Advice: Travel to Hajj

Before you go

All New Zealanders planning to perform Hajj are encouraged to:

• Read our general travel advice for Saudi Arabia.
• Register your details. Sharing your plans and contact details with us gives us a way to let you know about important information and changes to our travel advice.
• Be familiar with our advice for while you’re away.

Registration for Hajj

To participate in Hajj, you must register through the Nusuk Hajj online platform. This is the only approved service by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Performing Hajj without a permit will result in a fine, deportation, and a travel ban from entering the Kingdom for 10 years. Reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis and confirmed after payment. Pilgrims under 12 are not allowed to perform Hajj in 2025. You are advised to only use authorised tour operators listed on the platform to avoid being scammed. 

Visa and entry requirements

• You must have a valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining.
• You must have a Hajj visa, or Hajj permit if a resident of Saudi Arabia. Apply for this visa through the Nusuk Hajj website.
• A tourist visa is not acceptable for performing Hajj.
• You must have proof of mandatory immunisations.

Health and vaccination requirements

Hajj 2025 will take place in summer, from approximately June 6 – June 11. Temperatures can exceed 50°C. It is recommended that pilgrims wear light, long-sleeved clothing, use sunscreen, stay hydrated, and avoid sun exposure. 

Take out comprehensive travel insurance. 

Pilgrims must follow health guidelines, get required vaccinations, and carry proof of vaccination. Illness can spread quickly during Hajj and Ramadan. Flu, colds, and other respiratory problems are common. 

Upon return from Hajj, travellers are advised to self-monitor symptoms for 21 days. If symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, sore throat, diarrhoea, weakness, vomiting, unexplained bleeding or bruising are experienced, phone your local health provider or call Healthline on 0800 611 for advice. 

Travel and transport

There are no direct flights to Makkah. Pilgrims can fly into Jeddah or Madinah, or travel to Makkah by road or rail. You can expect long delays at the airport and during immigration. 

Travel between ritual sites is regulated, with significant delays common on buses, trains, or on foot. Be mindful of restrictions on photography and video recording in certain areas. 

Contacts

For queries and help with emergencies before you arrive in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Nusuk Hajj is available 24/7 on:

Phone: +966 920031201

Email: [email protected]

Website: hajj.nusuk.sa/FAQ

For queries and help with emergencies after you arrive in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is available 24/7 on:

Phone: +966 920002814

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.haj.gov.sa

Emergency phone numbers

Ambulance: 997

Police: 999

Traffic accidents: 993

Unified number for Emergency Services Centre: 911

Saudi Arabia Directory Enquiries: 905

New Zealanders in need of consular assistance can also contact the New Zealand Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:

New Zealand Embassy Riyadh

Street address: 

Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Postal address:

PO Box 94 397, Riyadh, 11693, Saudi Arabia

Telephone:

+966 11 488 7988

Email:

[email protected]

Website:

http://www.mfat.govt.nz/saudi-arabia

Hours:

Sun-Thurs 0900-1200 hrs, 1230-1500 hrs