No Hajj Without Permit: Saudi Arabia Tightens Nusuk Card Checks

Saudi authorities have launched a widescale campaign called ‘No Hajj Without Permit’ or La Hajj Bila Tasrih ahead of the peak Hajj pilgrimage in 2026. Multi-layered checks are now being conducted at every entry gate to Mecca to ensure that pilgrims possess official Hajj visas and a Nusuk card.

Field observations on Tuesday (19 May) showed Saudi police on high alert, checking every vehicle and passenger documents. Pilgrims found without official permission are immediately stopped on the spot and sent to shelters in Jeddah before deportation.

The tightening is not limited to land routes; it has also extended into cyberspace. The Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah, Yusron B. Ambary, revealed that Saudi authorities are conducting aggressive cyber patrols to track illegal Hajj package promotions on social media.

‘We strongly urge caution in promoting or selling non-procedural Hajj packages. Various social media channels and WhatsApp groups are being monitored by Saudi authorities,’ said Yusron.

Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Ichsan Marsha, reminded Indonesian pilgrims not to be enticed by offers of Hajj without an official visa.

‘Do not be tempted to undertake Hajj without an official Hajj visa. That is illegal. The penalties are very severe. In addition to being refused entry to Makkah and deported, the perpetrators may also face substantial fines and be barred from entering Saudi Arabia,’ he said.

The situation in Mecca is currently reported as very crowded, especially in the hours approaching Maghrib and Fajr prayers. This congestion increases the travel time of the Shalawat bus, causing many pilgrims, such as Abdul Aziz from Bekasi, to walk 1–2 kilometres to the Masjid al-Haram to bypass delays caused by document checks at various points.

Penalties for Hajj violations without a permit: