The Nusuk App: Permits and Rawdah Booking

At a glance

• App name: Nusuk (only from Google Play or the Apple App Store)
• Account: with your passport number, visa and phone number or email
• Umrah permit: once your visa is issued, you need to get a permit in the Nusuk app before every Umrah. In practice this is enforced only on rush days, that is, in Ramadan; on ordinary days it is not checked.
• Rawdah: instant booking, and a waitlist when no slot is free
• If there’s a problem: Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, 1966

Step-by-step guide

Creating your account

1. Download Nusuk only from the official app store.
2. Register as a “Visitor” and enter your passport and visa details.
3. Enter the code (OTP) sent to your phone or email.
4. Keep your password somewhere you won’t forget it.

Getting an Umrah permit (before every Umrah)

1. Open the app and choose “Umrah”.
2. Pick the date and time for your Umrah.
3. Confirm the booking. The permit will appear under “My Permits”.
4. Save a screenshot of the permit on your phone, because the internet can be slow in the Haram.

Booking the Rawdah

1. Before you reach Madinah, choose “Al Rawdah Al Sharifa” in the app.
2. Pick an available date and time. Men and women have separate times.
3. If no slot is available, join the waitlist. The app will notify you when a slot opens; then confirm the booking.
4. Reach the right gate before your time and show the permit in the app.

Do

• Check the app in Pakistan before you leave.
• Book for elderly parents from their own account and keep a screenshot on their phone.
• Arrive a little before your booked time.

Don’t

• Don’t give anyone your OTP or password.
• Beware of look-alike fake apps and websites.
• Don’t pay anyone for a Rawdah booking. Booking is free.

Common mistakes

• Trying to book only after reaching Madinah, when all slots are already taken.
• Trying to book the same time for men and women.
• Thinking one permit covers every Umrah. You need a new permit for each Umrah.
• Not keeping a screenshot of the permit, then panicking when the internet doesn’t work in the Haram.

Frequently asked questions

I can’t book an Umrah permit. What should I do? First update the app, log in again and try a different time slot. If it still doesn’t work, call the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on 1966.

How often can I book the Rawdah? It depends on the slots available in the app, and the rules change from time to time. Book within whatever the app allows.

I don’t have a smartphone. A group companion or a Nusrah volunteer can help you. Keep a printout of the permit or a screenshot on a companion’s phone.