Umrah fraud in India follows a familiar pattern: a low group price, cash collected months ahead, and an “agency” that turns out to be one phone number. The single best defence is knowing the business is real before you pay it. That is why no agency appears on Searchumrah until we have checked it — and why we would rather explain exactly what we check than ask you to trust a badge.
The short answer
Before an agency can appear on Searchumrah, we check it on three fronts. First, credentials: every agency must hold at least one of three — a Saudi Umrah licence (its service-agent number with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj & Umrah, cross-checked on Nusuk / Maqam), IATA accreditation, or — for Indian agencies — Hajj Committee of India registration — alongside business KYC with registration documents for the country they operate in — in India, for example, GST, PAN and a registered address. Second, ground reality: we confirm the agency actually operates, through one or more of a physical visit to the agency’s office, a live video walk-through of the office, references from pilgrims who have travelled with the agency and the agency’s Google Maps listing and public review history. Third, track record: we weigh how many years the agency has been operating — weighed in the decision, not a fixed minimum. A new agency stays hidden from the public site until it passes. Agencies whose government licence we have confirmed carry a gold “Government verified” seal; the rest carry a green “Verified” seal.
Check 1 — Credentials: at least one of three
Every agency must hold at least one of these three credentials. We ask for the document or number and check it, rather than accepting a logo on a website:
- Saudi Umrah licence. The agency’s Umrah service-agent number registered with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj & Umrah, which we cross-check on the Ministry’s Nusuk / Maqam platform.
- IATA accreditation. Accreditation from the International Air Transport Association, the body that authorises travel agencies to issue airline tickets.
- Hajj Committee of India registration. Registration as an approved operator with the Hajj Committee of India.
Alongside the credential, the agency completes business KYC with registration documents for the country they operate in — in India, for example, GST, PAN and a registered address. That ties the listing to a legally registered business, not to an individual.
Why “at least one” and not “all three”? Because each proves something different, and plenty of honest agencies hold only one. A small Umrah specialist may operate under a Saudi Umrah licence without being an IATA ticketing agent; a large IATA agency may not be Hajj Committee registered. Demanding all three would shut out legitimate operators without making anyone safer. What matters is that every agency holds a credential issued by a body outside itself — something it cannot simply claim.
Check 2 — Ground reality: does the agency actually operate?
Paperwork can be real while the business behind it is not. So we also confirm the agency exists and operates, using one or more of these:
- A physical visit to the agency’s office
- A live video walk-through of the office
- References from pilgrims who have travelled with the agency
- The agency’s Google Maps listing and public review history
Which of these we use depends on the agency and where it is. The aim is the same every time: a real office, real staff, and pilgrims who have actually travelled with them.
Check 3 — Track record
We also look at how many years the agency has been operating. It counts in the decision but it is not a fixed cut-off. A new agency with strong credentials and a real office can still be listed, and a long history alone does not get anyone listed. Years in business is evidence, not a pass mark.
What happens until an agency passes
Any agency can sign up, but a new agency is invisible on the public site until the checks are complete. It can set up its profile and packages in the meantime, but it has no public page, does not appear in search or in our agency directory, and its packages are not listed anywhere pilgrims browse. Everything it has prepared goes live at once when it is approved.
What the seals mean
- Green “Verified” seal — the agency passed the checks above.
- Gold “Government verified” seal — we have also confirmed a government-issued licence for the agency. This is the top tier, and it is the only one we allow to be described as government-licensed.
You will see the seal next to the agency's name on its profile, in the directory and on the homepage.
What verification does not mean
We would rather you trust us than be impressed by us, so here are the honest limits:
- It is not a service guarantee. Verification confirms the agency is real, credentialed and operating. It does not promise that every trip will go perfectly. That is what reviews are for, and only pilgrims with a confirmed booking can leave one.
- It is a point-in-time check. Licences lapse and businesses change. For full peace of mind, confirm the agency's Saudi licence yourself (steps below) just before you pay.
- Your payment is protected separately. If you choose to pay through Searchumrah, your money is held by RBI-authorised Razorpay and released to the agent only after you travel. See buyer protection.
How to check an Umrah agency yourself
Whether you book with us or anywhere else, these checks take a few minutes and filter out most fraud:
- Ask the agency for its Saudi Umrah licence (service-agent) number and look it up on the Ministry of Hajj & Umrah's Nusuk / Maqam platform.
- If the agency says it is IATA-accredited, ask for its IATA code and check it with IATA.
- If it says it is Hajj Committee of India registered, ask for the registration number.
- Look up the office on Google Maps, read the reviews, and if you can, visit or ask for a video call from the office.
- Ask for references from pilgrims who travelled with them last season, and speak to one.
For the full list of red flags, including cash-only deals, missing hotel names and vague visa terms, read our 10-point checklist for choosing an Umrah agent. For how we stop agents overstating hotel distances, see why our hotel distances are measured, not typed.