What if I arrive after the khutbah for Jumu'ah?

Join the imam straight away. If you catch at least one full rak'ah of Jumu'ah with the imam, you add one more rak'ah after the imam's salam, and it counts as Jumu'ah. If you arrive after the second rak'ah's bowing, most scholars say you pray Dhuhr (four rak'ahs) instead. You will have missed the khutbah, which is a loss, but not the prayer.

Why Jumu'ah is different

Jumu'ah is a two-rak'ah congregational prayer that replaces Dhuhr on Fridays. It is preceded by the khutbah (sermon), which most scholars see as a required part of Jumu'ah. The Quran calls believers to hurry to it:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ "O believers! When the call to prayer is made on Friday, then proceed [diligently] to the remembrance of Allah and leave off [your] business. That is best for you, if only you knew." Quran 62:9

If you catch a rak'ah with the imam

The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever catches up with a rak'ah of Jumu'ah or of any other prayer has caught the prayer, and it is complete (Sunan an-Nasa'i 557). Based on this, the majority of scholars (Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali) say:

If you join before the imam rises from the bowing (ruku') of the second rak'ah, you have caught Jumu'ah.
After the imam says salam, stand and pray one more rak'ah to complete the two.

If you miss the second rak'ah

If you join after the imam has risen from the second bowing, for example in the final sitting, the majority view is that you did not catch Jumu'ah. Intend Dhuhr and pray it fully, four rak'ahs, after the imam's salam. The Hanafi school differs: they say that if you join the imam any time before the final salam, even in the last sitting, you complete the two rak'ahs of Jumu'ah. If you are unsure, follow the practice of your local mosque or ask the imam.

What about the khutbah?

The two sermons are a core part of Jumu'ah, so arriving early is best. If you miss them, you have still joined the congregation and can benefit from the reminder at the end. Keep going and make Friday a priority. For better planning, see What happens at Friday prayer? and How many rakat is Jumu'ah prayer?

Tips for being on time

Plan to arrive 20 to 30 minutes before the khutbah starts, especially in cities where parking is hard.
Ask your employer in advance about a longer lunch break. See Is Friday prayer compulsory?

For other late prayers, see What if I join the congregation late?

Key points

Always join the imam immediately.
Catching one rak'ah means you add one and it is Jumu'ah.
If you miss it, most scholars say pray Dhuhr; the Hanafi view differs.
Try to arrive before the khutbah.

Tip: Leave earlier on Fridays than you think you need to; traffic and parking are the most common reasons people are late.