Health Requirements for Umrah Pilgrims – Saudi Arabia (1446 Hijri / 2025 Gregorian)

The Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia has issued updated mandatory and recommended health requirements for visitors intending to perform Umrah in 1446 Hicri (2025 Gregorian). Below is a detailed overview organized by health topic and country.

1. Poliomyelitis (Polio)

- Required for: Travelers from countries with WPV1, cVDPV1, or cVDPV3 circulation
- Vaccine: bOPV (oral) or IPV (inactivated); must be given at least 4 weeks prior to travel and within the past 12 months
- Additional bOPV dose may be given at Saudi entry points.

Countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania.

Passengers must present a vaccination certificate:
- For oral polio vaccine issued at least 4 weeks prior to arrival and not older than 6 months, or,
- For inactivated polio vaccine issued at least 4 weeks prior to arrival and not older than 12 months.

Exempted from this requirement are:
- Transit passengers who do not leave the transit area and whose layover in the listed countries or the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not exceed 12 hours.

 

2. Yellow Fever

- Required for: Travelers aged 9 months and above from yellow fever risk areas
- Vaccine: Yellow fever vaccine (valid for life, effective 10 days after administration)

- Required countries: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela.

Exempted from this requirement are children under the age of (9) months, passengers transiting through the listed countries for less than 12 hours without leaving the transit area, and transit passengers passing through the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the listed countries, provided they do not leave the transit area within 12 hours.

3. Recommended Vaccines

- COVID-19: As per the latest WHO recommendations
- Seasonal Influenza: Recommended for the 2024-2025 flu season

4. General Notes

- Vaccination certificates must be compliant with international standards and fully completed.
- Vaccines must be administered at least 10 days prior to entry.
- Health screening and supplemental vaccinations may be provided at points of entry.
- Food restrictions: Fresh food is not allowed; only sealed and properly labeled food items for personal use are permitted.