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Key points
- Every child, even a newborn, needs his or her own passport and Umrah visa.
- Child and infant prices are shown on each package page. Our team confirms the price for your child before you book.
- Boys wear ihram like men; girls wear normal modest clothes. Ask your scholar about ihram for babies and toddlers.
- A soft baby carrier is easier than a pram in the Haram. Plan rest around the heat and the crowds.
Can you take kids for Umrah?
Yes. Many families take children of all ages, including babies. It takes a little more planning: the right papers, a slower pace, and a plan for the heat and the crowds.
Questions about a young child’s intention and rites are best asked of your scholar before you travel.
Documents for children
Children need the same travel papers as adults. Start early, because a child’s passport can take time.
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If a child is travelling without one of the parents, ask us early whether any extra papers are needed.
Child and infant prices
Child and infant prices are shown on each package page. They are lower than the adult price, and our team confirms the right price for your child’s age before you book.
Airlines usually treat a child under two as an infant, who sits on a parent’s lap. Ask us about a bassinet seat for long flights if your baby is small.
Ihram for boys and clothes for girls
Boys wear ihram like men. Girls wear their normal, modest clothes.
- Small ihram sets in children’s sizes are easy to find. Pack a spare, as children get dirty fast.
- A belt helps keep a boy’s ihram in place.
- Sandals that leave the top of the foot open, like the adults’.
- For babies and toddlers in nappies, ask your scholar how to handle ihram before you leave.
Rules of ihram for children, and what to do if a child breaks one, are questions for your scholar.
Prams, strollers and baby carriers
A soft baby carrier or sling is the easiest way to carry a baby in the Haram. Prams and strollers are often not allowed inside the mosques or in the tawaf area, and the rules can differ by gate.
- Use the carrier for the mosques, tawaf and sa’i.
- A light folding stroller is useful on the streets and in the hotel.
- Most airlines let you check in a stroller. Ask us about your airline’s rule.
Health in the heat
See your child’s doctor before you travel, and plan for heat, long walks and changes in food.
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Keeping children safe in the crowds
The Haram can get very crowded, so plan before you go in. Never let a small child walk alone in the crowd.
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Tips to make it easier
- Tell children about the Kaaba, tawaf and sa’i before the trip, with pictures or short videos.
- Take turns: one parent stays with a sleeping child while the other prays.
- Rest after each prayer. Children tire faster than adults.
- Book during school holidays early, as seats fill fast in December.
- Our hotels in Makkah are up to 650 m from the Haram, so you can walk back to rest.
Questions
Yes. Every child, even a newborn, needs his or her own passport and Umrah visa. The passport should be valid for at least six months from the travel date.
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Official guidance
This guide is general travel information. For religious rulings, please ask a qualified scholar.
