Direct Answer
No. A valid permit is mandatory for all visitors without exception. There is no way to enter the Rawdah without a QR code permit from the Nusuk or Tawakalna app. Guards scan every permit at the gate — no permit means no entry.
This is the most searched question about visiting Riyazul Jannah — and the answer is absolutely clear. In 2026, no permit = no entry. The rules are stricter than ever. The permit system was introduced to manage the 13 million annual visitors the Rawdah now receives, and it is enforced without exception.
Key Takeaways
Why the Permit System Was Introduced
Before the permit system, access to the Rawdah was managed through crowd control alone — guards directing pilgrims in and out with no formal booking. As annual visitor numbers grew from hundreds of thousands to millions, the system became unmanageable. Gulf News confirmed that 13 million Rawdah permits were issued via Nusuk in 2024 — up from 4 million in 2022. Without the permit system, this volume of pilgrims would make a dignified, focused visit impossible for anyone.
The permit system was introduced specifically to give every pilgrim a fair, calm, organised 10 minutes in the most blessed space on earth. It is not a restriction — it is a gift to pilgrims who would otherwise be pushed through in seconds among unmanageable crowds.
“What is between my house and my pulpit is a garden from the gardens of Paradise.”
— Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1196. The permit system ensures every Muslim can stand in this garden with dignity.
📎 Full guide: Duas & Spiritual Guide — Complete Arabic duas with transliteration → https://rawdahmadinah.com/rawdah-permit-guide/
Full duas in Arabic, transliteration and English — including Sayyidul Istighfar, Durood Ibrahim, and duas for parents, health, rizq and Jannah
What Happens If You Try to Enter Without a Permit
You will be turned away at the gate. Guards are stationed at every Rawdah entrance and scan every QR code with handheld devices. Attempting to enter without a permit — or with an expired or invalid permit — will result in being redirected out of the Rawdah entry queue. There is no exception, no way around it, and no supervisor who can override it.
This applies to every visitor regardless of nationality, age, religious status, or how many times they have previously visited. The QR code scan is the entry mechanism — without it, the gate does not open.
The Good News — The Permit Is Free and Quick to Get
The most important thing to understand is that the barrier to getting a permit is not money, not paperwork, and not complexity. The permit is completely free. It takes approximately 5 minutes to book through the Nusuk or Tawakalna app. Anyone with a smartphone and a valid visa can get one.
1. Download the right app for your visa type
Nusuk if you have a Hajj or Umrah visa. Tawakalna if you are a Saudi resident, GCC national, or on a tourist/family/business visa. Both are free on Google Play and App Store.
2. Create an account with your passport or ID
Register using your passport number and visa-linked mobile number. Verification may take 24–48 hours for some nationalities.
3. Book your slot — or use Instant Track
Check for available dates in the next 1–2 weeks. New slots release Thursday and Friday around midnight Saudi time. If you’re physically near the mosque, use Instant Track for an immediate slot refreshing every 20 minutes.
4. Save your QR code and show it at the gate
Screenshot the QR code to your camera roll. Show it at your designated gate. Entry confirmed.
📎 Full step-by-step booking guide — Nusuk & Tawakalna → Rawdah Permit Complete Booking Guide
Can You Visit the Rest of Masjid Nabawi Without a Permit?
Yes — absolutely. The permit requirement applies only to the Rawdah area itself — the green-carpeted space between the Prophet’s ﷺ home and his Minbar. The rest of Masjid Nabawi is completely open to all pilgrims without any permit. You can pray in the mosque, visit the salaam area near the Noble Chamber, pray at the Mihrab Nabawi, and spend as much time as you wish in the general mosque areas without any booking.
What you can do in Masjid Nabawi without a permit
- Pray all five daily prayers in the mosque — one prayer equals 1,000 elsewhere
- Visit the salaam area near the Noble Chamber and send greetings to the Prophet ﷺ
- Pray at the Mihrab Nabawi — where the Prophet ﷺ led congregational prayers
- Attend Tarawih, Tahajjud, and Qiyam al-Layl during Ramadan
- Sit and make dua anywhere in the mosque — the entire mosque is blessed ground
- Visit Masjid Quba, Masjid al-Qiblatayn, and other Madinah sites
