Documents checklist before you talk to an Umrah travel company

Gathering paperwork early saves a lot of back and forth with the company you book through. This list is a planning aid only. The company and the official Saudi and Pakistani authorities decide what is actually required, so confirm every item with them.

Start with your passport. Look at the expiry date and ask the company how many months of validity they want left. Check that the name is spelled the same way on every document you give them. A small spelling difference between the passport and the booking is a common cause of delays.

Next, keep a few clear passport style photos and scanned copies of the passport page on your phone. Ask the company which format and size they want so you do not have to redo them.

For families, collect the documents of every traveller in one folder. If you are travelling with children or elderly parents, ask what extra papers the company needs from them.

Ask for a written list of what the company will arrange for you and what you must arrange yourself. Keep that list with your copies.

Pakistan Travel Diaries is a Lahore tour company that also arranges Umrah packages. You can read about the packages at https://pakistantraveldiaries.com/umrah-packages/ before you ask anyone for a quote.