How to Perform Independent Umrah? Umrah on Your Own: Visa, Nusuk Permit, Cost Items and Risks

Independent Umrah is an Umrah journey in which the traveller arranges the visa, flight, hotel, intercity transport and the permits to enter the Haram themselves, without joining a tour organisation. With Saudi Arabia opening up to tourism and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah promoting the Nusuk platform with the message “plan your Umrah and visit by yourself”, this route is now asked about more often in Turkey too: searches such as “how to perform Umrah alone”, “how to get an independent Umrah visa” and “can I go on Umrah on my own” are growing every month. In this article, we explain through which official routes independent Umrah is possible, how to plan it step by step, the items that go into the budget, the most common mistakes and how it differs from Umrah with a tour. Let us say at the outset: we prepared the comparison below to show the real differences between the two routes; decide which one suits you according to your own situation.

What Is Independent Umrah, and Who Is It Suitable For?

From a religious point of view, there is no difference between performing Umrah with a tour or independently: ihram, tawaf, sa’i and shaving are performed in the same way. The difference lies in the organisation around the act of worship. In Umrah with a tour, the visa, flight, hotel, transfers and guidance are handed over to a company under a single contract. In independent Umrah, each of these is arranged separately, and when something goes wrong, the solution is left to the traveller.

Independent Umrah is particularly suitable for the following travellers:

• Travellers who have performed Umrah at least once before and know the rites and the way things work in Makkah and Madinah.
• People whose dates are flexible, who do not want to follow a set group schedule and who can get by in English or Arabic.
• Those with relatives working or living in Saudi Arabia.
• Those who want to perform Umrah during a business trip or another visit.

For first-timers, elderly travellers or those with limited mobility, and large families, an organised programme usually carries less risk. We have explained the religious rulings for women travellers on mahram and companionship, together with Diyanet’s fatwas, in our article on how women go on Umrah.

Which Visa Do You Need for Umrah on Your Own?

There are two main routes that citizens of the Republic of Türkiye can use for Umrah. The first is the tourist e-visa, also mentioned by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: it is obtained through the official electronic visa system, the e-visa booths at airports or Saudi Arabia’s missions in Turkey, and is issued with a permitted stay of “90 days within 365 days”. The tourist e-visa does not cover Hajj visits; during the Hajj season, additional restrictions apply to entry into the holy cities.

The second route is the Nusuk Umrah platform, supervised by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The platform offers the Umrah and visit packages of service providers authorised by the Ministry, and states that it provides “all services from visa issuance to package booking without the need for an intermediary”. Alongside comprehensive packages that include the visa, there are also packages without a visa for those who already hold a valid visa. However, the platform also notes that which countries the independent Umrah packages are open to depends on the Ministry’s rules; before applying, you need to check whether Turkey is on the list at that time. For the types of Umrah visa, the documents and the processing time, see our article on how to get an Umrah visa.

Can you perform Umrah with a tourist visa?

Outside the Hajj season, yes. A tourist e-visa holder can obtain an Umrah permit through Nusuk and perform their Umrah at Masjid al-Haram. During the Hajj season, however, additional restrictions are placed on entering and staying in Makkah with a tourist visa; on these dates, only those with an Umrah or Hajj visa can enter the holy area.

Independent Umrah Step by Step

The order below shows the points at which things depend on one another in independent planning. Buying a plane ticket before the visa is issued, or choosing a permit date before finding a hotel, are the mistakes that most often cost money.

1. Passport and health: Check that your passport is valid for long enough from the return date and that the required vaccinations have been done. Saudi Arabia’s current health requirements are published on the Travel Health page of the Turkish Ministry of Health.
2. Visa or package: Choose a tourist e-visa or a package that includes the visa on Nusuk. Do not buy a non-refundable ticket before the visa is approved.
3. Flight: Choose a flight to Madinah or Jeddah. Those landing in Madinah start with the visit and enter ihram for Umrah at Dhul-Hulayfah; those landing in Jeddah enter ihram on the plane.
4. Accommodation: Choose hotels within walking distance of the Haram in Makkah and Madinah; we have compared the areas on our Makkah hotels page.
5. Nusuk permit: Obtain the Umrah permit matching your day of arrival in Makkah, and the Rawdah appointment for your days in Madinah, from the Nusuk app.
6. Intercity transport: Between Makkah and Madinah there are high-speed train, bus and private car options; we have described the journey times in our article on the distance between Makkah and Madinah.
7. Preparing for the rites: Learn the ihram restrictions and the order of tawaf and sa’i before you set out; the steps are in our guide on how to perform Umrah.

Where do you enter ihram for independent Umrah?

Travellers coming from Turkey by plane are considered afaqi. According to Diyanet’s High Board of Religious Affairs, as Jeddah lies inside the miqat boundary, afaqi pilgrims cannot enter ihram in Jeddah; those coming from the north and west must enter ihram before passing level with al-Juhfah. In practice, this means that on a Jeddah flight ihram is put on in the plane, during the announcement made before landing. For the intention and the talbiyah, see our article on the intention for ihram.

Independent Umrah vs Umrah with a Tour

The “Umrah with a tour” column in the table is based on the services included in the price of the Umrah packages published on the site as of 20 October 2026: return flight ticket, accommodation near the Haram, airport meet-and-greet and intercity transfers, guidance by a religious officer and Umrah visa processing. The scope of other organisations may differ.

The Cost Items of Independent Umrah

Whether independent Umrah is cheaper than a tour depends on the season, the hotel’s distance from the Haram, how far in advance the flight is bought and the number of people. In busy periods such as Ramadan and the mid-term school holiday, hotel prices around the Haram rise markedly; a person travelling alone cannot share the cost of the room and so often pays more than the group price. Rather than giving an exact figure, we list the items that will go into your budget:

• Visa fee and compulsory health insurance (varies by visa type).
• Return flight ticket and baggage fees.
• Accommodation in Makkah and Madinah; closeness to the Haram is the item that affects the price most.
• Airport transfer and train, bus or car between Makkah and Madinah.
• Daily spending on ihram, shaving, food, local transport and places of visit.
• Vaccinations and health documents.

You can see the current prices of tour packages on our Umrah tours and budget Umrah pages and compare them item by item with your independent plan. For a comparison by duration, month and departure city, you can also look at our Umrah prices 2026-2027 page.

Common Mistakes in Independent Umrah

The issues that travellers on independent Umrah struggle with most arise from small gaps in planning:

• Landing in Jeddah without ihram: A person who enters ihram after passing the miqat owes a penalty (dam).
• Not matching the permit date with the hotel: The Umrah permit on Nusuk is issued for a specific day and time slot; it must be obtained before arriving in Makkah.
• Overlooking the Hajj season restrictions: Before Hajj, the issuing of Umrah visas and entry into Makkah with a tourist visa are temporarily suspended; these dates are announced separately by the Ministry every year.
• Intermediary pages that look like the official site: Visa and permit applications are made only through the official systems; do not enter your passport details on unknown sites.
• Leaving the Rawdah appointment until the last day: Free slots fill up quickly; the appointment should be made before arriving in Madinah. We have described the etiquette of the visit in our article on the Rawdah supplication.

Important: Saudi Arabia’s visa, permit and health rules change from season to season. The information in this article was checked against official sources on 20 October 2026; before you set out, confirm the current situation on the pages of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Nusuk and the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Safety and Practical Tips for Umrah on Your Own

Safety problems are rare in Makkah and Madinah; the real challenges are the crowds, the heat and finding your way. Noting the gate numbers of the Haram, carrying your hotel card with you, having a local SIM or a roaming package on your phone and letting your relatives know your daily programme make things easier. In the summer months, it is wise to leave tawaf and sa’i for the cool hours of the night, drink plenty of water and not overdo the walking distances. For health checks, you can also take a look at our article on Umrah vaccinations.

Independent or with a Tour? Before You Decide

If you know the rites, want flexible dates and think you can solve any problems yourself, independent Umrah is a good option. If it is your first Umrah, if you have elderly people or children with you, or if you simply want to focus on worship, going with an organised programme will be more comfortable. To look at Umrah programmes, departure cities and dates, or to ask a question about your independent plan, you can write to us 24/7 from our contact page or via the WhatsApp button on the page.

Frequently Asked Questions

References

This article was prepared by the RotaNur editorial team on the basis of the sources below. The information in the “Umrah with a tour” column reflects the scope of RotaNur’s Umrah packages as of 20.10.2026. As the visa, permit and health rules are frequently updated by the Saudi authorities, please confirm the current situation from official sources before you set out. Last checked: 20.10.2026.

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye, “Türk Vatandaşlarının Tabi Olduğu Vize Uygulamaları: Suudi Arabistan” (Visa requirements for Turkish citizens: Saudi Arabia). mfa.gov.tr. Accessed: 20.10.2026.
2. Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia, Official website, Nusuk link (“Plan your Umrah and visit by yourself”). haj.gov.sa. Accessed: 20.10.2026.
3. Nusuk Umrah, “Umrah and Ziyarah packages”, platform supervised by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. umrah.nusuk.sa. Accessed: 20.10.2026.
4. Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye (Diyanet), High Board of Religious Affairs, “Âfâkîler Cidde’de ihrama girebilir mi?” (Can afaqi pilgrims enter ihram in Jeddah?), Fatwas. kurul.diyanet.gov.tr. Accessed: 20.10.2026.
5. Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye, “Suudi Arabistan Sağlık Bilgisi” (Saudi Arabia health information), Travel Health. seyahatsagligi.gov.tr. Accessed: 20.10.2026.