If your flight connects through Saudi Arabia, you may be wondering whether a short stop could include Umrah. According to the official Nusuk platform, it can. Saudi Arabia’s transit visa allows holders to request Umrah through Nusuk. It’s a short window, though, so the trip only works with careful planning.
This guide sets out what the official pages say and how to plan around the time limit. It doesn’t cover the rites themselves or when to enter ihram on a connecting journey. Those are religious questions, so please ask a qualified scholar.
Quick answer
Short answer: Nusuk says transit visa holders can apply for Umrah through Nusuk, but not for Hajj. The transit visa is valid for 96 hours from arrival. Nusuk describes it as free, but subject to administrative and medical insurance fees. You still need an Umrah permit booked in Nusuk, which the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah lists as free. Plan your Umrah within the season and outside the Hajj season.
What the official pages say
The Nusuk FAQ lists the visas that allow Umrah. Besides the Umrah visa itself, it names visit, tourist and work visas, and it says transit visa holders can request Umrah through Nusuk. It also draws a clear line: the transit visa is not a route to Hajj.
At a glance
- Who: travellers holding a Saudi transit visa.
- Window: valid for 96 hours from arrival, according to Nusuk.
- Cost: Nusuk calls the visa free, but administrative and medical insurance fees apply. No official page we checked states the amount.
- Permit: still required. Book it in Nusuk (listed as free).
- Not for: Hajj.
Why 96 hours needs a plan
Four days sounds generous, but a stopover Umrah has several moving parts. You need to clear arrival, travel to Makkah, perform Umrah at your booked permit time, rest and get back for your onward flight. Every part takes longer at busy times.
Planning a stopover Umrah, in order
1
Check the season. The Umrah season runs between Hajj seasons. For 1448 AH, the Ministry announced that Umrah visas are issued from 31 May 2026 to 9 Mar 2027, with last entry on 23 Mar 2027.
2
Avoid the Hajj season. During Hajj, entry to Makkah is reserved for pilgrims performing Hajj.
3
Get the visa through official channels only. Use the official visa platforms, and never an unlicensed agent.
4
Book your Umrah permit in Nusuk for a time early in your window, so a delay doesn’t cost you the whole trip.
5
Plan the ground journey between the airport and Makkah, with a buffer for traffic and crowds.
6
Leave a generous margin before your onward flight. Don’t plan to finish in the last hours of your 96.
Transit visa or tourist eVisa?
If your plans are flexible, compare the transit visa with the tourist eVisa. Visit Saudi says the tourist eVisa is multiple-entry, valid for one year, and allows stays of up to 90 days. It also allows Umrah, except during the Hajj season. That gives you much more time, for example to visit Madinah as well.
| Transit visa | Tourist eVisa | |
|---|---|---|
| Time in the country | 96 hours from arrival | Up to 90 days per the eVisa rules |
| Umrah allowed | Yes, request via Nusuk | Yes, except Hajj season |
| Hajj | No | No |
| Permit | Book in Nusuk | Book in Nusuk |
Our Umrah visa guide compares all the visa routes in more detail.
Warning
Book only through official platforms and licensed providers. If someone offers a “stopover Umrah” package, check that they are licensed on Nusuk, and book your own permit in the app when you can. The permit itself is free.
Permits and the day itself
The Ministry’s permit page says the Umrah permit is free and booked through Nusuk, and that visitors can apply. Book your slot as soon as your arrival is confirmed. Then keep your passport, visa and permit easy to reach on your phone. Our step-by-step guide to the Umrah permit shows each screen.
Before you fly
- Your transit visa is issued through an official channel, and your arrival time is confirmed.
- Your Umrah permit is booked in Nusuk, early in your 96-hour window.
- You’ve asked a scholar about ihram for your route.
- You have comfortable shoes, any medicines with their prescriptions, and a phone charger.
- There’s a clear buffer before your onward flight.
Sources and last checked
Last checked 24 Oct 2026 against Nusuk’s Umrah page and FAQ, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s Umrah page, its permit page and its 1448 season announcement, and Visit Saudi’s visa regulations. Visa rules can change, so confirm them on the official platforms before you book.