Pilgrims Advised to Complete Hajj 2026 Registration by January 15

Saudi Ministry Sets January 15 Deadline for Registration; March 20 for Visa Issuance
Health Fitness Certificate Mandatory

Hyderabad, December 15: The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has issued fresh guidelines for Indian Hajj Group Operators and private tour operators, setting January 15, 2026 as the final deadline for booking and registration for Hajj 2026, and March 20, 2026 (1 Shawwal) as the last date for visa issuance.

Addressing a press conference at Media Plus Auditorium, Hyderabad, officials of the Hajj Umrah Group Organisers Association, Telangana, stated that pilgrims aspiring to perform Hajj in 2026 must register their names on or before January 15, 2026 (26 Rajab as per the Hijri calendar). The Saudi authorities have clearly indicated that no extension will be granted beyond this date.

The Association’s President, Alhaj Muhammad Abdul Razzaq Qamar, advised pilgrims to book only through recognised and approved Hajj Group Organisers and to ensure that their registration and quota status is confirmed well before the deadline. He further informed that, as announced by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, a health fitness certificate will be mandatory for all Hajj 2026 pilgrims.

According to the advisory of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Affairs, Hajj Group Organisers are responsible for end-to-end planning and arrangements, including visa applications, obtaining health fitness certificates, and securing necessary approvals from Hajj Offices and Medical Missions. These approvals are issued electronically through government-approved hospitals via the MASAR platform prior to visa issuance.

Mr. Qamar also urged pilgrims to carry a copy of their Aadhaar card for entry into Haram Al-Sharif and while visiting other holy sites. He cautioned that pilgrims suffering from serious medical conditions – including heart, kidney, liver, respiratory and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and meningitis, as well as those with neurological or psychological disorders, elderly persons with dementia, pregnant women nearing full term, and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy – will not be permitted to perform Hajj. “Such pilgrims, even if they depart from Hyderabad, may be sent back upon arrival in Saudi Arabia,” he warned.

Appealing to prospective pilgrims, Mr. Qamar said that time is very limited, and urged them to complete bookings and necessary arrangements at the earliest, strictly adhering to the guidelines issued by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

He also informed that the Association has appealed to the Indian Ministry of Minority Affairs (Hajj) to take up the matter with the Saudi authorities seeking an extension of the visa issuance deadline, so that a maximum number of pilgrims may benefit from the opportunity to perform Hajj. Mr. Muhammad Siraj, General Secretary of the Association, along with other office-bearers, was present at the press conference