How to check an Umrah operator's licence

Before you pay anyone for Umrah, check two things: that the seller is allowed to sell travel where you live, and that it is approved on the Saudi side. Both checks take a few minutes. Here is where to look in each country we cover. Checked 29 October 2026.

Step 1: the Saudi check (every country)

Saudi Arabia qualifies agents abroad, called "external agents", on its Nusuk Masar system. Anyone can search the list: open Inquiry About Qualified External Agents, choose Umrah services, enter your country and city, and search. No documents are needed. Ask the seller for its exact company name first, because trading names can differ.

If you book on Nusuk Umrah itself, every provider listed there is licensed by the Ministry.

Step 2: the check in your country

India

India has no separate licence for selling Umrah. Haj Group Organiser registration covers the private Hajj quota only and is not needed for Umrah. So the Saudi check above is the one that matters. Also make sure the company is a registered business with an office you can visit, and get a written quote that shows GST and TCS.

UK

Packages that include a flight must be ATOL protected. You should receive an ATOL certificate naming who protects your trip; a seller may use another company's ATOL. Check the number on atol.org. Packages without flights must still have insolvency protection under the Package Travel Regulations 2018.

USA

There is no federal licence. Some states require sellers of travel to register: California (check on the Attorney General's seller of travel page), Florida (Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services), Washington (Department of Licensing) and Hawaii (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs). There is no national register of Umrah agents, so the Saudi check matters.

Canada

Ontario sellers must be registered with TICO and show the number in their adverts; check it on tico.ca. Québec agencies need an OPC licence; check with the Office de la protection du consommateur. Each gives access to a compensation fund only when you buy from a registered or licensed seller.

UAE

Only operators licensed by AWQAF may run Hajj and Umrah trips, and the licence can only be held by Emirati citizens. Operators may not advertise without AWQAF approval. Ask for the AWQAF licence number and check it with AWQAF, which publishes approved operators.

Bangladesh

Under the Hajj and Umrah Management Act 2021, Umrah agencies must register with the government, under the Ministry of Religious Affairs. Ask for the registration number and check it against the approved Umrah agency list on the government's Hajj management portal (we could not verify a direct link).

Singapore

Every travel agent selling Umrah needs a Singapore Tourism Board Travel Agent Licence. Check it on the STB TRUST portal. MUIS authorises agents for Haj only, not Umrah.

Australia

Australia has no travel agent licence since 2014, and the industry's ATAS accreditation is voluntary. Use the Saudi check above, and read the terms: under Australian Consumer Law your refund after a cancellation caused by a third party, such as a government closing airspace, depends on the booking terms (ACCC).

South Africa

SAHUC accredits Hajj operators and has said it does not accredit Umrah operators; the Saudi Ministry does. Use the Saudi check above. SAHUC accepts complaints through sahuc.co.za.

Nigeria

NAHCON licenses Umrah operators. Check its list of Umrah-licensed companies; the online list is dated 2021 to 2023, so confirm with NAHCON if a company is missing. NAHCON warns pilgrims not to use companies that are not on its list.

Red flags

• No licence or registration number, or a logo with no number. Several sites we checked say "licensed" but show no number.
• Asked to pay cash, or by bank transfer to a person rather than a company. ABTA in the UK warns against both.
• A visa without a hotel booking. Umrah visas need a confirmed hotel contract on Nusuk Masar. NAHCON warns against "half-packaged visas".
• Passports or visas arranged through another country. NAHCON calls this illegal for Nigerian pilgrims.
• Flights that do not exist. We found adverts for "direct flights" from Glasgow, Chennai and Patna, where no non-stop was found. Ask for flight numbers.
• No hotel names, or a vague "near the Haram" with no distance.
• No written refund terms. In October 2026 some stranded pilgrims had promised refunds cut. Get the terms in writing.
• A price far below everyone else's, or a headline price that does not match the package details.
• Anyone claiming to be Nusuk or the Saudi government and asking for payment outside the official site or app.

If something feels wrong, stop and check before you pay. In the UK, the CAA has warned pilgrims about unlicensed "pop-up" deals, even when friends recommend them.

Questions pilgrims ask