a passport is needed to buy a SIM. Offers for pilgrims change often, and at times a free SIM is given on arrival. An international roaming pack from India is another choice; compare the price before you travel.
Once you have data, send a message home and share your location with the family group.
Money
- Carry some Saudi riyals in cash for the first day: water, a tip, a small purchase
- Debit and credit cards work in most shops, supermarkets and hotels; tell your bank before you travel
- Use authorised money changers, not people offering rates in the hall
- Keep most of your money in the hotel safe and carry only what you need each day
The Nusuk app
Nusuk is the official Saudi app for pilgrims. It is used to book a slot for the Rawdah in Masjid an-Nabawi, and at busy times it may be used for Umrah permits too. Install it in India, sign in with your passport details, and learn how it works before you land.
Your first Umrah: when to do it
Many pilgrims arrive in Makkah in ihram after a long night. You do not have to go to the Haram the same hour. Check in, eat, pray and rest, and then go with your group when everyone is fresh. Your ihram rules stay until you finish the Umrah, so take care with them while you rest.
For elderly parents, ask the group leader about the best time of day, when the crowd is lighter, and whether a wheelchair is needed for tawaf and sa’i.
Questions
Usually, yes. Visitors’ fingerprints and a photo are taken at immigration on arrival. Follow the officer’s instructions.
Related on our site
Official guidance
This guide is general travel information. For religious rulings, please ask a qualified scholar.
