Rawdah Permit Guide: Rules, Booking Process & Important Updates

Rawdah Permit bookings fail more often than pilgrims expect, not because of bad luck, but because most visitors open the Nusuk app without knowing the exact rules, timing windows, or which booking track applies to them. A missed step here doesn’t just cost time. It can cost the one chance to pray in Riyad ul-Jannah during an entire trip.

This guide covers how to get a Rawdah Permit, the 365-day rule, the Instant Track option, and fixes for the most common failures pilgrims run into. 

What Is a Rawdah Permit and Why Is It Required

Understanding Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah

Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah sits between the Prophet’s tomb and his minbar (the raised platform he used to speak from) inside the Prophet’s Mosque. It’s a small space, marked by green carpet while the rest of the mosque uses red, and pilgrims travel from all over the world hoping to pray in this exact spot, since it holds deep religious significance in Islam. The space is small, and huge numbers of people want to stand in it every year. That’s the reason the permit system exists in the first place.

Why Visitors Need a Permit

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, through the General Authority for Mosque Affairs, controls access with timed appointments booked through Nusuk. Under current policy, entry without a valid permit isn’t allowed, and visitors without one are generally turned away regardless of visa status.

Without a Permit	With a Permit
Entry is not guaranteed	You have a scheduled time slot
You’re left waiting with no clear answer	Your visit is confirmed in advance
Staff can turn you away at the gate	You walk in, scan your QR code, and proceed

Who Can Apply for a Rawdah Permit (Rawdah Permit Eligibility)

Eligibility

Rawdah permits are open to Umrah Pilgrims, tourist visa holders, Saudi residents, and GCC nationals. In short, if you have a valid reason to be in Saudi Arabia and a Nusuk account, you can apply. You do need to be Muslim to book Rawdah access, since this is a religious space inside the mosque.

Documents Required

Requirement	Why It’s Needed
Passport details	Confirms your identity
Valid visa	Confirms eligibility to book
Nusuk account	Where the booking happens
Active mobile number	Verifies your account

A single mismatched digit on your passport or visa number is one of the most common reasons a Nusuk registration gets stuck.

Special Guidelines

Women: Men and women have separate visiting hours, and you book under the correct gender option. Picking the wrong one means your permit won’t scan at the gate.

Elderly visitors: Wheelchair access is available through designated gates, part of the mosque’s broader Accessibility Services. A help desk in the courtyard can occasionally assist manually, though this isn’t guaranteed, so book ahead rather than counting on in-person help.

Families and children: Young children generally don’t need their own permit as long as they stay with a parent, though the exact age threshold has been described differently across sources. Older children old enough to hold their own appointment typically need their own Nusuk permit, booked the same way as an adult’s. Confirm the current age policy in the app before you travel, since this is one of the details that gets updated without much notice.

Scheduled Booking vs Instant Track: Which Rawdah Rule Applies to You

The 365-day scheduled slot rule

Booking in advance through the standard reservation system generally limits you to one scheduled booking every 365 days. If you visited within the last year, the standard system typically won’t let you book another advance slot until that year is up, though this restriction has occasionally been lifted for a short window in the weeks before Hajj in past years, without much advance notice.

The Instant Track feature and how it differs

Nusuk also offers Instant Track, a same-day appointment you can book while physically near the mosque, using your phone’s location services. These slots open in short windows throughout the day and aren’t tied to the same 365-day limit, since they work off real-time location rather than a reservation.

Question	Answer
Location	Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah, inside the Prophet’s Mosque, Medina
Booking Platform	Nusuk app (official Ministry of Hajj and Umrah platform
Permit Type	Digital appointment permit with QR code
Cost	Free
Required For	Anyone wishing to enter the Rawdah area

Which one applies to your visa or visit type

Planning ahead of arrival means the 365-day rule governs you. Once you’re already in Medina with location services on, Instant Track is worth checking regardless of when you last visited. Treating these as two separate paths, rather than betting everything on one, tends to make for a smoother visit.

Saudi authorities have adjusted these rules more than once in recent years, and sources describe the current state differently. Confirm the current setup directly inside the app or through official Ministry channels before relying on either rule for trip planning.

Rawdah Permit Latest Updates 2026

Nusuk added a waitlist option for fully booked dates, so if no slots show as available, you can join the waitlist and get notified when one opens instead of refreshing the calendar yourself. It also introduced Express or Instant booking, the same-day, location-based feature covered above as Instant Track.

Nusuk typically opens an attendance confirmation button about 48 hours before your slot, due roughly 2 hours beforehand. Your QR code appears in that same 2-hour window, which is normal, not a sign of an error.

These details change without much notice, so treat this as a starting point and double-check your booking status in the app close to your travel dates.

How to Get a Rawdah Permit Through Nusuk (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Download and Register

Get the Nusuk app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, published by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah specifically. Register using your passport and visa numbers, entered exactly as they appear on your documents. This ties into Saudi Digital Identity Services in the background, so a mismatch here is enough to stall your whole registration.

Step 2: Find the Rawdah Visit Service

Go to Prophet’s Mosque Services inside the app and choose the option matching your gender.

Step 3: Select Date and Time Slot

Rawdah Permit booking windows are reported inconsistently across sources, generally somewhere between 3 and 14 days before the visit date, so don’t assume a fixed number. Check as soon as your visa is confirmed, since popular slots fill within minutes.

Step 4: Confirm Booking

Review your name, gender selection, and date and time before confirming. Nusuk then generates your permit with a QR code.

Step 5: Entry Using Your Digital Permit

Arrive at least 30 minutes early, head to your assigned gate, and show your QR code to security. Once inside, you typically get 10 to 15 minutes to pray before staff ask you to move along.

Stage	Action	Tip
Registration	Create your Nusuk account	Double-check every digit
Service Selection	Choose Rawdah visit	Confirm the right gender option
Appointment	Select an available slot	Book as early as the window allows
Confirmation	Save your digital permit	Screenshot the QR code as backup

Booking as a Group Using the Friends Feature

If you’re travelling with family or friends of the same gender, Nusuk’s Friends feature lets you book one appointment together instead of hunting for slots separately. Add the other person using their Nusuk ID, then select both profiles when reserving. Everyone still needs their own account, and only the same gender can be grouped under one booking.

What Happens After You Arrive at the Prophet’s Mosque

Booking the permit is only half the picture. Here’s what actually happens once you’re standing outside the mosque.

Where to go: Head to the courtyard well before your slot. Your permit shows your assigned gate, and gate numbers can differ by gender and time of day, so trust your own permit over a number you saw elsewhere. Mosque staff and signage in the courtyard also point pilgrims toward the right entrance if you’re unsure.

Security and waiting: Expect a bag check before the gate, so carry only your phone with the QR code visible and your ID. There’s almost always a queue, and it can take a while during busy periods like Ramadan or around Hajj season, so bring water if you can and plan to be patient.

Entry and time management: Show your QR code at the front of the queue, then follow staff directions through security toward the Rawdah rather than trying to move ahead on your own. Once inside, you get roughly 10 to 15 minutes before staff signal it’s time to move on. That’s not staff being unkind; it’s simply how they keep the space moving for the next group waiting behind you.

For help planning the rest of your stay around this visit, majmua covers the wider trip beyond just the permit.

Rawdah Permit Without Nusuk App or Old Tawakkalna Access

Some pilgrims searching for this still remember Tawakkalna, but that app was actually Saudi Arabia’s general health-passport and government-services app, not the Rawdah booking platform itself. The app that specifically handled Umrah and Rawdah bookings was called Eatmarna, and it was renamed Nusuk in 2022 after taking on expanded features. Nusuk is now the only official channel for booking a Rawdah permit. There’s no walk-in option and no separate portal that gets you in without a Nusuk-issued QR code, and security only recognizes the permit generated inside Nusuk itself.

Rawdah Permit Rules and Visiting Guidelines (Visiting Rules & Etiquette)

Dress Code

Modest clothing is expected throughout the mosque, including inside the Rawdah.

Behaviour Inside the Rawdah

Keep your voice down, follow staff directions, and stay mindful that others are praying in a crowded space alongside you.

Time and Appointment Rules

Stick to your assigned slot, not earlier, hoping to get in ahead of time, and not later, hoping staff will still let you through. Missing it can mean losing that appointment entirely, with no guarantee of another one soon.

Rawdah Permit Booking Problems and Solutions (Troubleshooting)

Why Slots Show Unavailable

Rawdah Permit booking can become more difficult during peak seasons such as Ramadan and school holidays, when demand for available slots increases significantly. If your travel dates are flexible, understanding the best time to perform Umrah can help you plan around heavier crowds and periods of higher Rawdah appointment demand.

Common Nusuk Errors

Problem	Likely Fix
Can’t log in	Recheck your passport and visa number for typos
No slots visible	Check during release windows, often on the hour or half hour
Booking fails partway through	Verify your account information is complete
Permit missing after booking	Log out and back in to refresh your account
Confirmed but QR not showing	Normal. It typically appears about 2 hours before your slot

What to Do If No Slots Are Ever Available

Try checking at unusual hours, since cancellations happen and new slots can appear outside peak times. Join the waitlist inside the app if it’s offered for your dates, since you’ll get notified automatically if a spot opens instead of having to keep checking manually. If you’re already in Medina, look into Instant Track as a same-day option instead of only refreshing the advance calendar.

Self Booking vs Rawdah Permit Assistance Service

Self Booking	Agency Assistance
You handle registration and monitoring yourself	Someone experienced guides you through it
Requires comfort with the app’s quirks	Reduces guesswork, especially for first-timers
Fine if you have time to check regularly	Useful if you’re short on time or the app keeps failing

Agency help usually means someone walking you through account setup so a typo doesn’t stall your registration, watching the calendar for openings around your travel dates, and helping sort out what went wrong if a booking fails. You still need your own account and permit under your own name, since that part can’t be handed off, but having someone else track timing and catch mistakes early takes real stress off your plate. 

Final Thoughts

Getting into the Rawdah comes down to preparation more than luck. Book early, know whether the 365-day rule or Instant Track applies to you, and keep your QR code ready before you reach the gate. If any part of this feels overwhelming,Majmua’s Umrah planning team can help you sort out your Nusuk registration and Rawdah timing alongside the rest of your Medina stay, so your one chance in that blessed space isn’t left to chance.

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