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Tentative Departure: Jun 20 – Jul 4.
Note: All pricing options Leave from New York (JFK) And Washington (IAD) other airports may cost extra.
Please see our traveler’s checklist for additional information. Prospective pilgrims from any country can find information about the rituals and requirements of Hajj at the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah website (please check multiple browsers to be able to access links).
For pilgrimage, please note the following:
Please ensure that you are guaranteed a Hajj permit. Your registration must be approved in the online portal and confirm that you have secured accommodations and transportation, in addition to an entry visa.
Failure to obtain a permit can result in:
Do not travel to Saudi Arabia without lodging or transportation arrangements made in advance. You may face difficulties with Saudi immigration and have trouble finding available services once you have arrived.
The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh and Consulates General in Jeddah and Dhahran cannot assist in arranging travel permissions within Saudi Arabia or resolving immigration violations. Once you enter Mecca for Hajj, you cannot depart Saudi Arabia without obtaining permission from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah until Hajj period is complete.
U.S. citizens resident in Saudi Arabia must also register for Hajj using the Eatmarna application, additional information on necessary mobile applications can be found at the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah website. Foreign Muslim residents of Saudi Arabia may perform the Hajj once every five years. Advance approval must be obtained from an immigration office and with the approval of their Saudi sponsor.
Keep travel documents (your U.S. passport or U.S. “green card” residency permit) secure during your trip. Make two copies of your passport—including pages stamped with Saudi visas—with one saved digitally and the other in a safe place while you travel.
Always carry contact information for:
Hajj and Umrah are attractive targets for defrauding unsuspecting travelers. Be aware of unscrupulous personal guides or individuals who may pose as tour operators, who abandon pilgrims, leaving them with unpaid bills, and hoteliers who demand the payment of exorbitant “hidden charges” for the return of passports. Registration for Hajj any bookings of accommodations and flights will now only be through the online Motawif portal.
There have been reports of pick-pocketing, theft, and other crime in Mecca, particularly in the region of the Grand Mosque, and in Medina with large crowds of people. Do not leave passports or valuables unattended.
Lost U.S. passports or residency permits (“green cards”):
The Hijri calendar is used in Saudi Arabia for all official functions. Please review the dates on your visa carefully, and make sure you know when it expires.
Do not overstay your Hajj or Umrah visa. Penalties for overstays may include fines amounting to thousands of dollars, detention pending deportation proceedings, and bans on returning to Saudi Arabia in the future.
Umrah visas are typically valid for about 90 days. You must depart before the visa expires.
During Hajj, the government may set new departure requirements that limit when you can depart. Local regulations include provisions that may keep you from leaving early. Travelers must comply with all Saudi government travel regulations.
Permitted areas of travel and duration of stay: If you are unsure, be sure to ask Saudi airport officials or the Passport Office (jawazat) for clarification upon arrival.
As of June 2021, women of all ages can now register for Hajj without a male guardian as long as they go in a group with other women.
Be prepared for standards of accessibility and accommodation below the minimum of what is required in the United States. While most of the Holy Sites, such as the Grand Mosque in Mecca, are handicap-accessible, most hotels and transportation options are not. Check with your tour group provider to ensure your needs are well known and can be accommodated.
Please note that special Covid requirements are outlined at the beginning of this information page.
Make sure your routine immunizations are up to date, and ask your tour operator about the vaccinations required for your visa. Hepatitis A and B and polio vaccinations are also recommended. Make sure to check language on medical needs (get your prescriptions, get your flu shot; meningitis and other vaccinations may be recommended by your doctor).
Carry hand sanitizer, as well as treatments for colds, diarrhea, rash, and anything else you might need.
Heat-related illnesses (high risk): Move to a cool area and seek medical attention if you experience profuse sweating, chills, headache, dizziness, and nausea. Temperatures at pilgrimage sites consistently exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. Stay hydrated, rest, and use protection from the sun.
There are facilities providing water, public accommodations, and other amenities. Due to large crowds, however, travelers should expect long wait times for basic amenities, especially in Mina, Muzdalifa, and Arafat.
At the Airport: Expect Crowded Airport Terminals
Between Ritual Sites
Saudi authorities forbid the taking of photographs (still or video, including those taken with your phone) at the Holy Mosque at Mecca or at the Prophet’s Mosque at Medina. Any violation of official instructions is likely to lead to the confiscation of your device. Please exercise good judgment and respect the rules of each site.
See U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for guidance on bringing religious articles back to the United States.
We recommend that travelers returning to the U.S. not bring any food items, including dates, that are not commercially processed and in their sealed, original container. U.S. CBP officers at the port of entry to the U.S. are responsible for deciding which items to allow.
Zamzam water (drawn from the sacred Zamzam well inside the Grand Mosque): Please check with your travel agent and airline for guidance on including Zamzam water as checked baggage.
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In the event of an emergency, please use your social media and other accounts to let family and friends know that you are OK. Doing so reassures your loved ones and allows our Embassy and Consulate staff to focus their efforts on helping other people in need of emergency assistance. |
Emergency Contact Information for Hajj Authorities
Note: When dialing the Jeddah area (includes Mecca and Taif) from the U.S., use country code 966 and city code 12. For example, dial 011-966-012-220-5000 to reach us at U.S. Consulate General Jeddah. When dialing the Riyadh area, use city code 11, e.g. 011-966-11-835-4000 for the U.S. Embassy. Cell phone numbers do not use the city code.
Emergency Contact Information for U.S. Citizens
Hours of operation are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm local time in Saudi Arabia, Sunday through Thursday for routine inquiries. During regular business hours, please ask for the American Citizen Services Unit.
In 2022, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates General will be closed for routine services from July 10-13for Eid-al-Adha
For emergency cases outside of regular business hours or during holidays, use the same numbers listed above to reach a duty officer for assistance.
In addition, you can call the Department of State from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays):
From the U.S. & Canada: 1-888-407-4747
From Overseas: +1-202-501-4444
What We Can and Cannot Do
We hope that you will have a trouble-free Hajj or Umrah, as thousands of other pilgrims from the United States do each year. If something does go wrong, however, the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah can provide you appropriate consular services, such as:
We cannot, however: