The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has reaffirmed February 8, 2026, as the final deadline for submitting pilgrims’ data and completing group formations on the Nusuk Masar registration platform, a mandatory requirement for visa issuance for the 2026 Hajj exercise.
The ministry also confirmed March 20, 2026, as the closing date for processing Hajj visas, stressing that failure to meet the earlier data submission deadline may prevent intending pilgrims and officials from participating in this year’s pilgrimage.
The clarification was made during a virtual meeting tagged Official Schedule of Operations, held on February 4, 2026, between the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and representatives of participating Hajj countries. The meeting focused on reinforcing compliance with key operational guidelines ahead of the commencement of visa processing scheduled to begin on February 8.
Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Mr. Abdallah Awad Alshehri, who presided over the meeting, highlighted several mandatory conditions that must be fulfilled before pilgrims’ groupings can be approved for visa processing.
Among the requirements is the payment of a consolidated guarantee covering all pilgrims. Countries and operators must also identify pilgrims performing Hajj under the Tumattu’i and Qiran categories and ensure payment for sacrificial animals, known as Hadaya, through the Nusuk Masar portal. However, pilgrims who choose to observe fasting instead of offering sacrificial animals are exempted from the payment but must still be properly documented.
Authorities also directed participating countries to clearly categorize pilgrims under the three recognised Hajj rites— Ifrad, Tumattu’i, and Qiran— while specifying those opting for fasting in place of Hadaya.
Another key requirement for visa approval is the completion of medical service contracts through the Nusuk Masar platform. The contract must be executed with accredited medical service providers operating within Saudi Arabia.
Additionally, Saudi authorities introduced a new policy requiring participating countries to secure backup accommodation in Makkah equivalent to one percent of their pilgrims’ quota. The arrangement is intended to serve as contingency lodging in case of emergencies. For instance, a country with 40,000 pilgrims will be required to reserve additional accommodation for approximately 400 pilgrims, even if the facility is not immediately utilised.
Officials warned that pilgrims and support personnel whose passports and biodata are not uploaded onto the Nusuk Masar platform before the February 8 deadline risk missing the 2026 Hajj exercise entirely.
In a related development, the Saudi Arabian delegation in Nigeria disclosed that full implementation of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) governing pilgrim airlift operations will commence in 2027. The agreement mandates equal passenger sharing between Nigerian and Saudi airlines on a 50/50 basis. However, Saudi authorities agreed to maintain the existing concessionary ratio of 40/60 for the 2026 Hajj operations.
The meeting also addressed measures aimed at improving the Umrah visa process while tackling issues of visa violations and overstaying in the Kingdom. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) requested details of tour operator companies previously linked to absconding pilgrims to enable enforcement of sanctions.
Tour operators were consequently advised to strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure pilgrims adhere strictly to visa conditions and return to their home countries within the stipulated validity period.
The update was conveyed by the Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations at NAHCON, Fatima Sanda Usara.
