A little preparation makes Umrah far easier. Most of what can go wrong, from a missing vaccination certificate to sore feet on the first day, can be avoided with a checklist and a few weeks’ notice. This guide covers the documents you need, a timeline for getting ready, what to pack for ihram and the rest of the trip, and the rules on medicines, money and Zamzam water.
Documents checklist
Keep these together in one folder, with copies on your phone and with someone at home.
- Passport, valid for at least six months beyond your return date
- Visa, printed as well as saved on your phone
- Flight tickets and your hotel confirmations for Makkah and Madinah
- Vaccination certificates: meningitis for every pilgrim, plus yellow fever and polio if you’re travelling from Nigeria
- Travel insurance details, if you’ve bought cover on top of the insurance that comes with the visa
- Prescriptions for any medicines you’re carrying, and a permit for controlled medicines (see below)
- Emergency contacts, including your group leader’s number and your embassy’s
- Two spare passport photos, in case you need a replacement document
Our guide to getting an Umrah visa from Nigeria explains the visa and vaccination rules in detail.
Your preparation timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 3 months or more before | Book your package and check your passport’s expiry date |
| 6 to 8 weeks before | Book a travel clinic visit for your vaccinations |
| At least 4 weeks before | Polio vaccination, if you’re travelling from Nigeria |
| At least 10 days before | Meningitis vaccination (it must be at least 10 days old when you arrive) |
| 2 to 4 weeks before | Confirm your visa, apply for a permit for any controlled medicines, buy travel insurance, and download the Nusuk app |
| The week before | Pack, print your documents, and go over the steps of Umrah |
Ihram: what to pack and what to know
Ihram is the state you enter before performing Umrah, and it has its own clothing and rules.
- Men wear two plain white, unstitched sheets: one around the waist and one over the shoulders. Bring two sets, a safety pin or ihram belt to hold the lower sheet, and open sandals that leave the ankles and the top of the foot uncovered.
- Women wear their normal modest clothing that covers the body, usually loose and plain. There’s no special garment, but women shouldn’t wear a face veil (niqab) or gloves while in ihram.
- Unscented products. Perfume is not allowed once you’re in ihram, so pack unscented soap, shampoo, deodorant and lotion.
- Where you enter ihram. If your trip starts in Madinah, as many of ours do, you enter ihram before leaving Madinah for Makkah, at the miqat of Dhul Hulayfah. If you fly straight to Jeddah, you enter ihram before the plane crosses the miqat, so wear or carry your ihram on the flight.
Umrah packing list
Clothing
- Loose, breathable clothes in cotton or linen; the weather is warm for most of the year
- A light layer for air-conditioned mosques, hotels and coaches
- Comfortable walking shoes or sandals you’ve already worn in
- For winter trips, a warm layer for Madinah’s cool evenings
Health and toiletries
- Your regular medicines, in their original packaging, with enough to spare for delays
- Painkillers, plasters for blisters, rehydration salts and any travel-sickness tablets
- Sunscreen, lip balm and an unscented moisturiser for dry skin
- A small pack of tissues and hand sanitiser
For the mosque
- A small bag to carry your shoes inside the mosque
- A refillable water bottle (Zamzam water is free throughout the Haram)
- A small prayer mat and a pocket Qur’an or book of du’as
- An umbrella for shade in the courtyards
Money and tech
- A bank card that works abroad, plus some Saudi riyals in cash for small purchases
- A plug adapter if you need one: Saudi Arabia mainly uses UK-style Type G sockets at 230 volts, so Canadian plugs won’t fit
- A phone with the Nusuk app, a power bank and a charging cable
- A Saudi SIM or eSIM, available at the airport, if your phone plan doesn’t cover Saudi Arabia
How Kasfah Hajj Travels helps you prepare
Kasfah Hajj Travels is licensed by NAHCON for both Hajj and Umrah. On our Umrah trips from Toronto, a pre-departure seminar covers the rites, packing and what to expect, and on every trip a scholar travels with the group, so you’re never unsure what to do next. Our team also handles your visa and hotel bookings. See our December Umrah from Lagos and Abuja, compare our Umrah packages, or contact us with your questions.
Medicines, money and Zamzam: rules to know
- Controlled medicines. Since 1 November 2025, travellers carrying controlled medicines (such as some painkillers, sleeping tablets and ADHD or anxiety medication) into Saudi Arabia need a clearance permit, applied for online through the Saudi Food and Drug Authority’s Controlled Drugs System. You’ll need your prescription and a medical report. Apply well before you travel, and carry prescriptions for any other medicines too.
- Cash. You must declare cash, jewellery or precious metals worth more than SAR 60,000 when you arrive in or leave Saudi Arabia. Most pilgrims carry far less and use a card for larger payments.
- Zamzam water. Pilgrims can usually take home up to 5 litres of Zamzam in an official sealed 5-litre bottle. It isn’t packed in your suitcase; it’s checked in as a separate item. Rules vary by airline, so check with yours before you fly.
Preparing yourself for Umrah
- Learn the rites before you go: entering ihram, tawaf (seven circuits of the Kaaba), sa’i (seven walks between Safa and Marwah), and cutting or shaving the hair. Knowing the order and the du’as makes the day calmer.
- Build up your walking. Tawaf and sa’i together can mean several kilometres on foot, often on the day you arrive in Makkah. A few weeks of regular walking helps, especially for older pilgrims.
- Plan for the heat. Our guide to the best time for Umrah shows the temperature in each month, with tips for hot weather.
- Settle your affairs at home, and leave your itinerary and contacts with family.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pack for Umrah?
Your documents, ihram clothing (two white unstitched sheets for men; loose, modest clothing for women), unscented toiletries, comfortable walking sandals, light breathable clothes, your medicines, a shoe bag and a refillable water bottle. The packing list above has the full checklist.
What documents do I need for Umrah?
A passport valid for at least six months, your visa, flight and hotel bookings, and vaccination certificates: meningitis for everyone, plus yellow fever and polio if you’re travelling from Nigeria. Carry prescriptions for any medicines, and a permit for controlled ones.
What should women wear for Umrah?
Loose, modest clothing that covers the body. There’s no special ihram garment for women, but they shouldn’t wear a face veil (niqab) or gloves while in ihram. Comfortable shoes and a light layer for air-conditioned spaces help.
Can I bring Zamzam water home?
Usually yes: up to 5 litres in an official sealed bottle, checked in as a separate item rather than in your suitcase. Check your airline’s rules before you fly.
When do I put on ihram if I fly to Madinah first?
You don’t need ihram on the flight. You enter ihram before leaving Madinah for Makkah, at the miqat of Dhul Hulayfah, which is on the way.