Umrah Planning Guide
ভিসা, খরচ আর মৌসুম — ওমরাহর আগে যা জানা দরকার
Smaller than Hajj and open year-round, but prices, visas and crowds swing hard by season. Here is how probashi plan Umrah from abroad or from Dhaka.
Two ways Bangladeshis perform Umrah
The classic route is a package through a licensed operator — booked from Dhaka before you fly home, or from an agency in your country of residence for Gulf- and Western-based probashi. The newer route is an electronic Umrah visa through Saudi Arabia's Nusuk platform, available to residents of eligible countries.
Both routes need a passport valid for at least six months. Confirm current visa categories on Nusuk or with your operator before paying anything — Saudi rules are updated frequently.
Documents and health rules
Prepare the passport, passport-size photos and a meningococcal (ACWY) vaccination certificate — the ACWY shot is the long-standing requirement for Umrah pilgrims. Women's mahram requirements have been relaxed for organized groups in recent years, but confirm the current rule with your operator before booking.
What it costs
Budget three parts: the visa fee, the package (flights, hotels, transport), and your own spending. Packages from Dhaka are typically much cheaper than packages from North America or Europe, which is why many Western probashi combine Umrah with their regular home visit and travel from Dhaka.
Ramadan and school-holiday seasons are peak pricing; the months after Eid (Shawwal through Dhul Qi'dah) are typically the calmest and cheapest window, with thinner crowds in both Harams.
Choosing an agency
Book only with Saudi-licensed operators, and read what the package actually includes: hotel distance from the Haram in Makkah and Madinah, intercity transport, Ziyarah tours and meals are where cheap packages quietly cut corners. Avoid unlicensed middlemen, pay by traceable methods and keep receipts until you are back.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Umrah and Hajj?
Hajj happens only in the fixed days of Dhul Hijjah with a country quota managed through official Hajj arrangements, while Umrah can be performed any time outside the Hajj season and needs no quota.
I hold a foreign passport with an NVR seal. How do I apply?
Saudi visas follow your travel passport, not your Bangladesh status. Apply as a citizen of the country that issued the passport you will fly on; the NVR seal only matters for entering Bangladesh.
Which months are cheapest?
Typically the months after Eid al-Fitr until before the Hajj season — Shawwal through Dhul Qi'dah — when hotels drop their peak rates and both Harams are less crowded.
Can women travel without a mahram?
Saudi Arabia has relaxed mahram rules for organized Umrah groups in recent years, with conditions set by the current rules. Confirm the exact requirement with your operator at booking time rather than relying on older accounts.