Nusuk Umrah and Rawdah Permit at a Glance
On the Nusuk app, the official platform of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, logging in with your Iqama or visa number lets you obtain a completely free Umrah and Rawdah Sharif ziyarat permit. The applicant must select a preferred date and time, and show the approved QR code at the designated entry gate to enter in an orderly manner.
The Necessity of the Nusuk App in Digital Umrah Management
Under Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 plan, the Nusuk app was launched with the goal of ensuring overall discipline and safety for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims at the holy sites of Mecca and Medina. It was previously known as 'Eatmarna'. Currently, through this single app, Saudi expatriates, local citizens, and international visitors can all schedule permission for Tawaf at the holy Kaaba Sharif and the ziyarat time at Masjid Nabawi's Rawdah.
Entering the main Mataf courtyard of Haram Sharif without a permit is legally punishable. If you cannot show a valid permit QR code at a law enforcement checkpoint, you will immediately face a fine and be barred from entry. You can collect the overall rules of the holy journey from our detailed Saudi Umrah Visa, Nusuk Permit, and Expatriates' Islamic Daily Living Guide.
Rawdah Sharif (Riyadul Jannah) Ziyarat Slot Booking Strategy in Medina
The most blessed part of Masjid Nabawi is Rawdatul Mubarak or Riyadul Jannah. Completely separate schedules for men and women are set on the Nusuk app for worship and voluntary prayer in this sacred land. Because demand for Rawdah is extremely high, slots fill up quickly. So it is extremely important to apply at the correct time with the right strategy.
| Visitor | Weekly Routine Schedule | Entry Gate Number | Annual Permit Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male visitor | Midnight to Fajr and Zuhr to Isha | Gate 38 and Bab Al-Salam | 1 time per 365 days |
| Female visitor | After Fajr to 11 AM and after Isha to midnight | Gate 24 and 37 (north side) | 1 time per 365 days |
The Secret Time When New Slots Open
The Saudi Ministry generally opens new Rawdah slots for the coming week every Friday from 12 noon after Jummah prayer. Watching the app during this time makes it extremely easy to secure a permit for your desired day.
Step-by-Step Method to Obtain an Umrah Permit on the Nusuk App
The application process on the Nusuk app is extremely smooth and easy. To successfully prepare your Umrah permit, follow the steps below carefully:
App download and login: Download the official Nusuk app from the Google Play Store and select your language. Expatriate Bangladeshis should log in with their Iqama number and Absher password, or via OTP verification.
Service selection: Click on the Umrah option on the home screen and select the names of the main applicant and accompanying family members.
Calendar and time setting: From the displayed calendar, choose a convenient day and hour among the colors marked green (less crowded), yellow (moderately crowded), and red (extremely crowded).
Accepting the undertaking: Tick the check box agreeing to the health and discipline terms and conditions, then press the 'Issue Permit' button. The digital QR code will appear on screen immediately.
After collecting the permit, save a screenshot or keep it saved in the app's history tab for offline display. Even if there is no mobile internet for any reason, it is possible to pass through the gate by showing the downloaded QR code.
Tawakkalna and Nusuk Data Synchronization Rules
All of the Saudi government's digital health and identity services are connected to a central server. For the Nusuk app to work effectively, the applicant's health insurance and location information must be directly synced with the Tawakkalna Services app. If your Iqama status is active, data synchronization is automatically completed without any complication.
Permit-Related Precaution
For workers whose Iqama term has expired or against whom the kafeel has any complaint, Nusuk permit issuance may be stopped. For this reason, before your trip, keep your documents updated through the Absher Account and Fingerprint Guide and the Muqeem Visa Validity Check.
Miqat Boundary and Ihram Preparation Guide
One of the main obligatory acts of performing Umrah is wearing the Ihram garment and reciting the intention and talbiyah before crossing the designated Miqat. For expatriates coming from Riyadh, Dammam, or the eastern region, 'Qarn al-Manazil' (Sail al-Kabir) is the official Miqat, and for caravans coming from Medina, 'Dhul Hulaifah' (Bir Ali) is the official Miqat. When arriving by flight, you must enter the state of Ihram as soon as the pilot announces the Miqat.
4 Essential Practical Tips for the Umrah Journey
Use the approved entry gate: Only Umrah permit holders are given direct ground-floor access to the Mataf through the King Abdul Aziz Gate and Umrah Gate.
Strict punctuality: Arrive at the gate at least 30 minutes before your permit's time window. If the set time passes, the QR code automatically becomes void.
Luggage control: Bringing large bags or suitcases into the Haram courtyard is prohibited. Leave your belongings in your hotel room and carry only a small water bottle and essential medicine.
Maintaining the etiquette of sanctity: Rather than taking selfies in the crowd or being busy with video calls, stay focused wholeheartedly on dhikr and worship. Follow the main Saudi Arabia Country Portal for any urgent information.
7. New 365-Day Rule and Slot Booking Strategy for Ziyarat at Medina's Holy Rawdah Sharif
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has implemented a strict scientific quota system for ziyarat of the Riyadul Jannah or Rawdah Sharif at Masjid Nabawi in Medina Munawwarah. Every Muslim woman or man gets permission to enter Rawdah Sharif only once a year (once per 365 days). If you successfully use a Rawdah permit once, the Rawdah ziyarat slot on the Nusuk app will be blocked against your Iqama or passport number for the next 365 days.
Obtaining a Rawdah Sharif permit is extremely competitive, because millions of visitors worldwide try to book every day. Some proven strategies for securing a slot:
Friday weekly slot release: The Ministry usually opens the next week's Rawdah slots after Asr on Friday, or at 5 PM Saudi time. Being active on the app during this time makes it easier to confirm the desired date.
Separate schedules for men and women: On the Nusuk app, specific day and night times are set for male and female visitors. For example: women are usually admitted through a designated gate after Fajr and Isha prayers. Female family members must have their appropriate slots booked separately.
Timely presence and gate instructions: You must stand in line at the specific barricade of the gate mentioned on the permit (such as gate No. 37 or 38) at least half an hour before the scheduled time. If you are late, security personnel may refuse to scan the QR code.
8. How to Solve Nusuk App Crashes and Server Jams During Ramadan and Dhul Hijjah Season
During the holy month of Ramadan and the Hajj season, extreme traffic occurs on the Nusuk app. As a result, many expatriates cannot log in, or a 'Server Error 500' or 'No Slots Available' message appears.
What to do to deal with this kind of technical complication:
Trying late at night: During Ramadan, after Taraweeh or Tahajjud, between 3 and 4 AM, or at dawn at 6 AM, when international traffic is relatively low, many people cancel their permits. Empty slots can be seen instantly at that time.
Clearing app cache and updating: Keep the app's latest update installed from the Play Store. If the app hangs, clear the Nusuk app's cache memory from the phone's settings and log in again.
Umrah visa vs. resident permit: For relatives arriving on a visit visa, open a Nusuk account directly with the 'Passport' option instead of a visa number, and confirm verification with the customs border number.
9. Rules for Issuing Nusuk Group Permits for Children and Elderly Members
According to the Saudi Hajj Ministry's rules, all children aged 5 years or older must have a separate Nusuk Umrah permit. An Umrah permit is not mandatory for children under 5 years old; they can enter the Mataf directly with their parents. However, for maintaining order inside Rawdah Sharif, entering with small children is discouraged.
If wheelchair service is needed in Haram Sharif for elderly parents or physically disabled relatives, 'Electric Cart / Wheelchair Service' can be booked within the Nusuk app itself. This provides the facility of using an automatic rechargeable electric cart at the government-set fare during Safa-Marwah Sa'i and Tawaf, which greatly eases the hardship for elderly family members.
What to Do If You Arrive Before or After the Scheduled Nusuk Permit Time
Due to excessive crowding at Haram Sharif's security checkpoint, it can sometimes cause delay in arriving at the correct time. According to the protocol of the Saudi Hajj Ministry, the QR code generally remains active on the gate's automatic scanner for up to a maximum of 2 hours from the slot's start time. However, once the set window ends, the permit will show a red-colored 'Expired' status.
If you see that you will not be able to arrive on time for any reason, it is wise to go to the Nusuk app at least 4 hours before the slot and 'Cancel Permit', then book another suitable slot. If a permit is left unused without cancelling, new applications may be blocked in the system for a subsequent set period.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
According to the law of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, every traveler must have an active digital Umrah permit on the Nusuk app to ensure orderly Tawaf and Sa'i at Haram Sharif. Security officials scan the digital QR code at the main entrance.
Generally, once you complete a Rawdah Sharif (Riyadul Jannah) ziyarat, a second slot cannot be booked through the app within the next 365 days or one year, so that all Muslims get an equal opportunity for ziyarat.
No, obtaining an Umrah permit and Rawdah Sharif ziyarat permit through the Nusuk app is completely free. There is no need to pay any middleman or agency for this.
Yes, the booking can be cancelled by entering the Nusuk app at least 4 hours before the scheduled time, and it is possible to select a new schedule or date subject to availability.
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