If you are flying in from Karachi, London, Jakarta or Lagos, you may only have three or four days in Madinah. That makes a Rawdah visit something to plan from home, not leave to chance. This guide is for overseas pilgrims and visa holders: how to fit the booking around your travel dates, book for family, and handle the day itself. It covers practical steps only; for the virtues and etiquette of the visit, please learn from trusted scholars.
If you live in Madinah, our sister site has a separate guide on booking the Rawdah as a Madinah resident.
Quick answer
Short answer: Visitors can book a free Rawdah appointment in the official Nusuk app (Ministry of Hajj and Umrah). Set up your account and book your standard appointment as soon as your Madinah dates are fixed, because standard booking is once a year. Confirm it in the window 48 to 2 hours before, and once in Madinah you can try Instant Track for extra visits (Nusuk).
What overseas visitors should know first
At a glance
- Visitors are included: the Ministry lists citizens, residents, visitors and GCC citizens as the target group, and the service as free (haj.gov.sa).
- One standard booking a year: repeat visits are only through Instant Track, near the Prophet’s Mosque (Nusuk).
- Separate slots: men and women have different appointment times (Nusuk).
- Support from abroad: Nusuk lists 920002814 for callers outside the Kingdom and 1966 inside it (Nusuk).
Plan the visit around your Madinah dates
Most overseas itineraries split days between Makkah and Madinah. The Rawdah booking should follow that plan, not the other way round.
Before you fly
1
Fix your Madinah nights first: with your travel agent or Umrah provider, confirm which days you will actually be in Madinah.
2
Install the official app: download Nusuk only from the App Store or Google Play, and sign in as the app asks for visitors.
3
Book a middle day: choose a slot on your second or third day in Madinah, not your arrival day. Flights and transfers slip.
4
Note the confirmation window: work out, in Saudi time, when 48 hours and 2 hours before your slot fall, and set reminders on your phone.
5
Join the waiting list if needed: if no slot fits, Nusuk lets you join a waiting list for one day and notifies you when appointments open (Nusuk).
Time zones catch people out
Your slot is in Saudi time. If you are confirming from home before you fly, convert the time carefully, or set your reminders after landing.
Keeping your account reachable while travelling
Pilgrims often change SIM cards on arrival, and that is exactly when the confirmation window opens. A few simple habits help:
- Keep the email and phone on your Nusuk account ones you can still access in Saudi Arabia.
- Stay logged in to the app before you fly, so you are not resetting a password at the airport.
- Save Nusuk’s numbers: 920002814 from outside the Kingdom, 1966 inside (Nusuk).
Booking for parents, a spouse or a group
Families travelling together usually want to go together. Nusuk’s standard booking lets one person add a visitor group of up to 4 companions, but each person must approve being added from their own Nusuk account (Nusuk). So every adult needs their own account set up before you book.
| Situation | What Nusuk allows |
|---|---|
| You plus up to 4 companions, standard booking | Yes, as a visitor group |
| Adding someone through Instant Track | No, Instant Track is individual |
| Mixed family of men and women | Separate slots, so plan separate bookings |
| Children | Not permitted inside the Rawdah; a children’s hospitality centre is in the northern courtyards |
The lead booker confirms and cancels for the whole group, and can cancel one person without affecting the others.
About agents and paid “help”
The Ministry lists the Rawdah permit as free and issued through Nusuk (haj.gov.sa). If a travel company offers to help, make sure the booking appears in your own or your group leader’s Nusuk account. Do not pay anyone to “sell” a Rawdah slot, and never share your login.
Once you land in Madinah
If you could not get a standard slot, or hope to return, Instant Track is the route. It is for visitors near the central area of the Prophet’s Mosque, with new appointments released every 20 minutes subject to availability (Nusuk). Treat it as a bonus rather than your only plan.
If something changes, such as a delayed flight, cancel your booking in the app rather than missing it. According to Nusuk, a missed appointment that was not cancelled leaves only Instant Track for further visits.
On the day of your visit
Entry-day checklist
- Booking confirmed in the 48-to-2-hour window
- QR entry code showing in the app (it works once only)
- Phone charged; the code is needed for entry
- Arrive about 30 minutes early
- Head to the southern side: Nusuk names outer gates 367 to 368 as closest, with signs to the assembly point
- Plan to leave promptly when your 20 minutes end
All details above are from the official Nusuk Rawdah page (Nusuk). For the wider first visit, see our guide to visiting the Prophet’s Mosque for the first time.
FAQ
Can I book the Rawdah before I arrive in Saudi Arabia?
Standard booking is for a date you choose, so many visitors book once their Madinah dates are fixed. Instant Track only works once you are near the Prophet’s Mosque.
Is the Rawdah permit free for overseas visitors?
Yes. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah lists the service cost as free, and visitors are in the target group.
Can my Umrah group leader book for us?
A Nusuk account holder can add up to 4 companions in a standard booking, and each must approve from their own account. Larger groups need several bookings.
What if I live in Saudi Arabia?
See the resident-focused guide on livinginmadina.com.
This article is practical travel guidance only and is not a religious ruling. Last checked 13 October 2026 against the official Nusuk Rawdah page and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah e-service page. Rules, slots and menu names change; follow the Nusuk app on the day you book.
Sources
- https://www.nusuk.sa/rawdah
- https://www.nusuk.sa/service-details/152
- https://haj.gov.sa/en/E-Services/Permit-to-Visit-Al-Rawdah-Al-Sharifiyah-for-Men-Women
- https://my.gov.sa/en/services/24395
- https://apps.apple.com/sa/app/nusuk-%D9%86%D8%B3%D9%83/id6469515422
- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moh.nusukapp&hl=en