Umrah vaccine requirements
Which vaccines you need for Umrah, from the official Saudi health requirements for Umrah travellers. Pick your country to see what applies to you.
These are the requirements for the 1447H (2026) Umrah season. The 1448H document had not been published on 2026-10-09.
Check your country
Meningitis vaccine (required for everyone)
- Required for everyone performing Umrah, from all countries.
- Conjugate vaccine (ACYW or ACYWX): received within the last 5 years and at least 10 days before arrival.
- Polysaccharide vaccine (ACYW): within the last 3 years and at least 10 days before arrival.
- The certificate must show the vaccine name and date; if the type is not stated, it counts as valid for 3 years only.
- The document gives no age limit for this vaccine, and notes the conjugate vaccine is safe for people over 55.
A vaccination certificate must be shown by travellers from: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo - Kinshasa, Côte d’Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda.
Polio (some countries)
At least one dose of bOPV or IPV, regardless of age, for travellers from: Afghanistan, Congo - Kinshasa, Guinea, Mozambique, Pakistan.
At least one dose of IPV (or, if unavailable, an oral vaccine containing type 2) for travellers from: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo - Brazzaville, Congo - Kinshasa, Ethiopia, Guinea, Indonesia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Palestinian Territories, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Yemen.
Recommended timing: IPV within the last 12 months, or oral vaccine within the last 6 months, at least 4 weeks before arrival.
Polio vaccination is recommended (not required) for travellers from: Algeria, Angola, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Palestinian Territories, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Spain, Sudan, Uganda, Yemen, Zimbabwe.
Yellow fever (some countries)
A yellow fever certificate is required for travellers older than 9 months from the countries below. It is valid for life, starting 10 days after vaccination.
Angola, Argentina, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Congo - Brazzaville, Congo - Kinshasa, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Suriname, Togo, Uganda, Venezuela.
COVID-19 and seasonal flu
- COVID-19 proof is required for people over 65, pregnant women, and people with chronic heart or lung disease, chronic kidney failure, inherited blood disorders, weak immunity, cancer or chronic nervous-system disease.
- Accepted proof (one is enough): one dose of the 2025–2026 vaccine, or a completed primary course (two or more doses) between 2021 and 2024, or a lab-confirmed recovery in 2025.
- For everyone else COVID-19 vaccination is recommended, and the updated seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for all Umrah travellers.
Cholera (Yemen and Sudan)
Travellers from Yemen and Sudan need a health monitoring certificate covering at least 10 days before travel.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Which vaccine is mandatory for Umrah?
The meningococcal vaccine (ACYW or ACYWX) is required for everyone performing Umrah, at least 10 days before arrival.
How long is the Umrah meningitis vaccine valid?
Five years for a conjugate vaccine and three years for a polysaccharide vaccine. If the certificate does not state the type, it counts as valid for three years.
Do I need a polio vaccine for Umrah?
Only if you travel from one of the countries listed in the official requirements, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia or Yemen.
Is the COVID-19 vaccine required for Umrah?
Only for people over 65, pregnant women and people with certain chronic conditions; for everyone else it is recommended.
Requirements can change; airlines and your doctor or travel clinic will confirm what you need before you fly.