Saudi Hajj Ministry Reiterates Ban on Unauthorized Pilgrimage
As Hajj 1446-2025 approaches, Saudi authorities enforce strict no-permit, no-entry policies in Mecca with heavy penalties for violators, including fines up to 100,000 SAR, deportation, and imprisonment.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has once again warned against attempting to perform the Hajj pilgrimage without an official permit, as the 1446-2025 season approaches. The measure, implemented in coordination with the Saudi Ministry of Interior, aims to enhance security and organization for the world’s largest religious gathering. An official statement was issued by the Saudi Minister of Interior on April 28.
Access to Mecca strictly regulated
From April 29 to June 11, 2025 (between 1st Dhul Qidah and 14th Dhul Hijjah 1446), entry to Mecca will be formally prohibited for anyone lacking a valid Hajj permit or an official residency/work authorization. Hotels and residences are also required to deny accommodation to individuals without a valid permit, under threat of severe penalties.
Enforcement penalties
Authorities will impose strict penalties on violators, including:
SAR 20,000 fine for anyone found without a Hajj permit—whether Saudi citizens, residents, or visitors. Repeat offenders (including GCC residents) face doubled fines.
SAR 100,000 fine for individuals who facilitate Hajj travel without a permit—such as those applying for visit visas for unpermitted Hajj pilgrims or entering Mecca during the specified period.
Deportation and entry bans for foreigners in violation, with durations determined by case severity.
Up to six months’ imprisonment and a SRA 50,000 fine, plus possible vehicle confiscation and expulsion for any person transporting violators (expatriates face deportation).
How to obtain an official Hajj permit
The official Nusuk Hajj platform is the sole authorized platform for Hajj pilgrimage bookings and management. Using a tourist or Umrah visa for Hajj is strictly prohibited and subject to the same penalties: fines, deportation, and entry bans.
Purpose of the measures
These rules aim to:
Prevent overcrowding and ensure the safety of all pilgrims.
Combat fraud and unauthorized Hajj campaigns.
Ensure the pilgrimage proceeds smoothly, safely, and in accordance with Saudi law.
The ministry urges vigilance against fraudulent campaigns on social media and encourages reporting suspicious activity via dedicated emergency numbers (911 for Mecca, Riyadh, and the Eastern Region; 999 for other regions).
These measures reflect Saudi Arabia’s commitment to providing a secure, organized, and legally compliant spiritual experience for all pilgrims.
Warnings against fraudulent practices
Consulates and embassies of several countries have cautioned their nationals against violating entry rules during Hajj, stressing that tourist or Umrah visas do not permit participation in the Hajj pilgrimage.
Moroccan and Tunisian authorities in Saudi Arabia have recently warned their citizens about the mandatory requirements. The General Delegation for Hajj (DGP) has been notified by Saudi authorities of cases of visa fraud involving private tour operators.
“We wish to emphasize that visa fraud constitutes document forgery under Senegal’s penal code.”
General Mamadou Gaye, General Delegate for Hajj to the Holy Sites of Islam
