Saudi Arabia has officially announced the season for Bel Xeithar Umrah practices will open for the 1448 AH season from April / May.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah states that it will resume issuing Umrah visas on May 31, 2026, and the opening of entry to Makkah and also the activation of the permits on the Nusuk app will begin from June 1, 2026.
A complete overhaul of the digital booking system is now happening, meaning pilgrims and travel agencies will need to be fast and precise to avoid rejections, deadlines and delays.
Saudi Arabia Launches the New Masar Nusuk System
The most significant difference at the 1448 AH Umrah season is the introduction of the new Masar Nusuk platform. Saudi Arabia has now put the entire Umrah booking system under a single integrated system of digitization.
The new system would require travel businesses and operators of Umrah packages to sign all packages electronically on the official website. Each arrangement for accommodation, transportation, and services is digitized before the visa application will acknowledge the same.
The objective is to take out unauthorized packages and ensure the management of the crowd during peak days of the pilgrimage, authorities said.
Why is the QR Code Now Mandatory?
The new Umrah process is based on a single system of QR codes verification. When a package is confirmed on Masar Nusuk, it automatically generates an electronic QR Code which is connected to the pilgrim’s services.
The QR code is the foundation of the app you use. If you don’t include it, the submission to the visa portal will be rejected immediately. Pilgrims will no longer be able to make sojournates in unconfirmed hotels or travel packages.
This digital system will also be employed in Saudi for the acknowledgement of transportation routes, accommodation zones and pilgrim movement within Makkah and Madinah.
New 30-Day Entry Deadline
Saudi Arabia has also implemented a strict ‘use-it-or-lose-it’ guideline for Umrah visas issued post Hajj 2026. As of before, pilgrims were eligible for a visa and allowed to come into the Kingdom for up to 90 days. The new rules stipulate that travellers have to arrive in Saudi Arabia within 30 days from the date of their arrival visa.
90-Day Stay Rule Still Applies
The arrival stamping time has been made more strict but Saudi Arabia still permits entry pilgrims to extend their stay in the Kingdom for up to 90 days after arriving.
But, once the pilgrim has come in legally within the prescribed period he or she can then proceed with his or her spiritual plan and continue to stay or extend it to a tour with members of the family too.
But experts in immigration recommend travelers to avoid postponing their arrival plans as the system is now digitally enforced and automates expirations.
Why Is Your Tourist Visa Alone No Longer Enough?
It’s a common mistake for many travelers to think that once they receive their Saudi tourist eVisa, they automatically can perform the Umrah rituals. The new 2026 format can lead to important problems on this assumption.
Tourist visas remain valid for entering Saudi Arabia during the periods when Hajj is not being observed, but the pilgrims are now required to connect with their travel profile via Nusuk App using a valid Booking Reference Number (BRN).
If no one registers on the Nusuk system, the permits for Umrah and bookings for the popular Rawdah visits to be made in Madinah will not be activated.
BRN-to-Nusuk Link
The BRN serves as an assurance for the pilgrim that they have provided for secured accommodation and services from their approved provider.
After successfully linking to Umrah time table in Nusuk app pilgrims can start to make reservations to do Umrah prayer, access to Rawdah and movement permissions where necessary.
Travel experts caution that without this digitization, one could face permit limitations or not being able to enter certain worship areas.
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Conclusion
Saudi Arabia’s reopening for pilgrims after Umrah in a post-Hajj period has started an era of rapid, firm and a fully digital Umrah to Hajj. The Kingdom is making a big push on verified bookings, QR code verification, and on the fly permit management with the new introduction of the Masar Nusuk platform.
FAQs
When will pilgrims be allowed to enter Makkah for Umrah?
The physical entry to Makkah and activation of the permits will be resumed on 01 June 2026.
What is Masar Nusuk?
The new centralized digital platform named Masar Nusuk in Saudi Arabia is developed to oversee the bookings of Umrah contracts, accommodation, transportation, and QR code verification.
What is the new 30-day Umrah Visa Rule?
From today, pilgrims are required to enter Saudi Arabia within 30 days of obtaining their visas. If a person fails to enter into the given period, it is automatically cancelled.
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