Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that it has stopped issuing Umrah permits through the Nusuk application for one month

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah declared on Thursday that, as of Thursday, Dhul Qada 15, or May 23, it will no longer be providing Umrah permits through the Nusuk application. This change will take effect for a month. This is to make it easier and more comfortable for the pilgrims who are performing the Hajj, who have been traveling from all over the world to Makkah. The government announced in a statement that starting on Dhul Hijjah 15, or June 21, the Nusuk App will once again be granting Umrah visas. 

The instruction from the Hajj Ministry coincides with the declaration from the Ministry of Interior that, from May 23 to June 21, no one with a visit visa of any kind will be permitted to enter or stay in Makkah. 

The government reaffirmed that visit visas of any kind, issued under any name, will not be accepted as authorization for the Hajj. 

The Ministry of Interior strongly advised everyone in possession of a visitation visa to refrain from traveling to or remaining in Makkah during the designated time frame. It further emphasized that individuals who disobey this directive will face consequences outlined in Saudi Arabian laws and regulations. 

Remarkably, the Ministry of Interior has said that it will begin fining violators—Saudi nationals, foreign nationals, and tourists—who enter Makkah without a Hajj permit between June 2 and June 20. The fines will total SR 10,000.

The Holy Sites of Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah; the Central Haram Area; the Haramain train station in Rusayfah; security control centers; pilgrims' grouping centers; and temporary security control centers are among the places where those found in the absence of a valid Hajj permit will face severe consequences. 

In case of a repeat offense, the ministry warned that fines will be doubled and might reach up to SR 100,000. Individuals who violate the law who are expatriates will have their passports revoked and be prohibited from entering the Kingdom for the duration stipulated by law.

The ministry previously announced that anyone found carrying someone who disobeys Hajj rules and instructions faces a maximum punishment of SR50,000 and up to six months in jail. In addition, the fine and jail time of the violating transporter, if an expat, will be served, and the vehicle used to transport the violators will be seized by a court order as part of the punishment. The transgressor shall, within the time frames prescribed by law, be prohibited from entering the Kingdom again. The number of offenders who received transportation will be taken into account when determining the amount of fines.