Umrah vaccination requirements from Pakistan now come in two layers. Saudi Arabia sets the health rules every pilgrim must meet on arrival, and since September 2026 Pakistan has added its own departure check: at Karachi airport, Umrah pilgrims need a NADRA-integrated digital vaccination certificate before they can board. Miss either layer and you can lose a flight, a non-refundable hotel night or the whole trip.
This guide explains which vaccines Pakistani pilgrims need, how long each one stays valid, when to get them, how the NIMS certificate works and what is known about vaccination centres in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. For the visa process itself, read our Umrah visa from Pakistan guide. The Saudi rules below were re-checked on the Saudi Ministry of Health website on 22 October 2026. This is travel information, not medical advice: ask your doctor which vaccines are safe for you, especially for children, pregnant women, older pilgrims and anyone with a long-term illness.
Umrah vaccination quick facts for Pakistani pilgrims (checked 22 October 2026)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Meningitis (required for all pilgrims) | Quadrivalent ACYW vaccine: conjugate type valid 5 years, polysaccharide type valid 3 years; must be given at least 10 days before arrival |
| Polio (required from Pakistan) | At least one dose of bOPV or IPV for every traveller from Pakistan, regardless of age; Saudi MoH recommends it at least 4 weeks before arrival |
| COVID-19 | Proof needed only for over-65s, pregnant women and people with listed chronic illnesses |
| Seasonal flu | Advised by Saudi MoH; reported as part of the Karachi departure requirement |
| Pakistan departure rule | NADRA-integrated digital certificate enforced for Umrah flights from Karachi since 10 October 2026; Peshawar from 25 October 2026 (reported); no date yet for Lahore or Islamabad |
| Certificate | Downloaded from the NADRA NIMS portal after the vaccine centre enters your record; official certificate fee Rs 100 |
| Best timing | Vaccinate 4 to 6 weeks before your flight, never later than 10 days |
| Easy Visa can help with | Your Umrah visa and package, a vaccination paperwork check, name and passport matching, and a pre-departure checklist |
Sources: Saudi Ministry of Health Umrah health requirements (1447H / 2026), the WHO Polio IHR Emergency Committee statement of 25 August 2026 and the Ministry of National Health Services NIMS vaccination certificate notice, checked 22 October 2026.
Want us to check your vaccination paperwork with your Umrah booking? WhatsApp +92 331 1442249
Umrah Vaccination Requirements from Pakistan at a Glance
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health (MoH) publishes one document for Umrah travellers each Hijri year. The current English version is titled Health Requirements and Recommendations for Travelers to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, 1447H (2026). When we checked on 22 October 2026, no separate 1448H Umrah document had been published, so the 1447H rules remain the reference for pilgrims travelling now.
For a Pakistani passport holder, the vaccination required for Umrah boils down to this:
- Required by Saudi Arabia: a quadrivalent meningococcal (ACYW) vaccine for every pilgrim, and at least one polio dose because Pakistan is on the Saudi polio list.
- Required for some groups: proof of COVID-19 vaccination or recent recovery for pilgrims over 65, pregnant women and people with certain chronic illnesses.
- Advised: seasonal flu vaccine and routine vaccines (tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles, mumps, chickenpox).
- Not needed from Pakistan: yellow fever, unless you are arriving from, or have spent time in, one of the African or South American countries on the Saudi list.
The Pakistani departure layer
Pakistan’s own rule sits on top of the Saudi list. Border Health Services, part of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, told airlines in September 2026 that Umrah pilgrims flying from Karachi must carry a NADRA-integrated digital vaccination certificate, and that other vaccination cards would no longer be accepted. The grace period at Karachi ended on 10 October 2026. Peshawar is reported to follow from 10 a.m. on 25 October 2026, and officials have said Lahore and Islamabad will come later, without a date.
In practice, the safest plan is to get every vaccine recorded on the NIMS system wherever you fly from. A record that is already in NADRA’s database cannot be questioned at a check-in desk, and you will be ready if your airport’s rule changes between booking and departure.
Meningitis Vaccine for Umrah: ACYW Type, Validity and the 10-Day Rule
Meningococcal meningitis spreads in crowded places, and Makkah and Madinah host some of the largest crowds on earth. That is why the meningitis vaccine for Umrah is the one requirement that applies to every pilgrim from every country.
Which meningitis vaccine counts
The Saudi MoH accepts two kinds of vaccine, and each has its own validity:
| Vaccine type | Valid for | Minimum gap before arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Quadrivalent ACYW conjugate (or pentavalent ACYWX conjugate) | 5 years from the vaccination date | 10 days |
| Quadrivalent ACYW polysaccharide | 3 years from the vaccination date | 10 days |
| Type not written on the certificate | Treated as 3 years only | 10 days |
The letters matter. A vaccine that only covers A and C, or a meningitis B vaccine, does not meet the rule. When you are vaccinated, ask the staff to confirm it is an ACYW (quadrivalent) vaccine and to record its name and the date. The MoH asks health authorities in the pilgrim’s home country to write both on the certificate; if the type is missing, Saudi health staff count it as a 3-year vaccine.
The 10-day rule in real life
The vaccine must be at least 10 days old when you land in Saudi Arabia, because protection takes time to build. If you fly on the 20th, the latest safe date for the injection is the 10th, and earlier is better. Pilgrims who leave the meningitis shot for the airport counter on the day of travel technically miss the Saudi timing rule, even if Pakistani staff let them board.
If you had a meningitis vaccine for an earlier Umrah or Hajj, check the date and type on that record before paying for a new one. A conjugate dose from 2023 is still inside its 5-year window for a 2026 or early 2027 trip; a polysaccharide dose from 2023 runs out three years from the day it was given. Your doctor can tell you which one you received if the card is unclear.
Polio Vaccine for Pakistani Pilgrims: Why Every Age Needs a Dose
Pakistan is one of only two countries where wild poliovirus is still endemic. The WHO Polio IHR Emergency Committee, in its statement of 25 August 2026, kept polio as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and listed Pakistan as infected, with the most recent detection on 1 April 2026. That status drives both the Saudi rule and Pakistan’s own exit checks.
What Saudi Arabia asks for
The Saudi MoH places Pakistan (with Afghanistan) on its first polio table. Every traveller arriving from Pakistan must have at least one dose of bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) or inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) before travelling, regardless of age or previous vaccination. The document recommends:
- an IPV injection within the previous 12 months, or an OPV dose within the previous 6 months, and
- given at least 4 weeks before arrival in Saudi Arabia.
“Regardless of age” means grandparents, babies and everyone in between. A childhood polio campaign record does not replace a recent travel dose.
What WHO asks Pakistan to do
Under the WHO temporary recommendations, residents of infected countries, and visitors who stayed more than four weeks, should receive a polio dose between four weeks and twelve months before international travel, and receive an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) as proof. Travellers who must leave urgently and missed that window should still take a dose by the time of departure. WHO also asks infected countries to restrict departure of residents who cannot show proof of polio vaccination, which is why airline and airport health staff in Pakistan check it.
At Karachi airport the polio dose is given free of charge, Border Health Services officials said; the certificate itself is issued through NIMS, explained below.
COVID-19, Flu and Other Recommended Vaccines for Umrah
COVID-19: only for specific groups
The Saudi MoH requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination or immunity only from Umrah pilgrims in these groups:
- people over 65 years of age;
- pregnant women;
- people with chronic heart disease, chronic respiratory disease or chronic kidney failure;
- people with hereditary blood disorders such as sickle cell anaemia or thalassemia;
- people with congenital or drug-induced immunodeficiency, cancer, or chronic neurological disease.
Any one of three proofs is accepted: a single dose of an updated 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine, a completed primary series (two or more doses taken between 2021 and 2024), or laboratory-confirmed recovery from COVID-19 during 2025. Many older Pakistanis already have the primary series on NIMS from the national campaign; download that certificate early and check the name and passport number on it.
Seasonal flu
Saudi Arabia advises, rather than requires, the seasonal influenza vaccine; the 1447H document words this advice for Hajj travellers. In Pakistan, however, Border Health Services has included influenza in the vaccines it gives Umrah pilgrims at Karachi airport, according to officials quoted by The Express Tribune on 11 October 2026. If you fly from Karachi, expect to be asked for it. Elsewhere, a flu shot is still sensible for older pilgrims and anyone with asthma, diabetes or heart disease; ask your doctor.
Routine vaccines and general health
The MoH recommends that pilgrims are up to date with routine immunisations: diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, polio, measles, mumps and chickenpox. Pilgrims with long-term conditions should carry a doctor’s note on their condition and enough medicine in original packaging for the whole stay. Saudi Arabia’s official Nusuk Umrah health guidelines add practical advice for the trip itself, such as heat precautions and the 937 health call centre.
NADRA NIMS Vaccination Certificate for Umrah: Step by Step
NIMS, the National Immunization Management System, is the database NADRA runs for the health ministry. It began with COVID-19 certificates and was extended to polio and yellow fever, and in 2026 to the vaccines Umrah pilgrims need. The ministry’s notice says vaccination data is entered directly into NIMS at the vaccine centre and the certificate is downloaded from the NIMS website for a one-time fee of Rs 100.
How the process works (Karachi model)
- Register and pay. Complete biometric verification and pay the vaccination fee through NADRA’s Pak ID app or at an e-Sahulat franchise. Officials quoted in the press say receipts stay valid for 90 days, so pay only when your travel dates are firm.
- Get vaccinated at the designated centre. Show your CNIC, passport and receipt. Staff give the vaccines and enter each dose against your identity in NIMS.
- Confirm the entry before you leave. A problem pilgrims have reported is a dose given but missing from NIMS, and only the vaccinating centre can add it.
- Download the certificate. On the official NIMS certificate page, enter your details, choose the vaccine and pay the Rs 100 certificate fee by debit or credit card or at e-Sahulat. NADRA centres can also issue it.
- Save and print. Keep the PDF on your phone and one printed copy with your passport and Umrah visa.
Check these details before you pay for anything else
- Your name and passport number on the certificate match the passport you will travel on. If you renewed your passport recently, the old number on a certificate is a common snag.
- The vaccine name (ACYW conjugate or polysaccharide) and date are visible.
- Each family member has a separate certificate, including children.
If the NIMS website does not load, try a different connection such as mobile data. Easy Visa handles your Umrah visa and checks that your vaccination certificate, passport and booking all carry the same details, so a mismatch is caught before you reach the airport.
Where to Get Umrah Vaccines in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad
This is where most pilgrims get confused, because Pakistan has not yet published one official list of Umrah vaccination centres. The Ministry of National Health Services website had no notice on centres or fees when we checked on 22 October 2026. What follows is limited to what officials have said publicly; confirm before you travel, because arrangements have changed several times since September.
Karachi
Border Health Services officials told The Express Tribune on 11 October 2026 that its International Traveller Vaccination Centre operates round the clock at the Civil Dispensary near Star Gate, Jinnah Terminal, with five NADRA facilitation counters. The prescribed fees they gave were Rs 2,785 for meningitis and Rs 1,720 for influenza, with polio free of charge. Officials have also said centres in Hyderabad and Larkana will open later for rural Sindh. Pay through Pak ID or e-Sahulat before you go; much of the crowding has come from people arriving unpaid.
Lahore
No enforcement date has been announced for Allama Iqbal International Airport, and no official list of Lahore centres for Umrah vaccines has been published. A vaccination centre for international travellers at Lahore airport was reported in September 2026 as planned, not confirmed as open. Lahore pilgrims still need the Saudi-required meningitis and polio vaccines; ask your doctor or the travellers’ vaccination service where you are vaccinated to confirm that the dose will be entered on NIMS, and ask us on WhatsApp for the latest arrangement before booking.
Islamabad and Rawalpindi
Islamabad International Airport has no announced enforcement date either. The federal health minister was reported in September 2026 to have inaugurated an International Travelers Vaccination Center, but no official address or procedure for Umrah pilgrims has been published. As in Lahore, make sure the vaccine you receive is ACYW, is given at least 10 days before arrival in Saudi Arabia, and is recorded on NIMS.
Flying from Peshawar or another city
Peshawar’s grace period was extended to 10 a.m. on 25 October 2026, after which unvaccinated Umrah pilgrims will not be boarded, according to Border Health Services. Officials named the Federal Government Medical Centre on Shami Road as the vaccination point. If you live elsewhere but connect through Karachi or Peshawar, plan as if the rule applies to you.
Not sure which rule applies to your departure airport? Chat with a Visa Expert on WhatsApp.
When to Get Vaccinated: Timeline for Families, Elders and Pregnant Women
Two Saudi timings decide your plan: polio at least 4 weeks before arrival, and meningitis at least 10 days before arrival. Working back from your flight date gives a simple schedule.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 6 to 8 weeks before the flight | Confirm your departure airport’s rule; check old meningitis and COVID records on NIMS; see your doctor about any health conditions |
| 4 to 6 weeks before | Take the polio dose and the meningitis ACYW vaccine (and flu if advised); confirm both are entered on NIMS |
| 3 to 4 weeks before | Download and print each family member’s certificate; match names and passport numbers with the Umrah visa and tickets |
| Final 10 days | Too late for a meningitis dose to meet the Saudi timing; only travel-day paperwork remains |
Children
The Saudi polio rule covers every age, and the Saudi meningitis rule names no age exemption. Border Health Services told reporters it gives the meningitis vaccine at Karachi to travellers aged 12 and above, while the US CDC describes the Saudi requirement as applying from 1 year of age. Because of this gap, take your child’s vaccination card to your paediatrician well before you book, and keep whatever proof is issued for each child.
Older pilgrims and chronic illness
Over-65s need COVID-19 proof in addition to meningitis and polio. Bring an up-to-date prescription list and medicine for the full stay; the MoH notes that conjugate meningitis vaccines are considered safe and effective for people older than 55.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women
Pregnant pilgrims are on the Saudi COVID-19 proof list, and officials at Karachi said pregnant women are given only the flu vaccine there, while breastfeeding mothers may receive flu, polio and meningitis. Pregnancy and travel decisions belong with your gynaecologist; get written advice and carry it.
Flights and check-in
Book your flight only after your vaccine dates fit the 10-day and 4-week windows. Airlines at Karachi have been told to check the vaccination record before issuing a boarding pass, whichever carrier you choose; if you are comparing Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, see Saudia’s SV code and Jeddah hub on IATA.co so the flight numbers on your ticket and Umrah booking are easy to match. Our Umrah cost from Pakistan guide shows how vaccines fit into the full trip budget.
Umrah Vaccination Requirements FAQs
Which vaccination is required for Umrah from Pakistan?
A quadrivalent meningococcal ACYW vaccine for every pilgrim, given at least 10 days before arrival, and at least one dose of polio vaccine (bOPV or IPV) for everyone travelling from Pakistan, whatever their age. Over-65s, pregnant women and people with certain chronic illnesses also need COVID-19 proof.
How long is the Umrah meningitis vaccine valid?
Five years for an ACYW conjugate vaccine and three years for an ACYW polysaccharide vaccine. If the certificate does not name the type, Saudi health staff treat it as valid for three years.
Is the NADRA vaccination certificate compulsory for Umrah?
For Umrah flights from Karachi, yes, since 10 October 2026, and from Peshawar after 10 a.m. on 25 October 2026 according to Border Health Services. No date has been announced for Lahore or Islamabad as of 22 October 2026, but recording your vaccines on NIMS now avoids problems if that changes.
How much does Umrah vaccination cost in Pakistan?
At Karachi airport, officials quoted Rs 2,785 for meningitis and Rs 1,720 for influenza, with polio free. The NIMS certificate costs Rs 100. Private clinic prices vary.
Can I get the meningitis vaccine on the day of my flight?
You might be vaccinated, but the Saudi rule says the dose must be at least 10 days old on arrival, so a same-day injection does not meet it. Plan at least two weeks ahead.
Do children need vaccines for Umrah?
Yes. Every child travelling from Pakistan needs the polio dose, and the Saudi meningitis rule has no stated age exemption. Ask your paediatrician which vaccines suit your child’s age.
Can Easy Visa guarantee my Umrah visa if my vaccines are done?
No. Saudi authorities decide every visa and entry. Easy Visa handles your Umrah visa, checks your documents and vaccination paperwork, and helps you avoid the mistakes that delay pilgrims, but we never promise a fixed outcome.
Ready to plan your Umrah? Start with our full Umrah visa from Pakistan guide, compare Saudi visa types for Pakistanis, then chat with a Visa Expert. Send your travel month, departure city and passport details on WhatsApp +92 331 1442249 and Easy Visa will handle your Umrah visa and check your vaccination paperwork before you pay for flights. You can also visit our office in DHA Lahore or browse all services on the Easy Visa homepage.
