Proxy Umre for a living person is permissible when the person is permanently unable to perform Umre themselves due to old age, chronic incurable illness, or permanent physical disability. This ruling is derived by analogy from the hadith of the woman from Khath'am, where Hz. Peygamber permitted proxy Hac for a living elderly father who could not sit on a mount. Since Umre shares the same fundamental rites as Hac, the same ruling applies.
Sheikh Ibn Baz stated that proxy Umre is valid for a living person who is permanently unable to perform it. The person requesting the proxy should be someone with no reasonable expectation of recovery — such as an elderly person or someone with a chronic debilitating condition. A person who is temporarily ill or temporarily unable to travel should wait until they recover, as their condition is not permanent. The proxy must have completed their own farz Umre first.
Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen added that it is not permissible for a healthy, able person to simply send someone else to perform Umre on their behalf out of convenience. The obligation of Umre (for those who hold it farz) is personal and must be fulfilled by the individual when they are able. Proxy worship is an exception granted only for genuine permanent inability. The proxy makes the intention at the miqat on behalf of the living person and performs all the rites as they would for their own Umre.