Hajj from India · checked 2026-09-19

Hajj from India: how the national system works

Indians get Hajj places through Haj Committee of India (Ministry of Minority Affairs), plus Ministry-approved Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) for the private quota, against a quota of 175,025. Registration, timeline, costs, health documents, embassy and flights, checked against official and national sources.

How Hajj registration works Estimate the cost

2026 quota175,025 pilgrims

Responsible authorityHaj Committee of India (Ministry of Minority Affairs), plus Ministry-approved Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) for the private quota

RouteNational quota system

Hajj 1448 (approx.)Mid-May 2027

Vaccination documentsMeningococcal ACYW

Saudi missionsNew Delhi and Mumbai

Saudia nonstop fromDelhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kozhikode and Lucknow

Umrah visa routeLicensed Umrah operator files it

How Hajj registration works in India

India's quota is divided roughly 70/30 between the government-run Hajj Committee of India (HCoI), which operates through state-level Haj Committees, and private tour operators (PTOs) licensed by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. HCoI applicants apply online during an annual window; when demand exceeds available seats within a category (there are reserved categories for women travelling without a mahram, senior citizens, etc.) selection is by computerized lottery. Selected applicants pay in tranches against a published package cost that varies by embarkation city and accommodation category. PTOs offer higher-cost packages with more flexibility and no lottery. The Ministry and HCoI publish the Hajj policy, embarkation points and payment schedule before each season opens. Keep copies of every registration receipt and payment confirmation, since these are typically what's required to resolve disputes or confirm a place if paperwork is questioned later.

India's Haj Policy 2027 opened applications on 22 June 2026 through the Haj Committee portal and the Haj Suvidha app, with a 20 July 2026 deadline. The national quota is 1,75,025 and is split roughly 70:30 between the Haj Committee and private HGOs (about 52,507 HGO seats). Selection is by lottery when applications exceed the quota. Apply only through the portal, the app or a Ministry-listed HGO.

Step by step

Register with Haj Committee of India during its announced window; most countries open registration many months before Hajj and some run multi-year queues.
If applications exceed the quota, wait for the lottery or queue result; keep your registration current each year if the system requires renewal.
Choose between the government package and a licensed private operator's package where both exist, and pay only through the channels the authority names.
Complete the medical examination and vaccinations in time for the visa file; the national mission submits your details to the Saudi Ministry and receives your visa and Nusuk card.
Attend the pre-departure training and travel with your group on the scheduled flights.

Typical timeline

When	What happens
12 months or more before Hajj	Registration window at Haj Committee of India (Ministry of Minority Affairs), plus Ministry-approved Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) for the private quota; some countries run queues measured in years.
9 to 6 months before	Lottery or queue results; payment deadline; choice of government or licensed private package where both exist.
5 to 2 months before	Medical examination, vaccinations, passport submission; the national mission files visas with the Saudi Ministry.
Dhul Hijjah	Group flights on the mission schedule; Makkah Route countries clear Saudi immigration before departure.

Illustrative order of events; the authority publishes exact dates each season and they move with the Hijri calendar.

What it costs from India

HCoI publishes an official package cost each year that varies by departure city (embarkation point) and accommodation category (e.g. Azizia or green-zone housing in Makkah); PTO packages are priced independently and generally cost more for shorter walking distances or added services. Because the rupee figure changes annually with exchange rates and Saudi service costs, we point to HCoI's current Hajj guidelines and our calculator rather than a fixed number here. Rather than guess, compare current licensed operators' published price lists side by side, since the main cost drivers, hotel distance from the Haram, flight class, and group size, vary more between operators than between years.

The drivers are the same everywhere: camp category in Mina, hotel distance from the Haram in Makkah and Madinah, room sharing, flights from India, and whether meals and internal transport are bundled. See Hajj budgeting and shifting versus non-shifting packages.

Umrah from India while you wait

India is not on the Saudi eVisa list and Indian nationals cannot apply for a standalone Umrah visa on Nusuk themselves. The route is an Umrah operator that is authorised on Nusuk (Nusuk Masar), which files the visa together with a Nusuk hotel and transport booking. Two exceptions let some Indians self-apply for the tourist eVisa: holding a valid US, UK or Schengen visa that has been used at least once, or permanent residence in the US, UK or EU. The tourist eVisa allows Umrah outside the Hajj season.

Full visa guide for Indians →

Vaccines and health documents for Hajj and Umrah from India

These are the Saudi Ministry of Health requirements for Umrah travellers in the 1447 H (2026) edition, read for India specifically. The Hajj list is issued separately each season and is normally the same or stricter. Certificates are checked at the airport of departure and on arrival.

Requirement	What applies to travellers from India
Meningococcal (ACYW) vaccine	Required for every pilgrim from every country: conjugate vaccine within 5 years, or polysaccharide within 3 years, given at least 10 days before arrival.
Polio	Not required for travellers from India in the 1447 H list. Keep routine immunisation up to date.
Yellow fever	Not required for travellers arriving from India. It applies only if you arrive from a listed yellow fever country.
COVID-19	Required only for higher-risk groups (over 65, pregnant, chronic heart, lung or kidney disease, blood disorders, immunodeficiency, cancer, chronic neurological disease): an updated 2025-2026 dose, a completed 2021-2024 primary series, or confirmed infection in 2025.
Recommended	Seasonal influenza vaccine; routine immunisations up to date; carry medication in original packaging with a doctor's note.

Source: Saudi Ministry of Health, Health Requirements for Travelers to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, 1447H. The 1448 H edition may move countries between lists; check the MoH page before you vaccinate.

Saudi embassy and consulates in India

The Saudi Embassy in India is in New Delhi, with a consular post in Mumbai (Consulate-General). Umrah visas are filed electronically by your licensed operator, so most pilgrims never visit. The embassy matters for document attestation, family-visit visas and problems with an application. Opening hours and services are on each mission's page at mofa.gov.sa.

Flying to Jeddah or Madinah from India

Saudia flies nonstop from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kozhikode and Lucknow, with seasonal Ahmedabad and Kolkata flights; Indian carriers and Gulf airlines add many more options.

Jeddah (King Abdulaziz International) is the gateway for Makkah; Madinah (Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International) suits pilgrims starting in Madinah. Gulf carriers, flynas, flyadeal and national airlines also serve these markets, often at lower fares with one stop.

Route list compiled from Saudia's published destinations on 2026-09-19; schedules change by season.

Mistakes to avoid

Registering through a sub-agent who is not on the national authority's approved list.
Missing the payment deadline after selection; unpaid places are reallocated and several countries report thousands of missed visas each year.
Expecting to book Hajj on Nusuk directly. India is not on the Nusuk serviced-countries list, so the national mission is the only route.
Leaving the medical file and vaccinations to the last month.

Practical tips

Apply only through the official HCoI portal or a PTO on the Ministry of Minority Affairs' approved list
Women travelling without a mahram can apply under the dedicated 'without mahram' category
Selection above the quota is by lottery, apply within the window regardless
Check your embarkation city assignment, as travel costs to reach it are your own responsibility
Keep medical fitness certificates ready; they're required before final clearance

Prepare properly

How to perform Hajj, step by step
Health and fitness preparation
How Hajj quotas work
Install the offline companion with the guided days of Hajj and duas

Questions pilgrims ask

Can Indians register for Hajj on Nusuk directly?

No. India is not on the Nusuk direct list; Hajj places come through Haj Committee of India (Ministry of Minority Affairs), plus Ministry-approved Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) for the private quota.

What is India's Hajj quota?

175,025 for 2026 according to the sources on this page. Quotas are agreed with Saudi Arabia each year and can change.

How much does Hajj cost from India?

Which vaccines do Indians need for Hajj?

Meningococcal ACYW. The health table on this page gives the Saudi Ministry of Health rule for India; the Hajj circular is issued separately each season.

Can Indians do Umrah while waiting?

Yes, through a licensed Umrah operator with a Nusuk booking; Umrah has no quota.

Confirm before you pay. Checked on 2026-09-19 against the sources below. Quotas, dates, fees and vaccination lists change every season: confirm with Haj Committee of India (Ministry of Minority Affairs), plus Ministry-approved Haj Group Organisers (HGOs) for the private quota, Nusuk Hajj and the Saudi embassy before booking. Spotted an error? Tell us.