Saudi Arabia announces date for issuing Hajj visas 2026

2026-02-06 - 04:06

JEDDAH – The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced that the issuance of visas for Hajj 2026 will begin on February 8. The ministry said the early start to the visa process aims to ensure the timely completion of Hajj preparations and to provide better services to pilgrims. The ministry also reported that 100% of the agreements for services provided to international pilgrims have been completed, and all accommodation agreements in Makkah have been finalized through the Nusuk platform. As of now, 750,000 pilgrims have registered for Hajj 2026, with 30,000 already booking their Hajj packages directly from their respective countries. The ministry emphasized that this early commencement of visa issuance reflects proactive planning for Hajj, which will help streamline the arrangements and improve the efficiency of services provided to millions of pilgrims from around the world. Hajj 2026 Biometric The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has announced a deadline for all Hajj 2026 pilgrims to complete their biometric registration for visa processing by February 8. A spokesperson for the Ministry stated that pilgrims can seek assistance from their respective banks for biometric verification, especially if they face difficulties with the new Saudi Visa Bio App for fingerprint or registration confirmation from home. To facilitate the process, six Tasheer Centers have been established nationwide. The ministry stressed that the Saudi Visa Bio App should be the primary tool for registration, which can be easily downloaded from mobile app stores. Pilgrims are required to register via email on the app, upload a passport scan, take a selfie, and provide fingerprint verification for both hands. After completing these steps, a confirmation email will be sent, which should be retained for further processing. For those facing issues with the app, they can visit the established Tasheer Centers across the country or receive assistance from their respective bank branches. Tasheer Centers Locations Islamabad: Public Trade Center, 3rd Floor, Sector G-9 Lahore: The Enterprise Building, 1 km from Thokar Niaz Baig, Multan Road Karachi: Block A, Ground Floor, FTC Building, Shahrah-e-Faisal Peshawar: 3rd Floor, Al-Haj Tower, Main University Road Multan: 2nd Floor, Crystal Mall, Near Osmanabad Colony, Bosan Road Quetta: Mimar Plaza, Khokh Road, Quetta Cantt These centers will be open from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.