By : Bound2explore
Most people perform Umrah by signing up for the program using Umrah travel agent. But, did you know that you can perform Umrah independently? With the ease of obtaining stopover visa/transit visa with Saudia airlines, now it is the best time to perform Umrah by yourself on your own schedule.
So, how to perform Umrah independently? First, let’s start with a visa. You will need a visa to enter Saudi Arabia. If you are lucky enough to hold a powerful passport like US passport or EU passport, you can apply for stopover visa on arrival. Check if your country is eligible for visa on arrival here. The unlucky ones can apply for stopover visa through Saudia airlines. The stopover visa has two purposes. If you are non Muslim or if you are not interested in performing Umrah, then you can use stopover visa for sightseeing and tourism purposes. Then you can pick any stopover, either Riyadh, Madinah or Jeddah. But if your intention is to perform Umrah, then pick Jeddah city or Madinah for your stopover.
Keep in mind that, if you want to perform Umrah, it is better to apply for stopover visa ahead of time regardless your citizenship so you can apply for Umrah permit. Now, how to apply for stopover visa by yourself? This is the first step on how to perform Umrah independently. Book your ticket on Saudia airlines and apply for stopover visa while booking for the ticket. Only saudia airlines and flynas offer the stopover visa to Saudi Arabia for free. The only thing you need to pay is just an insurance which will cost you around $10 to $26 depending on your passport. Then you will receive your visa through email.
The second step on how to perform umrah independently is by signing up for nusuk app. Why? Just because you have a stopover visa, it does not guarantee your spot for umrah and raudah. Both spots require permits. Hence, you will need a permit to guarantee your spot. Before requesting the permit on nusuk app, you’ll need the visa number. Then, you apply for umrah and raudah permit on nusuk app using your visa number. This is why it is important to apply a visa ahead of time even if you are eligible for visa on arrival to secure your spot. After you receive the permit from nusuk app, now you are ready to perform the umrah. Due to a permit, I highly recommend that you obtain your visa online ahead of your departure time to make sure you can reserve your spot on nusuk app.
Since you are performing umrah by yourself, there will no be a guide who inform and remind you of Miqat and the location of Miqat. What is Miqat? In Arabic, Miqat means a stated place. A place when you enter the state of Ihram. If you depart from North America toward Jeddah, you will enter the state of Ihram while you are still on the plane. Saudia airlines will make an announcement before you cross the Miqat point. This is one of the most important step on how to perform Umrah independently. For the man, they will have to change their Ihram on the plane. No worry, you can also change it in the prayer area. Make sure you notify the flight attendant before you utilize the prayer area to change into Ihram.
If you are flying to Madinah, you don’t need to do anything on the plane. Because you will reach the miqat point, known as abyar ali after you travel by land from Madinah to Makkah. It is about 9 kilometers from Madinah. When you reach this point, you can make your intention and change into the state of ihram.
Now, if you are flying to Jeddah, there are many options to reach Makkah. After you arrive at Jeddah Airport, you can rent a car or take a train to Makkah. You also can pre-arranged a private car with a driver to pick you up at Jeddah airport and drop you at your Makkah hotel. This is the most preferred way since it is the most convenient. The driver can help you with luggage. Click this link to pre-arrange you transportation. Keep in mind that the Nusuk employee will check the Umrah permit at the airport. Nusuk can guide you on how to perform Umrah independently. Nusuk app has all information regarding prayers, rules and even places to visit that has significant Islamic history.
Hot tips: for Indonesian or Asian who love bakso aka meatballs noodles soup and nasi padang, you can find your favorite food at Damba restaurant inside the clock tower across from Masjidil Haram. While you are inside the clock tower mall, don’t forget to try the famous al baik chicken and the traditional saudi rice al kabsa. Now, with this information in mind, you know on how to perform Umrah independently.
