Umrah with children
Can children perform Umrah and enter the Haram? Where is the children’s nursery? Are strollers allowed? Answers from Nusuk and the Two Holy Mosques authority.
At a glance
Can children perform Umrah and enter the Haram?
- Nusuk: “Are children allowed to perform Umrah? Yes, children are allowed to perform Umrah.”
- In Nusuk you can add 4 companions, with no limit on dependants.
- Children may enter the Prophet’s Mosque, but not the Rawdah, for their safety in the crowds.
More details
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah FAQ still carries an old COVID-era line setting 5 years as the minimum age for a visa or permit; Nusuk now says children may perform Umrah without giving an age. Check in the app when you book.
Ihram for children
- Child-size ihram is on our Umrah packing list with Amazon links.
- The ministry guides give no specific rules on a child’s ihram; ask a scholar. We do not give religious rulings.
Children’s nursery at Masjid al-Haram
- Register online or with the reception team; the child wears an ID bracelet matching the guardian’s.
- It was free and open 24 hours during Ramadan.
Children’s nursery at the Prophet’s Mosque
- Open all year; children are handed in and collected only on showing an ID card, residence permit or passport.
- Children cannot enter the Rawdah, so leave your child at the nursery during your visit.
Strollers, ID bracelets and lost children
- Strollers are allowed at Masjid al-Haram, and only in the outer plazas of the Prophet’s Mosque.
- ID wristband printers at King Abdulaziz Gate, King Fahd Gate and Ajyad Bridge.
- The Guest Care Center in Makkah receives lost women and children 24 hours a day.
- Lost property at the Prophet’s Mosque: near outer gate 366–367 (south); the women’s office is near inner gate 28 (Bab Ali).
Visa and vaccines for children
- Tourist eVisa: under-18s do not apply themselves; someone acting on their behalf applies.
- The meningitis vaccine is required for everyone coming for Umrah from abroad, at least 10 days before arrival; the Ministry of Health’s current rules state no minimum age.
- Polio vaccine for arrivals of any age from listed countries; yellow fever for those over 9 months from listed countries.
Haramain train with children
- Children travel with an adult (18+); infants without a seat need a booking, one infant per adult.
- Two official Haramain train pages give different ages for children and infants, so check the conditions when you book.
Frequently asked questions
Are children allowed in the Haram?
Yes. Children may enter Masjid al-Haram and the Prophet’s Mosque, and Nusuk says they may perform Umrah. The Rawdah is the exception: children are not allowed in, for their safety.
Does a child need an Umrah permit?
Nusuk says children may perform Umrah, and you can add dependants in Nusuk with no limit. Its page gives no minimum age, so check in the app when you book.
Where is the children’s nursery at the Haram?
At Masjid al-Haram, opposite Gates 100 and 104; at the Prophet’s Mosque, on the north-east side between plaza exits 339 and 340.
Are strollers allowed at the Haram?
Yes at Masjid al-Haram; at the Prophet’s Mosque only in the outer plazas, according to Nusuk.
Do children need vaccines for Umrah?
The Ministry of Health requires the meningitis vaccine for everyone coming for Umrah from abroad and states no minimum age. Polio vaccination is required for arrivals of any age from listed countries.
Plan the rest of your Umrah
We do not give religious rulings.