UK pilgrims preparing for Umrah need a valid meningococcal ACWY vaccination at least ten days before Saudi arrival, should carry their certificate, and need a travel health assessment for routine vaccines and any additional requirements linked to health or itinerary.
Preparing for Umrah brings excitement, but health paperwork can cause unnecessary stress. This guide explains which vaccinations UK pilgrims need, when to arrange them and how to check an existing certificate. It also covers published vaccine prices, additional requirements for certain travellers, and practical questions to ask a local clinic. Families will find guidance on preparing documents and arranging appointments alongside their travel plans. Every journey is different, particularly when visiting another country before Saudi Arabia. Checking the details early gives pilgrims more time to focus on worship, family, and the journey ahead, with fewer last-minute surprises along the way. The 2026 rules below should not be treated as confirmed rules for future seasons.
Planning the wider journey? Explore Umrah packages from the UK.
What vaccinations do I need for Umrah in the UK?
MenACWY is the main compulsory vaccination for Umrah under current guidance. Additional requirements depend on the traveller’s health and itinerary, while routine vaccinations should also be checked.
The UK government’s pilgrimage guidance states that pilgrims must have a valid ACWY vaccination certificate, with vaccination completed at least ten days before arrival.
A family visiting relatives abroad before Umrah may need different advice from pilgrims travelling directly from Britain. The clinic should assess the complete route, including stopovers. TravelHealthPro’s Saudi Arabia guidance.
How many vaccines are compulsory for Umrah and Hajj from September 2026 onwards?
For a UK pilgrim travelling directly from Britain, with no additional health or itinerary-based requirements, MenACWY is the single core compulsory vaccine under the guidance checked on 24 September 2026. There is no fixed number of new injections that every pilgrim must receive.
An existing vaccination may qualify if its type, date, and documentation meet the rules. Other requirements apply only to particular travellers.
| Vaccine or evidence | Umrah: published 2026 requirements | Hajj: published 2026 requirements |
| Meningococcal ACWY | Required under current pilgrimage guidance | Required for pilgrims |
| COVID-19 vaccination or immunity evidence | Required for specified groups | Required for specified groups |
| Polio | Required for arrivals from countries listed by Saudi authorities | Required for arrivals from listed countries |
| Yellow fever | Required for eligible arrivals from listed risk countries; certain transit journeys can also trigger requirements | Required for eligible arrivals from listed risk countries |
| Seasonal flu and routine vaccines | Discuss with a clinician; not a universal requirement for additional injections for every UK pilgrim | Seasonal flu is recommended, and routine vaccinations should be up to date |
Sources: Saudi 2026 Umrah requirements, Saudi 2026 Hajj requirements, and TravelHealthPro.
Does every pilgrim need four separate injections?
No. The categories above do not mean that every traveller needs four injections. The number of doses depends on previous vaccinations, age, medical circumstances, and the journey.
For example:
- A qualifying MenACWY vaccination and certificate may remove the need for another MenACWY dose.
- Arriving from a country on Saudi Arabia’s polio list may create an additional requirement.
- Someone covered by the COVID-19 rules may already hold acceptable vaccination or immunity evidence.
A travel clinician should check these details before recommending further doses.
Are the vaccine requirements for Hajj 2027 and Umrah in 2027 confirmed?
Final 2027 requirements could not be verified from the official Saudi sources checked on 24 September 2026. The ministry’s pilgrimage page still linked documents labelled 1447H (2026).
For late-2026 Umrah, pilgrims should check current advice again before departure. For Hajj 2027 and Umrah in 2027 onwards, requirements must be confirmed against the guidance applicable to that journey.
The Saudi Ministry of Health’s pilgrimage requirements page is the starting point for official updates.
Is the meningitis vaccine required for Umrah?
Yes. Current guidance requires vaccination covering meningococcal groups A, C, W, and Y. A meningitis B vaccination does not replace MenACWY.
The meningitis ACWY vaccine, also called the MenACWY vaccine, is commonly described as the Umrah vaccine or Umrah injection. Pilgrims should confirm the product when booking.
Protection matters beyond entry paperwork. UKHSA reported five MenW cases during February and March 2025 among people who had returned from Saudi Arabia or their close contacts in England and Wales. UKHSA’s vaccination advice.
How long does an Umrah vaccination certificate last?
A conjugate ACWY vaccination qualifies for five years under current entry rules. A polysaccharide ACWY vaccination qualifies for three years, with both requiring at least ten days before arrival.
| Detail | Conjugate ACWY vaccine | Polysaccharide ACWY vaccine |
| Entry validity | Five years | Three years |
| Who it suits | UK pilgrims following clinical assessment | Travellers with an existing qualifying vaccination record |
| UK availability | Recommended option | No longer available in the UK |
| Cost information | Confirm the vaccine product and total fee with the clinic | No current UK price range available |
These are validity periods for pilgrimage entry. Individual vaccination needs should still be assessed by a clinician. TravelHealthPro.
If the certificate does not identify the vaccine type, Saudi guidance treats it as valid for three years only. Saudi Ministry of Health requirements.
How much does vaccination for Umrah cost in the UK?
Private MenACWY prices vary between providers. Pilgrims should compare the total charge for the consultation, vaccination and certificate.
Published examples checked for this article include:
| Provider | Published MenACWY price | Certificate information |
| Tesco Pharmacy | £50 | States that a vaccination certificate is provided |
| Ways Pharmacy, Holborn | £60 | Lists the service with a Hajj and Umrah certificate |
These are examples, not a nationwide minimum or maximum. Confirm current prices, eligibility and availability before booking. Tesco Pharmacy, Ways Pharmacy.
Include vaccination expenses when planning the overall budget. See Umrah costs from the UK.
Where can pilgrims find an Umrah vaccine near me in the UK?
Pilgrims can arrange MenACWY vaccination through providers in Birmingham, Manchester, London, Bradford and Leicester. The centres below advertise the service and publish their addresses and opening hours online.
Opening hours and vaccination availability may change, so contact the clinic before visiting to confirm appointment times, eligibility, fees and certificate provision.
| City | Vaccination provider | Address | Published opening hours |
| Birmingham | Whites Pharmacy and Travel Clinic | 788 Alcester Road South, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 5EZ | Monday–Thursday: 9am–1pm and 2pm–6pm. Friday: 9am–1pm and 2pm–6:15pm. Saturday–Sunday: closed. |
| Manchester | Beech Road Pharmacy | 101 Beech Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, M21 9EQ | Monday–Friday: 9am–6pm. Saturday: 10am–4pm. Sunday: closed. |
| London | Ways Pharmacy, Holborn | 77 Southampton Row, Holborn, London, WC1B 4ET | Monday–Friday: 9am–6pm. Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays: closed. |
| Bradford | Travel Clinic Bradford — The Care Pharmacy | 214 Huddersfield Road, Bradford, BD12 0AD | Monday–Friday: 9am–1pm and 2pm–6pm. Saturday–Sunday: closed. |
| Leicester | Leicester Clinic — Asha Pharmacy | 3 The Parkway, Leicester, LE5 2BB | Monday–Friday: 9:30am–1pm and 2pm–6:30pm. Saturday: 9am–1pm. Sunday and bank holidays: closed. |
Official provider details and booking links:
- Birmingham: Whites Pharmacy opening hours and MenACWY appointment booking. Telephone: 0121 430 5435.
- Manchester: Beech Road Pharmacy travel clinic. Telephone: 0161 881 3865.
- London: Ways Pharmacy vaccination appointments. Telephone: 020 8106 7084.
- Bradford: Travel Clinic Bradford MenACWY service and address and opening hours. Telephone: 01274 600785.
- Leicester: Asha Pharmacy MenACWY service and opening hours. Telephone: 0116 274 3200.
Whites Pharmacy’s hours above follow its own website; some directory listings show different weekday closing times. Vaccination appointments may differ from general pharmacy opening hours.
These independently operated providers are listed for practical reference. Their inclusion does not establish a partnership with Al Marwah Travel UK or mean vaccination is included in an Umrah package.
Who needs additional vaccinations for Umrah in 2026?
Some pilgrims face extra requirements because of their health or route. A clinic should assess these separately from the core MenACWY requirement.
Saudi Arabia’s 2026 Umrah document requires COVID-19 vaccination or immunity evidence for specified groups. These include people over 65, pregnant women, and people with certain listed chronic illnesses or immune conditions.
Accepted evidence includes specified vaccination histories or laboratory-confirmed recovery within the periods stated in the document. A clinician should check the exact criteria. Official Saudi requirements.
Hepatitis A or B vaccination may also be appropriate following an individual assessment. These should not be presented as compulsory for every UK pilgrim. TravelHealthPro.
Do you need a vaccination for Umrah if previously vaccinated?
A previous vaccination may still qualify. Its date, type, and certificate should be checked before another injection is arranged.
If records are incomplete, contact the original provider. The clinician can assess whether documentation can be supplied or further vaccination is needed.
Can children receive the Umrah vaccine?
Yes, with the vaccine and schedule assessed according to age. TravelHealthPro reports that the pilgrimage requirement applies from age one.
Parents travelling with younger infants should seek individual advice. A pharmacy’s minimum service age may differ from vaccine eligibility. TravelHealthPro.
Can the vaccine be given fewer than ten days before arrival?
A new vaccination inside that window does not meet the published timing requirement. Last-minute travellers should contact their clinic and travel organiser promptly. UK government guidance.
An existing valid vaccination record may be relevant, so previous documents should be checked.
Is the certificate needed if other pilgrims were not checked?
UK guidance requires valid vaccination documentation. Another traveller’s experience does not change the published requirement. FCDO pilgrimage advice.
Keep the certificate accessible with the passport and travel documents.
Are vaccines included in an Umrah package?
Vaccination should only be treated as included when the package details explicitly confirm it. An offer of guidance does not necessarily include the appointment, injection, or certificate fee.
Before paying, ask for written confirmation of what is covered and who provides the vaccination. Clinical suitability should always be assessed by a qualified healthcare professional.
Medical disclaimer: This article provides general travel health information and does not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Vaccine requirements, prices, clinic hours, and entry rules can change. Pilgrims should check current Saudi Ministry of Health guidance and consult a pharmacist, GP, or travel clinic before departure.
Ready to plan Umrah with Al Marwah Travel UK?
Contact Al Marwah Travel UK for guidance on Umrah packages that suit the traveller’s budget, dates, and family needs. Ask about vaccination arrangements when discussing the booking.
Before confirming a package, request clear details of accommodation, transport, and any vaccination support offered. Vaccine appointments, fees, and certificates should only be treated as included when confirmed in the package details.
Book now with Al Marwah Travel UK: Contact Al Marwah Travel UK to discuss Umrah packages and vaccination arrangements.
