Is there an age limit for Umrah?

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah FAQ says Umrah is open to people aged five and above. There is no upper age limit. For older parents, the real limit is health, so ask their doctor and confirm the current rules in the Nusuk app before booking.

How long does Umrah take for elderly parents?

The Ministry's guide says Umrah on foot takes 2 to 3 hours depending on crowding, and about 1.5 to 2 hours with electric carts. Allow extra time for rest and for the walk from the hotel. Plan one day for the rituals, and keep the next day light.

Which vaccines do my parents need for Umrah?

The Saudi Ministry of Health requires every Umrah pilgrim to have a meningococcal vaccine, given at least 10 days before arrival. Requirements can change, so confirm them with the Ministry and your parents' doctor. Book the vaccine early, and carry the certificate with the passport.

Can I use my own Nusuk account for my parents' permit?

If you travel with your parents, add them as companions in the Nusuk app, and they accept in their own accounts. If they travel without you, each parent needs their own Nusuk account and permit, so set these up together before they fly. The Ministry FAQ allows 4 companions, not counting dependents.

Can my mother perform Umrah without a mahram?

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah FAQ answers yes, it is allowed for a woman to come for Umrah without a mahram, and it lists no conditions. Rules can change, so confirm in the Nusuk app before you book. For the religious view, ask a qualified scholar.

Can I pay for my parents' Umrah from the UK or US?

The Ministry says the Nusuk Umrah platform offers several electronic payment options, so you can complete the booking online from abroad. Check the payment options at checkout, and keep the receipt and booking confirmation for your parents' papers.

Umrah for parents · booking from abroad · 2027

How to Book Umrah for Your Parents From Abroad in 2027, Step by Step

Elderly parents performing Umrah with help at Masjid al-Haram — The four booking steps, the package to choose, health checks, carts and wheelchairs at the Haram, and their rides.

At peak times such as Ramadan, waiting for an electric cart at the Haram can take a long time. Your parents will be the ones waiting. When you book from another country, the small details decide how comfortable their trip is.

I am Rohail Arshad, founder of Hujjaj Umrah Taxi, and I run our rides in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah. I see Umrah for parents from abroad as a plan you build before they fly. This guide covers the booking steps, the package, health checks, movement at the Haram and their rides.

Jump to:

The four booking steps Choose the package Health checks Moving around the Haram Plan their rides When to book Book a calm ride FAQ

How to Book Umrah for Your Parents From Abroad

Book in four steps, and finish all four before you buy flights.

Visa and package. The Nusuk Umrah platform lets pilgrims apply for the visa and book services such as accommodation and transport, with no middleman. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah also lists the Saudi Visa platform and authorized external agents as channels, depending on nationality.
A Nusuk account for each parent. The account needs a passport number, visa number, date of birth, nationality, mobile number and email. A verification code goes to that email, so set it up together and make sure your parent can open it.
An Umrah permit. The permit is booked in the Nusuk app, and it is a timed slot. If you want the full picture, read whether Nusuk registration is mandatory for Umrah before you pick dates.
Health papers and insurance. Keep these with the passport, as the next sections explain.

Choose the Package Around Your Parents, Not the Price

A cheap package can cost your parents in steps and waiting. Ask for the hotel's walking distance to the nearest gate. Ask about lift access and a ground or low floor room too, and get the answers in writing before you pay.

I also recommend checking what transport the package includes, since it may cover only the airport transfer. Knowing how Jeddah airport arrival for Umrah pilgrims works will tell you what kind of pickup your parents need.

Health Checks Before You Book Flights

Ask your parents' doctor early, especially if they have a chronic condition. The Ministry's Umrah guide advises taking the required vaccinations, consulting a doctor about chronic conditions, and practising walking and drinking enough water before the trip.

It also tells pilgrims to check that the passport, insurance document and vaccination certificates are valid. Pack medicines in their original packaging with a doctor's note, and keep them in the hand bag.

How Your Parents Will Move Around the Haram

The upper floors and the roof of Masjid al-Haram are used for tawaf with wheelchairs and electric carts. The ground floor mataf is for people in ihram. Ajyad Bridge is the access route for wheelchairs and people with special needs. Free wheelchairs are available at Bab al-Salam (Gate 19) and Al-Shabika Bridge (Gate 64). Electric carts can be booked online or at the service points at Ajyad Bridge (Gate 4) and Al-Shabika Bridge (Gate 64). Routes can change with the crowds, so ask staff on the first day.

Our advice on transportation for elderly or disabled pilgrims helps you plan the rest of their day. In Madinah, the Ministry says carts at the Prophet's Mosque can be free, paid or electric, and the electric ones can be reserved.

Plan Their Rides Before They Land

Your parents will arrive tired, so the first ride matters most. I suggest the driver meets them inside arrivals. Give your parents a card with your phone number, the hotel address and the driver's name.

For Makkah to Madinah, my honest view is that the train is fast. But for parents who struggle to walk, the station transfers at both ends can be harder than a door-to-door taxi. Weigh the Haramain train vs a private taxi with that in mind.

Plan rides to the Haram in the quieter hours. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah names 10pm to 4am and 9am to 4pm as quieter times, and 5pm to 9pm as the busiest.

When to Book Umrah for Your Parents

Book early, because permit slots and good hotels near the Haram fill quickly. For the 1448 season, the Ministry has set 9 March 2027 as the last date to issue an Umrah visa. The last entry date is 23 March 2027, and all pilgrims must leave by 7 April 2027. Ramadan is the busiest time, and the Ministry warns that cart waits grow at peak times, so a quieter month is kinder to older parents.

Book a Calm Ride for Your Parents With Hujjaj Umrah Taxi

You can book at Hujjaj Umrah Taxi on WhatsApp from home. We send the driver's name, photo and phone number the day before, track the flight and let you wait for free after landing. The driver meets your parents inside arrivals, past baggage claim, with a name board, and helps with luggage and wheelchairs.

We pick up from and drop at the hotel for one fixed fare per vehicle. Nothing is charged online. You pay the driver in cash or by card at the end of the ride, and cancellation is free up to 12 hours before pickup. We are registered with Nusuk.

BOOK FROM ABROAD · NAME BOARD AT ARRIVALS · WHEELCHAIR HELP · FIXED FARE · PER CAR

Book your parents' rides from home on WhatsApp

Hujjaj Umrah Taxi meets your parents inside the arrivals hall with a name board, helps with bags and wheelchairs, and drives door to door to their hotel, with Jeddah airport to Makkah and the Makkah to Madinah leg on one confirmation. You book and get the driver's details on WhatsApp from your own country; your parents pay the driver at the end. Nothing charged online, free cancellation up to 12 hours before.

Send their flight number, hotel, number of passengers and any wheelchair or walking needs on WhatsApp and we reply with one fixed price.

Get a quote on WhatsApp

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an age limit for Umrah?: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah FAQ says Umrah is open to people aged five and above. There is no upper age limit. For older parents, the real limit is health, so ask their doctor and confirm the current rules in the Nusuk app before booking.
How long does Umrah take for elderly parents?: The Ministry's guide says Umrah on foot takes 2 to 3 hours depending on crowding, and about 1.5 to 2 hours with electric carts. Allow extra time for rest and for the walk from the hotel. Plan one day for the rituals, and keep the next day light.
Which vaccines do my parents need for Umrah?: The Saudi Ministry of Health requires every Umrah pilgrim to have a meningococcal vaccine, given at least 10 days before arrival. Requirements can change, so confirm them with the Ministry and your parents' doctor. Book the vaccine early, and carry the certificate with the passport.
Can I use my own Nusuk account for my parents' permit?: If you travel with your parents, add them as companions in the Nusuk app, and they accept in their own accounts. If they travel without you, each parent needs their own Nusuk account and permit, so set these up together before they fly. The Ministry FAQ allows 4 companions, not counting dependents.
Can my mother perform Umrah without a mahram?: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah FAQ answers yes, it is allowed for a woman to come for Umrah without a mahram, and it lists no conditions. Rules can change, so confirm in the Nusuk app before you book. For the religious view, ask a qualified scholar.
Can I pay for my parents' Umrah from the UK or US?: The Ministry says the Nusuk Umrah platform offers several electronic payment options, so you can complete the booking online from abroad. Check the payment options at checkout, and keep the receipt and booking confirmation for your parents' papers.