Umrah packing checklist from Kerala: what to take (and what not to)

For Umrah from Kerala, pack your travel documents and vaccination certificate, two sets of ihram (for men) or loose modest clothing (for women), comfortable sandals, medicines in their original packs, and a little cash. Leave behind anything on Saudi Arabia’s prohibited list, and follow the airline’s Zamzam rule on the way home. The rules below are from official Saudi sources, checked on 22 September 2026.

Documents

• Passport (with at least six months’ validity) and a photocopy kept separately
• Umrah visa, printed and saved on your phone
• Umrah permit in the Nusuk app (and a Rawdah permit if you have one)
• Meningococcal ACYW vaccination certificate — compulsory for Umrah pilgrims
• COVID-19 vaccination proof if you are over 65, pregnant, or have one of the listed chronic illnesses
• Flight tickets, hotel vouchers and the phone number of your group leader or agent
• Medical records and prescriptions for any medicines you carry

Ihram and clothing for men

• Two sets of ihram — each set is two unstitched white cloths (one for the waist, one for the shoulders)
• An ihram belt or pouch for money and your phone
• Loose, comfortable clothes for after Umrah and for Madinah
• A light jacket or shawl for air-conditioned mosques and buses

Clothing for women

• Loose, modest clothing that covers the body; the head is covered, and the face and hands stay uncovered in ihram
• Two or three abayas or long dresses and several scarves
• Comfortable inner layers for long walks
• A light shawl for air-conditioned areas

Footwear

• Comfortable sandals that you can slip on and off quickly, broken in before the trip
• A small drawstring bag to carry your footwear inside the mosque
• A spare pair — sandals get lost at busy entrances

Health and personal care

• Your regular medicines in their original packs, with prescriptions
• A small first-aid kit: plasters, pain relief, ORS sachets, blister care
• Unscented soap, shampoo and deodorant for while you are in ihram
• Sunscreen, lip balm and a small umbrella for the sun
• Reusable water bottle

Controlled medicines (narcotic or psychotropic) need a permit from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority before you travel, applied for online at cds.sfda.gov.sa. Ask your doctor whether any of your medicines fall into this group.

Money, phone and travel gadgets

• Some Saudi riyals in cash and a card that works abroad
• Phone with the Nusuk app installed and logged in
• Power bank, charging cables and a universal travel adapter
• A small notebook with your hotel name, address and emergency numbers written down

The Reserve Bank of India allows Umrah pilgrims to take foreign exchange up to the full USD 250,000 annual limit in cash, or the limit set by the Haj Committee. Most pilgrims only need a small amount.

Saudi customs: cash and valuables

Saudi customs (ZATCA) requires travellers to declare cash, gold, jewellery and precious stones worth SAR 40,000 or more, both when entering and when leaving the Kingdom, and to declare goods worth more than SAR 3,000.

What not to pack

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah lists these as prohibited for pilgrims:

• Drugs, intoxicants and unapproved pills
• Immoral or offensive publications and media
• Counterfeit coins or currency
• Fireworks and firecrackers
• Chewing tobacco
• Weapons, including replicas
• Laser pens

Bringing Zamzam water home

• Saudia allows one sealed Zamzam pack of up to 5 litres per passenger from Madinah free of charge; from other airports (except Jeddah Terminal 1) it counts within your free baggage allowance.
• Zamzam must travel as its own package — never inside your checked suitcase.
• At Madinah airport, 5-litre Zamzam bottles are sold for SAR 12.50, one per passenger.
• Rules differ by airline, so check with your airline (or ask us) before you fly home.

Printable Umrah checklist

Planning your Umrah? Read our step-by-step Umrah guide and see our Umrah packages from Kozhikode.

Frequently asked questions

How much Zamzam water can I bring back from Umrah?

Saudia allows one sealed pack of up to 5 litres per passenger, carried as a separate package and never inside your checked suitcase. Other airlines set their own rules, so confirm before you fly.

How much cash can I take for Umrah?

The Reserve Bank of India allows Umrah pilgrims up to the full USD 250,000 annual limit in cash. On arrival in Saudi Arabia, you must declare cash and valuables worth SAR 40,000 or more.

Can I carry my regular medicines for Umrah?

Yes — keep them in their original packs with your prescriptions. Narcotic or psychotropic medicines need a Saudi Food and Drug Authority permit before you travel.

What should women wear for Umrah?

Loose, modest clothing covering the body, with the head covered and the face and hands uncovered while in ihram.

Customs and airline rules change. This checklist reflects official sources checked on 22 September 2026. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah’s page still shows an older SAR 60,000 cash figure; we follow the current customs (ZATCA) rule of SAR 40,000.

Sources

• Visit Saudi — Hajj and Umrah guide
• Saudi Ministry of Health — Health regulations for Umrah (1447H)
• Saudi Press Agency — SFDA permits for controlled medicines (13 Feb 2025)
• ZATCA — Declaration of cash and precious items (updated 11 Aug 2026)
• Ministry of Hajj and Umrah — Umrah requirements (updated 16 Sep 2026)
• Saudia — Permitted items (Zamzam)
• Tibah Airports (Madinah) — Zamzam sales service
• Reserve Bank of India — FAQs on foreign exchange for travel (28 Nov 2025)