Makkah entry permit
Whether you need a permit to enter Makkah depends on the time of year. Here is what the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah have announced.
Outside the Hajj season
- The entry-permit requirement is announced for the Hajj season only; we found no such requirement for the rest of the year.
- To perform Umrah you need an Umrah permit in the Nusuk app, tied to a time slot. Praying in Masjid al-Haram needs no permit.
- For the 1448 season, Umrah pilgrims could enter Makkah and Nusuk began issuing Umrah permits on 15 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 (1 June 2026).
During the Hajj season (1447 / 2026 example)
- From 25 Shawwal 1447 (13 April 2026), residents wanting to enter Makkah needed an official permit; those without one were turned back.
- From 1 Dhu al-Qa‘dah 1447 (18 April 2026), holders of all visa types except the Hajj visa could not enter or stay in Makkah.
- From 1 Dhu al-Qa‘dah to 14 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447, Nusuk stopped issuing Umrah permits to citizens, GCC citizens and residents.
Dates change every year. No announcement for the 1448 (2027) Hajj season had been published on 9 October 2026.
Who was exempt (1447)
- Residents with an iqama issued in Makkah
- Holders of a Hajj permit
- Holders of a work permit for the holy sites, issued electronically through Absher Individuals or the Muqeem portal, linked to the Tasreeh platform
How to get a Makkah entry permit
Absher Individuals
For GCC citizens, premium residency holders, investors, the mother of a citizen, domestic workers and non-Saudi family members (with the required documents).
Muqeem: Makkah entry permits portal
For employees of establishments based in Makkah and people with work contracts there during the Hajj season.
The Passports directorate issues the permits electronically, without visiting its offices. Umrah permits (Nusuk) are a separate thing and do not replace an entry permit in the Hajj season.
Penalties announced for the 1447 season
| Violation | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Performing or trying to perform Hajj without a permit, or entering or staying in Makkah and the holy sites on a visit visa (1 Dhu al-Qa‘dah – 14 Dhu al-Hijjah) | Fine up to SAR 20,000; violating residents deported and banned for 10 years |
| Transporting visit-visa holders to Makkah and the holy sites | Fine up to SAR 100,000 and court request to confiscate the vehicle |
| Transporting people violating Hajj rules without a permit | Fine up to SAR 50,000, up to 6 months in prison, vehicle confiscation, expat drivers deported |
| Housing or hiding visit-visa holders | Fine up to SAR 100,000, multiplied by the number of people |
The ban area includes Makkah city and its entrances, the central area, the holy sites and the Haramain station in Ar Rusayfah. Report violations on 911 (Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, Eastern Province) or 999.
Non-Muslims
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah states that only Muslims are allowed to enter the Sacred Area. On the roads into Makkah there is a path dedicated to Muslims only.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to enter Makkah?
Outside the Hajj season the authorities have announced no entry permit; you need an Umrah permit in Nusuk to perform Umrah. In the Hajj season residents need an entry permit unless they have a Makkah iqama, a Hajj permit or a holy-sites work permit.
How do I get a Makkah entry permit from Absher?
Through Absher Individuals, with the required documents. It covers GCC citizens, premium residency holders, investors, a citizen’s mother, domestic workers and non-Saudi family members. Workers of Makkah-based companies apply through the Muqeem portal.
Is the Umrah permit enough to enter Makkah in Hajj season?
No. In 1447 Nusuk stopped issuing Umrah permits from 1 Dhu al-Qa‘dah to 14 Dhu al-Hijjah, and the exemptions were a Makkah iqama, a Hajj permit or a holy-sites work permit.
What is the fine for entering Makkah without a permit in Hajj season?
For 1447, performing Hajj without a permit or entering Makkah on a visit visa during the ban carried a fine of up to SAR 20,000, with deportation and a 10-year ban for residents.