Nusuk app guide 2026Umrah permits, Rawdah and family
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- Maqam e Haram
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- 9 minutes
Short answer
Nusuk is the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's free app. Once your visa is issued, you register with your passport and visa numbers, add your family as companions, and book a time slot to perform Umrah. Each person gets a QR permit. The Rawdah in Madinah is a separate free permit in the same app.
On this page
The rule that trips up most families: you can hold only one active Umrah permit at a time, and the permits of the companions on your account count too. So book the whole family's first Umrah in one go, after you know your landing time, and book the next one only once the first has expired. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's FAQ says this, and we re-checked it on 20/10/2026.
What Nusuk does for a family
| Job | What you do in the app | When |
|---|---|---|
| Umrah permit | Pick a date and time slot to perform Umrah at Masjid al-Haram | After your visa is issued |
| Rawdah permit | Book a short visit to the Rawdah in the Prophet's Mosque | Before or during your stay in Madinah |
| Companions | Link your spouse, parents and children to your account | Before you book permits |
Nusuk is run by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. It began in 2020 as Eatmarna and took the name Nusuk in 2022. The wider platform also lists Umrah packages, hotels and links to visas.
The visa is a separate step. The Ministry's FAQ says an Umrah visa cannot be issued without a hotel and transport booking. Pakistani passport holders living in Pakistan apply through a licensed Umrah company. Our visa information page explains the routes. We don't issue visas and can't promise one. The Saudi authorities decide.
You do not need a permit just to pray in Masjid al-Haram. The FAQ says prayers can be performed at any time without one. The permit is for performing Umrah.
Download the real app
- Install Nusuk only from the Apple App Store or Google Play. On both stores the publisher is the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Google Play shortens it to "Ministry of Hajj and Umra"), with support at hajcc@haj.gov.sa. We checked both listings on 19/10/2026.
- Never install an APK file from a website, a WhatsApp forward or a social media post. Fake copies can steal your passport details.
- Official Saudi government websites end in .sa. The Umrah side of Nusuk is umrah.nusuk.sa.
- The Ministry has warned that Hajj offers advertised outside the official Nusuk platform are deceptive. Treat any "Nusuk booking service" that asks for money in the same way. Our guide to Umrah scams in Pakistan lists other warning signs.
Is Umrah free on Nusuk? Partly. The Umrah and Rawdah permits cost nothing, and the Ministry's FAQ says there is no fee for repeating Umrah. The visa, flights, hotels and transport still cost money.
Step 1: create a visitor account
Do this at home as soon as your visa is issued. You can register from outside Saudi Arabia, and you do not need a Saudi phone number.
- Open Nusuk and choose to create an account.
- Choose "Visitor". People with a Saudi Iqama choose "Resident".
- Enter your passport number, visa number, date of birth, nationality, mobile number and email.
- Create a password and accept the terms.
- Enter the verification code. The Ministry's FAQ says it is sent to your email.
If the code does not arrive, look in your spam folder and check that you typed the email address correctly. Wait a minute before asking for a new code. Check the country code on your mobile number too (+92 for Pakistan, +44 for the UK, +1 for the USA and Canada).
The sign-in screens change from time to time, and residents and citizens may see options such as Nafath that visitors do not. Follow the visitor route with your passport and visa numbers.
Step 2: add your family as companions
The Ministry's FAQ describes two kinds of linked people, companions and dependants. It says you can add up to four companions, not counting dependants, and there is no limit on dependants. Some third-party guides quote higher numbers, so go by what the app allows when you add people.
To add someone:
- Open Umrah in the app and select yourself as the main user.
- Tap "Add Companion" and choose the type.
- Enter their passport number, nationality, date of birth and city of arrival.
- If they already have their own Nusuk account, they must accept your request in their app. The FAQ says a request left pending for 24 hours is cancelled.
The FAQ also says you can unlink a companion only 15 days after you added them. Check every name and passport number before you add anyone.
Children
The Ministry's FAQ gives five as the minimum age for an Umrah visa or permit. Younger children may come with their families to pray in the two mosques. If the app will not accept a young child, that is the age rule at work, so do not pay anyone who offers to get round it. Our guide to Umrah with kids covers the rest of the trip.
Step 3: book the Umrah permit
- Open the services menu and choose "Issue Umrah Permit".
- Select yourself and the companions travelling with you.
- Pick a date and a time slot. The app's calendar shows how far ahead you can book; the Ministry's FAQ does not fix a window. Green slots are expected to be quieter and red slots are peak times.
- Confirm. The permit, its reservation number and a QR code appear straight away.
- Screenshot each QR code so you can show it without internet.
What the Ministry's FAQ says about permits:
- You cannot change a permit's time. Cancel before the slot starts and book again.
- Once the slot has started you cannot cancel. Wait for it to expire, then book again.
- If you have not entered Saudi Arabia by the start of your slot, the permit is cancelled automatically.
Leave a wide gap after landing. Families need to clear the airport, reach the hotel, rest and freshen up, so a slot two or three hours after landing is usually too tight. Our guide from Jeddah airport to Makkah covers the arrival.
In Ramadan, recent seasons did not allow a second Umrah permit for the same person. See Umrah in Ramadan.
Step 4: book the Rawdah
The Rawdah permit is a separate service, with separate permits for men and women. The Ministry's service page (updated 19/10/2026) lists it as free and issued straight away, in the app and on the website. The instant option helps people already near the Prophet's Mosque, and a waitlist tells you when a slot opens. How often you can book is less clear. The Ministry's FAQ, checked 20/10/2026, gives 30 days between visits, while Ministry statements reported in 2025 spoke of one booked visit every 365 days, with repeat visits through the instant route for people near the mosque. The app tells you whether you can book, so trust what it shows. Our Rawdah booking guide has the timings and what happens inside.
The season calendar
Nusuk only issues Umrah permits inside the season. For 1448 AH, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that Makkah entry and Umrah permits on Nusuk opened on 01/06/2026. The last Umrah visa issuance is 09/03/2027, the last entry into Saudi Arabia is 23/03/2027, and the last departure is 07/04/2027. Our Umrah calendar for 1448 has the full table.
Common errors and fixes
| What you see | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The verification code does not arrive | Wrong country code, or a delay | Check the number, try the email code, wait a minute and ask again |
| You cannot register | App problem | Uninstall, reinstall and try again |
| "Exceeded the maximum number of active permits" | You or a companion already hold a permit | Open each account, cancel the active permit, then book again |
| The permit does not show after booking | The screen has not refreshed | Pull the screen down to refresh |
| You missed your slot | The slot started without you | Wait for it to expire, then book again |
| Your visa number changed | The account holds the old visa | Update it in Settings, then Personal Data |
| Your name is wrong | A typo when registering | Contact the Care Center, or register again |
| No slots on your date | High demand | Try other times of day and check again later |
| The QR code will not scan | Screen too dark, or no signal | Turn up the brightness, or show your screenshot |
The Ministry's FAQ lists the Care Center for Pilgrims Services on 920002814.
Tips for families
- Make the accounts at home with everyone's passports on the table. Typing passport numbers at an airport gate leads to mistakes.
- Decide whose phone holds the permits. Putting the whole family on one account keeps everything together, but if that phone is lost or flat, nobody can show a permit. One way round it is to link everyone to one parent and keep screenshots on a second phone.
- Carry a small power bank.
- If a parent uses a wheelchair, book a quieter slot. The General Authority for the Two Holy Mosques listed 9am to 4pm and 10pm to 4am as light crowd times in August 2026. Our guide to Umrah with elderly parents has more.
- If something does not work, ask our team before you pay anyone for "Nusuk help".
Once you have the permit, our step-by-step Umrah guide walks you through the rites.
How Maqam e Haram helps
If you've never used Nusuk, and you have parents and children to add, the first booking can take a while. Ask us when you book and we will plan this step around your family, so the accounts are set up, everyone is added and the first Umrah permits are booked for a sensible time after you land. We make the hotel and transport bookings the visa application needs, and our staff in Makkah and Madinah answer WhatsApp if a permit goes wrong.
We are not part of Nusuk, and we cannot get permits or Rawdah slots that the app does not show. If you are travelling as a family, see our family Umrah packages, or WhatsApp or call +92 309 9022120.
Questions and answers
Is the Nusuk app free?
Yes. The app is free, and Umrah and Rawdah permits cost nothing.
Do I need Nusuk to perform Umrah?
Yes. You need a Nusuk Umrah permit with a time slot. You do not need one just to pray in Masjid al-Haram.
Can I register for Nusuk before I travel?
Yes. Once your visa is issued you can register from outside Saudi Arabia, without a Saudi phone number.
How do I add my parents and children?
Add them as companions or dependants in the Umrah section using their passport details. If they have their own account, they must accept the request within 24 hours.
Can I book permits for my whole family at once?
Yes. Select the companions on your account when you book, and each person gets a permit.
What happens if I miss my Umrah slot?
Once the slot has started you cannot cancel it. Wait for it to expire, then book a new one.
Can children under 5 get a permit?
The Ministry's FAQ gives five as the minimum age, and younger children may come to pray with their families. Check the app when you add them.
Is there an official Nusuk APK?
Install Nusuk only from the App Store or Google Play, where the publisher is the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. An APK from a website or a forwarded message may be fake.
Who do I call if my Nusuk account has a problem?
The Ministry's FAQ lists the Care Center on 920002814.
Related pages
- Rawdah booking guideTimings, waitlist and what to expect.
- Umrah calendar 1448Season dates for visas, entry and departure.
- Jeddah airport to MakkahTiming your permit after you land.
- How to perform Umrah step by stepThe rites once you have the permit.
- Umrah with elderly parentsQuieter times and wheelchairs.
- Umrah with kidsChildren and permits.
Sources
The official pages and references we used, with the date we checked them.
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, FAQ (one active permit, editing and cancelling, automatic cancellation, companions and dependants, 24-hour and 15-day rules, minimum age 5, prayer without a permit, visa needs hotel and transport, no fee for repeat Umrah, Care Center 920002814): haj.gov.sa/en/FAQ (opens in a new tab) (re-checked 20/10/2026, verification code by email, 30 days between Rawdah visits)
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Rawdah permit service page (updated 19/10/2026): haj.gov.sa/en/E-Services/Permit-to-Visit-Al-Rawdah-Al-Sharifiyah-for-Men-Women (opens in a new tab) (checked 19/10/2026)
- Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Umrah season calendar 1448 AH (updated 20/09/2026): haj.gov.sa/en/Media-Center/Ministry-News/2026/Ministry-of-Hajj-and-Umrah-Announces-the-Umrah-Season-Calendar-for-1448-AH (opens in a new tab) (checked 19/10/2026)
- Apple App Store, Nusuk listing (seller: Ministry of Hajj and Umrah): apps.apple.com/us/app/nusuk-%D9%86%D8%B3%D9%83/id6469515422 (opens in a new tab) (checked 19/10/2026 through the store's search listing)
- Google Play, Nusuk listing (publisher: Ministry of Hajj and Umra, hajcc@haj.gov.sa): play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moh.nusukapp (opens in a new tab) (checked 19/10/2026 through the store's search listing)
- Nusuk Umrah site: umrah.nusuk.sa/Journey (opens in a new tab) (checked 18/10/2026; nusuk.sa refused our automated check on 19/10/2026)
- Saudipedia, Nusuk app history: saudipedia.com/en/article/391/government-and-politics/digital-government/nusuk-app (opens in a new tab) (checked 18/10/2026)
- Gulf News, how to get an Umrah permit via Nusuk (updated 05/02/2025): gulfnews.com/living-in-uae/ask-us/how-to-get-an-umrah-permit-via-the-nusuk-app-1.500029500 (opens in a new tab) (checked 18/10/2026)
- Wego, Nusuk app guide (updated 08/09/2026), for companion steps and code tips: blog.wego.com/nusuk-app/ (opens in a new tab) (checked 19/10/2026)
- Gulf News, repeat Rawdah visits and the 365-day permit (08/01/2025): gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-worshippers-close-to-prophets-mosque-can-repeat-visit-to-al-rawda-al-sharifa-1.500012438 (opens in a new tab) (checked 19/10/2026)
- Gulf News, Ministry warns of fake Hajj ads outside Nusuk: gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-warns-of-fake-hajj-ads-urges-pilgrims-to-use-official-nusuk-platform-only-1.500099622 (opens in a new tab) (checked 18/10/2026)
- Gulf News, no permit for repeat Umrah in Ramadan: gulfnews.com/world/gulf/saudi/saudi-arabia-no-permit-for-repeat-umrah-in-ramadan-1.101688691 (opens in a new tab) (checked 18/10/2026)
- AJEL, the General Authority's crowd times (August 2026): english.ajel.sa/saudi-arabia/h0qfwob25 (opens in a new tab) (checked 19/10/2026)