Check Your Umrah Agent's Contract Is Attested by the Pakistan Ministry: Papers an Agent Must Show
Before you pay an Umrah agent in Pakistan, ask about contract attestation. The ministry form lists a Rs 5,000 fee, IATA membership and a tourism licence.
Short answer: Before you pay for an Umrah package, ask your agent whether the Saudi contract has been attested by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The ministry's form lists a Rs 5,000 fee, a valid tourism department licence, IATA membership for 2026 and a contract checked by the Foreign Office. Ask to see proof.
A glossy brochure, a fair price and a friendly agent are easy to find. What you cannot see is the contract between that agent and the Saudi company that will house and move you. That contract is what the ministry checks.
We read the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Umrah updates page and its attestation form for 2026 on 14 October 2026. The form is written for travel agencies, not for pilgrims. We use it to show you what a careful agent should be able to prove.
The ministry attests the contract between the agent and the Saudi company
An Umrah agent in Pakistan works with a Saudi Umrah company. The ministry's form is called an application for attestation of a contract agreement, and the agent files it. The ministry can withdraw the attestation if the agent makes a false statement or breaks the rules.
The ministry posted the required documents on 15 July 2026. The covering note is dated 14 July 2026 and signed by its Section Officer for Umrah. So the form is recent.
It does not replace your own checks. A paper stamped by the ministry helps, but it does not guarantee that a hotel or a flight is as promised. Treat it as one test among several.
The form asks the agent for twelve items
The checklist covers the agent's profile, the Saudi company's profile, a signed contract, package details, a tourism licence, IATA membership, a stamp paper undertaking, a no-complaint certificate, other registrations, bank accounts, three specimen signatures and the Rs 5,000 attestation fee.
| Item on the ministry form | What it asks for |
|---|---|
| Saudi contract | Every page signed and stamped, and attested or checked by the Foreign Office in Islamabad |
| Tourism licence | From the Department of Tourism Services, with 6 months of validity left |
| IATA membership | Valid for 2026, or a renewal fee receipt, and proof of validity by 28 February 2027 |
| Undertaking | On Rs 500 stamp paper |
| No pending complaint certificate | From the Department of Tourist Services |
| Bank accounts | Saudi and Pakistani accounts of both parties |
| Attestation fee | Rs 5,000 by challan |
IATA is the International Air Transport Association, the body that accredits travel agents who sell airline tickets. DTS is the Department of Tourism Services, which licenses tour operators.
The undertaking tells you what the agent has promised
In the undertaking, the agent says it is not blacklisted by Saudi Arabia, will follow Saudi and ministry rules, will give the ministry package details with hotels and transport, and will report pilgrim data monthly. It also agrees that the ministry decides any pilgrim complaint.
The undertaking also says female clients will travel with a mehram, a male guardian, as Saudi Arabia requires. We did not check the current Saudi rule, so confirm it with the visa platform before you book for a woman travelling without family. Our Umrah visa and Nusuk guide covers the visa side.
One line stands out. The agent must state how many pilgrims it sent in 2025-26, how many returned and how many did not. That is the ministry asking the agent to account for its own people.
Ask the agent four things before you pay
Ask for the attested contract details, the tourism licence, the IATA proof and the full package in writing, with hotel names, distances and flights. A good agent answers quickly. One who changes the subject has told you something.
- Ask whether the Saudi contract is attested by the ministry, and for the date.
- Ask to see the tourism licence and the IATA membership for 2026.
- Get the package, hotels, flights and price in writing.
- Pay in a way that leaves a record, and keep every receipt.
For the other half of the check, the agent's licence, see how to check that a Hajj or Umrah agent is licensed. Food vouchers and other package details are covered in the Umrah food voucher rules.
We could not confirm whether the ministry publishes a public list of attested agents. The page titled Attested Umrah Tour Operators showed only the document table when we read it. So ask the agent for proof and, if you doubt it, ask the ministry directly on (+92) 51 9207161 or at info@mora.gov.pk.
Report a problem to the ministry
The agent has agreed in writing that the ministry will decide any pilgrim complaint, and that the agent will comply. So a complaint to the ministry has weight. Keep your contract, receipts, messages and any photos of the problem, and send them together.
For the complaint steps, read how to complain about a Hajj or Umrah operator. File early. Evidence is easier to gather while you are still on the trip, and the ministry can only act on what you show it.
Common questions
What does attestation of an Umrah contract mean?
The agent files its Saudi contract with the ministry, which checks the agent's papers and attests the contract. The ministry can withdraw it later.
How much does the agent pay for attestation?
The ministry's form lists Rs 5,000, paid by challan. The agent pays it, not the pilgrim.
Does attestation guarantee a good Umrah trip?
No. It shows the agent passed the ministry's paper check. Hotels, flights and food still need your own checks.
What licence must an Umrah agent hold?
The form asks for a valid licence from the Department of Tourism Services, with at least 6 months of validity left, and IATA membership for 2026.
Can I see a list of attested agents?
We could not confirm a public list. Ask the agent for proof, or contact the ministry.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 14 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony site, its Umrah updates page and the Umrah contract attestation form for 2026. We have not read the Umrah Rules 2025 and could not check how long an attestation lasts. Confirm everything with the ministry before you pay an agent.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
