This article has been reviewed by Wego’s editorial team to ensure that the content is up to date & accurate.

Updated April 2023

All pilgrims wishing to perform the Umrah pilgrimage at any time of the year must meet all requirements, and here we have compiled all the details about the Umrah vaccine as one of the most crucial aspects of the Umrah preparation.

Table of Contents

COVID-19 vaccine

Although Saudi Arabia has largely lifted the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for Umrah pilgrims, it is highly recommended that each pilgrim confirm with their Umrah operator/agency for the latest vaccination requirements pertaining to Umrah. This is to ensure a smooth and hassle-free Umrah journey, as well as to protect the health and safety of all individuals involved.

Below is the list of the approved COVID-19 vaccines in Saudi Arabia:

Pfizer/BioNTech. 2 doses
Oxford/AstraZeneca: 2 doses
Janssen. 2 doses
Moderna. 2 doses
Sinopharm. 2 doses
Sinovac. 2 doses
Covaxin. 2 doses
Sputnik V. 2 doses
Nuvaxovid. 2 doses
Covovax. 2 doses

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has confirmed that pilgrims from abroad who wish to perform Umrah are not required a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) for their entry into Saudi Arabia.

Book cheap flights to Saudi Arabia

Yellow fever

According to the International Health Regulations 2005, all travellers arriving from countries or areas at risk of yellow fever must present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate showing that the person was vaccinated at least ten days and ten years before arrival border. In case of the absence of such a certificate, the individual will be placed under strict surveillance for six days from the date of vaccination or the last date of potential exposure to infection, whichever is earlier. Below is the list of the yellow fever risk countries:

Africa

Angola
Benin
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Congo
Cote d’Ivoire
Democratic Republic of Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Liberia
Mali
Mauritania
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone
South Sudan
Sudan
Togo
Uganda

Central and South America

Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
French Guiana
Guyana
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
Venezuela

Meningococcal Meningitis

All Umrah pilgrims are required to submit a valid vaccination certificate with a quadrivalent (ACYW) meningococcal vaccine received at least 10 days prior to the planned arrival to Umrah areas.

Vaccination with ONE of the following vaccines is acceptable:

Quadrivalent (ACYW) polysaccharide vaccine within the last 3 years.
Quadrivalent (ACYW) conjugate vaccine within the last 5 years.

In addition, visitors arriving from the following African countries will be administered ciprofloxacin tablets (500 mg) chemoprophylaxis at port of entry to lower the rate of carriers.

Benin
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Cote d’Ivoire
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gambia
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Mali
Niger
Nigeria
Senegal
Sudan.

Polio

All visitors from polio-endemic countries and re-established transmission countries should receive one dose of oral polio vaccine (regardless of age and vaccination status). Proof of polio vaccination at least six weeks before departure is required for visitors from polio-endemic and re-established transmission countries to apply for an entry visa for Saudi Arabia, and travellers will also receive one dose of OPV at border points on arrival in Saudi Arabia.

The exact requirements are valid for travellers from recently endemic countries at high risk of re-importation of poliovirus. In addition, irrespective of previous immunization history, all visitors under 15 years arriving in Saudi Arabia will also receive one dose of OPV at border points.

Below is the list of polio-endemic countries:

Afghanistan
Chad
India
Kenya
Nigeria
Pakistan
Somalia
Yemen

Flu shot

The Saudi Ministry of Health recommends that international pilgrims be vaccinated against seasonal influenza before arrival in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly those at increased risk of severe influenza diseases, including pregnant women, children under five years, the elderly, and individuals with underlying health conditions such as HIV/AIDS, asthma, and chronic heart or lung diseases.

Umrah 2023 news

According to the latest announcement, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has now dropped Umrah insurance costs by 63 percent. Hence, the price of Umrah medical insurance has been reduced from SAR 235 to SAR 87.

Saudi Arabia has also stipulated the minimum age requirement for Umrah pilgrims. Children aged 5 years old and above can now obtain an official entry permit to perform Umrah. However, the children should be accompanied by their parents and must obtain proof that they are not infected or have made contact with COVID-19 patients if they wish to enter the Grand Mosque.