How to perform Umrah without a package

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Can you perform Umrah without a package?

Umrah without a package: is it possible?

Can you perform Umrah without using a travel package? Current rules allow, in certain cases, to organize your Umrah independently.

  • 🪪
    Tourist visa required

    Required to perform Umrah outside of the Hajj period.

  • 📲
    Mandatory Umrah slot

    Reservation required via the Nusuk app.

👉 Apply for a Saudi e-visa ⇒
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Umrah without a package in Saudi Arabia

Umrah has long been associated with travel packages offered by specialized agencies. With changes in Saudi entry procedures and the digitalization of formalities, many travelers now wonder whether it is possible to perform Umrah without a package.

This option depends on several factors, including the traveler’s nationality, the type of visa used and compliance with the rules set by Saudi authorities. This guide explains the official conditions, the steps to follow, the role of the Nusuk application, and situations in which using a package remains necessary.

Key takeaways — Umrah without a package

  • Umrah without a package is possible for certain travelers, including French nationals.
  • It is done with a Saudi tourist visa, not a traditional Umrah visa.
  • Booking your flight and accommodation is mandatory.
  • Umrah time slots must be reserved via the Nusuk application.
  • Umrah without a package is not allowed during the Hajj period.
  • Only Muslims are allowed to perform Umrah.

👉 Apply for a Saudi e-visa ⇒

What is Umrah without a package?

Umrah is often associated with packages organized by specialized agencies. However, with changes in Saudi entry procedures and the digitalization of steps, many travelers wonder whether it is possible to perform Umrah without a package. This approach means organizing your trip yourself, without using an intermediary, while still complying with the official rules imposed by Saudi authorities.

 

Definition of Umrah without a package

🕋 Umrah without a package refers to an Umrah performed without an organized package and without a commercial intermediary.

In practice, the traveler:

  • submits their visa application themselves
  • books their flight and accommodation
  • handles religious formalities via official tools
  • plans their stay independently

👉 This is not an “illegal” Umrah, but an Umrah organized outside the traditional package system, within a regulated framework.

 

Difference between Umrah without a package and Umrah with a package

📦 Umrah with a package

🧳 Umrah without a package

  • Individual organization
  • Free choice of dates and accommodation
  • Online procedures
  • More flexibility, but more responsibility

👉 Both options are legal, but they suit different traveler profiles.

👉 Apply for a Saudi e-visa ⇒

Why this question is becoming more common

📲 Several developments explain the growing interest in Umrah without a package:

  • Introduction of the Saudi tourist visa
  • Digitalization of formalities
  • Official Nusuk platform
  • Desire to travel more independently
  • Search for flexibility and cost transparency

👉 Many travelers now want to understand their options before deciding.

 

Can you perform Umrah without a package legally?

The main question is not only whether Umrah without a package is possible, but whether it is legally allowed. The answer depends on Saudi rules and the traveler’s situation.

 

What current Saudi rules allow

✅ Saudi authorities allow Umrah without a package, provided several rules are respected:

  • having a valid visa
  • meeting the conditions to access Makkah
  • booking Umrah time slots via Nusuk
  • having compliant accommodation

📌 The framework is strict, but independent organization is allowed for certain profiles.

👉 Apply for a Saudi e-visa ⇒

Nationalities concerned by Umrah without a package

🌍 Umrah without a package is mainly possible for:

  • citizens of countries eligible for the Saudi tourist visa
  • including French nationals and several European nationalities

👉 For these travelers, no package is legally required, as long as the rules are respected.

⚠️ However, some countries remain subject to specific procedures that require supervision by an approved agency.

 

Cases where a package remains mandatory

❌ A package is still required in the following situations:

  • countries not eligible for the tourist visa
  • Umrah organized as a group
  • need for a package including guidance
  • specific consular procedures

👉 In these cases, Umrah without a package is not allowed.

 

Which visa is needed to perform Umrah without a package?

Choosing the right visa is key. Not all visas allow you to perform Umrah without going through a package.

 

The Saudi tourist visa and Umrah

🪪 The Saudi tourist visa allows you to:

  • enter Saudi Arabia
  • stay for tourism purposes
  • perform Umrah, outside the Hajj period

✔️ This visa is issued online
✔️ It allows independent organization
✔️ It is suitable for Umrah without a package

👉 It is the most commonly used visa for this purpose.

👉 Apply for a Saudi e-visa ⇒

Differences between the Umrah visa and the tourist visa

📄 Traditional Umrah visa

  • issued via an approved agency
  • linked to a specific package
  • time limits and conditions are regulated

📄 Tourist visa

  • individual application
  • free organization
  • fully online procedures

👉 The tourist visa offers more flexibility, but does not exempt you from complying with religious and logistical rules.

 

Situations where the tourist visa is not enough

⚠️ The tourist visa does not allow:

  • performing Umrah during the Hajj period
  • bypassing Nusuk checks
  • access to Makkah for non-Muslims

👉 The visa allows Umrah only if all conditions are respected.

 

Steps to organize Umrah without a package

Organizing Umrah without a package means managing several essential steps yourself. It is not complicated, as long as you follow the steps in the right order and use the official tools provided by Saudi authorities.

 

Apply online for a visa that allows Umrah without a package

🪪 The first step is to obtain a visa that allows Umrah without a package, generally the Saudi tourist visa.

The application is completed entirely online and requires:

  • a valid passport
  • personal information
  • payment of official fees
  • mandatory insurance included or associated

✔️ No agency is involved
✔️ The process is individual
✔️ The visa is issued electronically

👉 It is essential to check that the visa obtained does allow Umrah and that it is used outside the Hajj period.

👉 Apply for a Saudi e-visa ⇒

Booking flights and accommodation

✈️🏨 Umrah without a package requires booking yourself:

  • airline tickets
  • accommodation in Makkah (and Madinah if needed)

📌 Key points to respect:

  • the hotel must be compliant with Saudi requirements
  • dates must match the visa validity period
  • some bookings may be checked upon arrival

👉 Contrary to common belief, you do not have to choose a hotel through an agency, but the accommodation must be real and verifiable.

 

Using the Nusuk application for Umrah

📲 Nusuk is an essential official platform for Umrah without a package.

It allows you to:

  • create a personal account
  • book Umrah time slots
  • manage access to rites
  • present a valid authorization on site

⚠️ Without a Nusuk booking:

  • access to holy sites may be refused
  • Umrah cannot be performed

👉 Nusuk now replaces many checks that used to be handled by agencies.

👉 Apply for a Saudi e-visa ⇒

Umrah without a package: rules you must follow

Umrah without a package offers more freedom, but it comes with strict rules. Failing to comply can result in refusal of access to holy sites or difficulties upon arrival.

 

Checks upon entry to Saudi Arabia

🛂 Upon arrival, authorities may check:

  • your visa
  • your passport
  • your accommodation
  • sometimes Nusuk bookings

👉 These checks ensure your stay complies with current rules.

📌 Traveling with unclear or inconsistent documents may lead to:

  • refusal of entry
  • restricted movement
  • administrative complications

 

Umrah is reserved for Muslim travelers

🕌 Umrah is a religious act strictly reserved for Muslims.

  • Non-Muslims are not allowed to perform Umrah
  • They are not permitted to enter Makkah

👉 This rule applies regardless of the visa type used.

 

Restrictions during the Hajj period

⚠️ During the Hajj period:

  • Umrah without a package is not allowed
  • access to Makkah is highly restricted
  • only certain specific visas are accepted

👉 A tourist visa does not allow you to bypass these restrictions.

📌 It is therefore essential to check the permitted periods before planning your trip.

 

Respecting Nusuk time slots and rites

⏱️ Time slots booked via Nusuk must be:

  • respected in terms of timing
  • used in accordance with their purpose

👉 Not respecting the time slots or rules may lead to:

  • refusal of access
  • cancellation of the authorization
  • future restrictions

📿 Umrah without a package also requires knowing the rites, since no guidance is provided.

👉 Apply for a Saudi e-visa ⇒

Advantages and limits of Umrah without a package

Choosing Umrah without a package has clear advantages, but also limits that are important to understand before getting started.

 

Advantages of Umrah without a package

✅ Umrah without a package allows:

  • a flexible organization
  • free choice of dates
  • better budget control
  • a more personal experience

👉 It suits independent travelers who are comfortable with online procedures.

 

Limits and risks to be aware of

⚠️ This option also has limits:

  • no assistance
  • handling unexpected issues on your own
  • need to clearly understand the rules
  • risks in case of administrative mistakes

👉 Poor preparation can complicate the experience.

Do you have any doubts?

Find out if your question has been answered in the list below

Yes, it is possible, but it requires careful preparation. Without a package, the traveler must manage the visa, bookings and the Nusuk application independently. For a first Umrah, it is essential to understand the rites, access rules to Makkah and official procedures in order to avoid any difficulties on site.

The Saudi tourist visa allows Umrah to be performed outside the Hajj period, provided all current rules are respected. However, it does not guarantee automatic access to the rites. Time slots must be reserved via Nusuk, and authorities may verify accommodation, travel dates and overall compliance of the trip.

Without a valid reservation on the Nusuk application, access to the holy sites may be refused, even with a valid visa. Nusuk is essential for booking Umrah time slots and managing pilgrim flow. Forgetting this step is one of the most common mistakes when organizing Umrah without a package.

👉 Apply for a Saudi e-visa ⇒ ⭐ Reliable service • 🔒 Secure payment