The Umrah visa meal voucher is now set to become a fixed, non-optional part of the Umrah visa for Pakistani pilgrims. Saudi Arabia has announced that a daily meal charge of SAR 20 will be baked directly into the Umrah visa fee, starting from the first of Rabi al-Awwal. The cost of performing Umrah is set to increase following the introduction of a mandatory meal voucher scheme that will be integrated into the Umrah visa process. For millions of Pakistanis who travel to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah each year, this is a direct change to how much they pay and how their packages are priced.
What Is the Umrah Visa Meal Voucher
Under the new policy, every Umrah pilgrim will pay approximately 20 Saudi Riyals per day for a Nusuk meal voucher. That works out to roughly Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,600 per day at current exchange rates. If a typical Pakistani pilgrim stays for 14 days, the total meal cost added to the visa fee alone could reach around SAR 280, close to Rs 22,000 to Rs 23,000.
The charge will be embedded in the visa fee rather than collected separately, mirroring how mandatory transport services already function on the Nusuk platform. This means pilgrims will not see a separate meal bill at the time of travel. The cost is locked in before they even land in Saudi Arabia.
Nusuk is the official platform for Hajj and Umrah, providing comprehensive information, booking services, and guidance to Makkah and Madinah. It is run under the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and has become the central tool for managing all pilgrimage services digitally.
How the Umrah Visa Meal Voucher System Works
The voucher will be calculated based on the pilgrim’s length of stay and verified before the Umrah visa is issued. This is important: if the meal amount is not confirmed in the system, the visa will not be approved. There is no way to opt out or delay payment to later in the trip.
Each pilgrim will be assigned an individual BRN meal code linked to their visa before it is issued, allowing them to redeem meals during their stay in the Kingdom. Think of this BRN code as a digital meal card that is linked directly to a pilgrim’s passport and visa record.
More than 10,000 restaurants linked to the Nusuk application are expected to participate in the programme, enabling pilgrims to redeem their meal vouchers during their stay in Saudi Arabia. This is a very large restaurant network, which suggests the Saudi government wants pilgrims to have real choice when they use their voucher, not just a single caterer.
Pakistan Is in the First Phase of the Rollout
The policy will initially be implemented in four countries: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Egypt, before a wider rollout. These four nations together send millions of Umrah pilgrims to Saudi Arabia every year, making them a natural starting point for such a large change.
The policy takes effect from the first of Rabi al-Awwal. Travel agents in Pakistan should treat this date as a firm deadline. Any visa application processed after this date must include the meal voucher charge or it will fail.
It is also worth noting that Pakistani pilgrims cannot apply for an Umrah visa on their own through the Nusuk platform directly. Pakistani citizens cannot apply for an Umrah visa directly through the Nusuk app or website. Pakistani pilgrims must apply through licensed Umrah travel agents in Pakistan. This means the meal voucher cost will flow through travel agencies, adding another layer these businesses must manage correctly.
What This Means for Travel Agencies in Pakistan
This change is not just about the pilgrim. It reshapes how Pakistani travel agencies build and price their Umrah packages. For agencies operating in these markets, the change consolidates package pricing, visa generation, and catering verification into a single workflow on the Nusuk platform.
The practical risk for agencies is real. Outdated pricing or an unregistered caterer can stall a booking outright. An agency that has not updated its pricing sheet or whose food partner is not listed on the Nusuk system could find its entire visa batch blocked. That could mean unhappy customers, last-minute scrambles, and financial losses.
Agencies that are proactive now, updating their meal cost figures and confirming their catering partners are registered, will avoid the rush and confusion that often hits the market when a new Saudi policy takes effect.
Is This Good or Bad for Pakistani Pilgrims
The answer depends on the pilgrim. For those who were already booking packages that included meals, the overall price may not change much since the cost is simply shifting from the package to the visa. But for budget pilgrims who previously skipped the meal add-on to keep costs low, this is a real price increase with no way around it.
On the positive side, having a pre-paid meal entitlement linked to your visa number removes the stress of hunting for affordable food in a busy, expensive city. Pilgrims will know before they fly exactly how many meals they have covered. The wide network of over 10,000 partner restaurants also gives them flexibility rather than locking them into one canteen or buffet.
Saudi Arabia has been steadily digitising and formalising every part of the pilgrimage experience through Nusuk. A major 2026 rule shift now requires every Umrah visa application to be tied to a confirmed Nusuk-verified hotel and transport booking, which pushes the real out-of-pocket cost higher than the visa line alone. The meal voucher is simply the next step in that direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Umrah visa meal voucher cost?
The meal voucher is set at SAR 20 per day per pilgrim. The total amount added to the visa fee depends on how many days the pilgrim plans to stay in Saudi Arabia. A 14-day stay would add SAR 280 to the overall visa cost.
Can Pakistani pilgrims skip the meal voucher?
No. The Umrah visa meal voucher is mandatory and is verified before the visa is approved. There is no opt-out. The amount is built into the visa fee, not charged separately on arrival.
Which countries does this apply to first?
Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Egypt are the four countries in the first phase of the rollout. A broader expansion to other nations is expected after the initial phase is complete.
Does this affect the BRN code Pakistani pilgrims already know?
Yes. The BRN (Booking Reference Number) system that Pakistani agencies use for accommodation is now being extended to cover meals as well. Each pilgrim will receive a unique BRN meal code linked to their visa, which they use to claim meals at participating restaurants during their stay.
