Umrah in Ramadan 2027: Visa, Nusuk Permit and Deadlines

In short

• You need an entry visa and a Nusuk permit, which are two separate things; never pay an intermediary for a permit.
• Umrah permits and entry to Makkah were paused before Hajj in 2025 and 2026; in 2027 expect a similar pause from about 8 April to 20 May.
• ZiyaraGo is an independent information service: not an operator, no Umrah sales, no religious instructions.

Many travellers plan their visit to Makkah for Ramadan, and most of the difficulty is not on the road but in the paperwork: the entry visa, the permit for the Grand Mosque, accommodation and the dates when the system is closed. This guide explains how these parts fit together and what to check, so that nothing is left for the last week.

A note on what this is. ZiyaraGo is an independent information service. We are not an Umrah or Hajj operator, we do not sell Umrah packages and we do not give religious instructions. Rules are set by the Saudi authorities and by your own country and change from season to season, so treat this guide as a map and confirm every step on the official sources.

The dates that shape your plan

Ramadan 2027 is expected to run from 8 February to 8 March, with Eid al-Fitr on 9 March; the last ten days begin on 28 February. These are Umm al-Qura dates, and the real start can move by a day.

The second date range matters just as much. In 2025 and 2026 Saudi authorities paused Umrah permits and limited entry to Makkah in the weeks before Hajj; reports for 2025 put the permit pause from 1 Dhul Qadah to 14 Dhul Hijjah. In 2027 the same period would fall roughly between 8 April and 20 May, with Hajj itself on 14–19 May. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announces the exact dates, so do not plan a trip for those weeks without checking.

Three separate things you need

It helps to think of three layers. First, the right to enter Saudi Arabia: a visa or an eligible electronic visa. Second, the permit for the Grand Mosque, booked in the official Nusuk app. Third, practical arrangements: accommodation, transport between cities and insurance. A problem with any layer stops the trip, so check them in that order.

Each layer has its own deadline and its own source of truth. The visa is decided by the Saudi consulate or the visa portal, the permit by Nusuk, and the booking by the hotel or operator.

The entry visa

Saudi Arabia issues several kinds of visas that can be used for a visit to Makkah, depending on your nationality: an electronic tourist visa for eligible countries, a visa issued with an organised package, a visa for residents of Gulf countries, and a short stopover visa for some air travellers. Which one fits you depends on your passport, so use the official portal or your operator and do not rely on a friend’s experience.

Our visa checker shows the types and the general conditions by passport, but the page itself says that the data has not been verified against an official source and that entry is decided by the consulate or the border officer. Use it as a starting point only. Check passport validity, the length of stay and what the visa allows before you book anything non-refundable.

The Nusuk permit

To enter the Grand Mosque, most visitors need a permit booked in the Nusuk app, which is the official platform. It is tied to a date and time, so you cannot decide on the day. In Ramadan the slots fill quickly, especially for evenings and the last ten days, so install the app, create the account and check what documents it asks for well before your trip.

The Rawdah in Madinah needs its own permit; outside Ramadan it is usually released one or two weeks ahead and in Ramadan only a few days ahead. We describe it in our guide to Ramadan 2027 in Madinah. Book only through the official app: do not pay anyone who offers to arrange a permit for you.

Operators and national rules

Some countries allow citizens to arrange the trip on their own, and others require it to go through a licensed operator or an official mission. Rules in your own country can be stricter than Saudi rules, and ignoring them can cause real problems. Before you pay anyone, check your national rules and the operator’s licence number with the official authority.

If you use an operator, ask in writing what is included, the dates, the hotel and its distance to the Haram, the cancellation and refund terms, and who holds the visa and the permit. Keep copies of every document. ZiyaraGo does not take part in these contracts.

A timeline you can follow

Now to December: check that the passport is valid, decide how you will get the visa, read your national rules and, if you need an operator, compare licensed ones. December to January: book flights and accommodation with free cancellation; our guides to Ramadan 2027 in Makkah and Madinah explain how to choose by walking time.

One to two months ahead: install Nusuk, prepare the account, arrange insurance and the vaccinations that the Saudi Ministry of Health requires. The last weeks: watch the announcements on the start of the month and keep one spare day on both ends of the trip.

Common problems and how to avoid them

The most common problems are unofficial websites and agents that sell permits, travelling in the pause before Hajj, an expired passport, a booking that cannot be refunded when the dates shift by a day, and overstaying a visa. During the Hajj season you cannot stay in Makkah on a tourist, Umrah or visit visa without a Hajj permit; our own season page cites fines of up to SAR 20,000 for violators, which the Gulf press also reported in 2026.

If something goes wrong at the border or with a permit, contact your operator or your embassy. ZiyaraGo cannot change a decision of the authorities.

Where to find official information

The official sources are the Nusuk platform and the website of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Saudi electronic visa portal, and your own embassy or the national authority that supervises pilgrimage travel. Our Ramadan page keeps the dates and countdown, and our Hajj page shows the Hajj season dates.

How we chose

We built this guide from the official structure of the system as reported by Saudi and Gulf media and from our own season and visa pages, and we avoided every detail that differs between sources, such as the exact validity of a visa. Where details change by season, we say so.

This guide is information for planning and does not replace the instructions of the authorities, your operator or the official apps. It is not religious guidance and not an offer of Umrah services.

Tips

• Check your national rules before the Saudi ones: some countries require a licensed operator.
• Use only the official Nusuk app for permits and never pay an intermediary for one.
• Plan Umrah well before the pause that precedes Hajj, which in 2027 may begin around 8 April.
• Keep bookings refundable until the start of Ramadan is announced.
• Keep digital and paper copies of the passport, visa, permit and bookings.

Questions and answers

Do I need a permit as well as a visa?

In most cases yes. The visa gives the right to enter Saudi Arabia, and the permit, booked in the Nusuk app, gives access to the Grand Mosque at a set time.

Can I use a tourist visa for a trip in Ramadan?

Holders of eligible tourist visas can visit Makkah outside the Hajj season, but they still need a Nusuk permit. Check the current conditions for your passport on the official portal.

Is it safe to buy a permit from an agent?

Do not pay anyone for a permit. It is booked for free in the official app; sellers of permits may be selling something that does not exist.

What happens before Hajj?

Authorities usually pause Umrah permits and restrict entry to Makkah in the weeks before Hajj. If the 2025 pattern repeats, in 2027 that would be from about 8 April to 20 May, but the Ministry announces the dates.

Do you sell Umrah packages?

No. ZiyaraGo is an independent information service. We do not sell Umrah, we are not an operator and we do not give religious instructions.