Pakistani passport holders cannot apply for an Umrah visa directly. Every application must go through a Pakistani licensed Umrah operator (on the Ministry of Religious Affairs-attested list) using the Nusuk Masar system, and since June 2025 Saudi Arabia will not issue an Umrah visa without a confirmed Nusuk hotel booking already attached to the application. This page lists exactly what you need, in the order you will be asked for it.
Processing generally takes a few working days once your documents are complete, but delays almost always come from an incomplete document set rather than the visa itself — so the checklist below matters more than the wait time.
Document checklist
- Passport — valid for at least 6 months from your travel date, with at least 2 completely blank pages.
- CNIC copy — for adults; a B-Form copy for children who do not yet have a CNIC.
- Digital photograph — taken to Saudi Arabia's official photo specification (plain white background, specific size and head position).
- Two passport-size photographs — physical prints, white background, for some operator paperwork.
- Meningitis (ACWY) vaccination certificate — mandatory for all Umrah travellers.
- COVID-19 vaccination record — some operators still request this; check with your operator before travel.
The Nusuk Masar process, step by step
- 1. You submit your documents to a licensed Pakistani Umrah operator (SafirAvia routes this for you).
- 2. The operator books your hotel in Makkah and Madinah on Nusuk Masar — this step must happen before the visa can be requested.
- 3. The operator submits the visa application referencing that confirmed hotel booking.
- 4. Saudi Arabia issues the Umrah visa, usually valid for a set window in which you must travel.
- 5. You receive your visa confirmation and travel documents before departure.
Because the hotel booking is a hard prerequisite, you cannot 'hold' a visa slot without also committing to a Nusuk-registered hotel — this is the main reason last-minute Umrah bookings are harder than they used to be.
Timelines to plan around
Aim to have your documents with your operator at least 4-6 weeks before travel in an off-peak month, and 8-10 weeks before Ramadan or December, when Nusuk hotel availability tightens and processing queues get longer. Vaccination certificates in particular need lead time — the meningitis vaccine should be administered at least 10 days before travel to be valid.
Common reasons applications get delayed or rejected
- Passport with fewer than 6 months' validity remaining, or fewer than 2 blank pages.
- Photo that does not meet the Saudi digital-photo specification (wrong background, headwear not per guidelines, low resolution).
- Missing or expired meningitis vaccination certificate.
- CNIC or B-Form copy that is unclear, expired, or does not match the passport name spelling exactly.
- Attempting to book hotel and visa too close to a peak date, when Nusuk hotel inventory has already sold out.
Children, infants and travelling as a family
Children need a B-Form copy in place of a CNIC and must be listed on the same Nusuk Masar booking as their accompanying parent or guardian. Infants generally still need their own passport and visa even if they will share a bed with a parent at the hotel — confirm the current infant policy with your operator, as Saudi rules on this have changed more than once.
Women travelling for Umrah
Saudi Arabia no longer requires a mahram (male guardian) for many women travelling on an organised Umrah group, but requirements can vary by age and by whether you are travelling with a licensed group. SafirAvia confirms the current requirement for your specific situation before you book, rather than assuming a blanket rule.
Facts on this page were checked on 2026-09-18 against: blog.wego.com · gotravel.pk · flightconnection.net.pk