Hajj from Iraq: how the national system works
Iraqis get Hajj places through Supreme Commission for Hajj and Umrah (Iraq), against a quota of 34,000. Registration, timeline, costs, health documents, embassy and flights, checked against official and national sources.
How Hajj registration works in Iraq
Iraq's national quota is divided between the Sunni Endowment and Shia Endowment offices, each of which registers and organizes pilgrims from its own community, alongside a smaller share reserved for licensed private travel offices that operate outside the Endowment system. Citizens register with their relevant Endowment office (or a licensed agency) during an announced window; when demand exceeds the allocation, selection commonly uses either a queue/priority system or a lottery depending on the year and province, with older applicants or first-time pilgrims often given priority over repeat applicants. Selected pilgrims pay a published package price in installments through official channels, and the Endowments coordinate group logistics, visas and travel documentation, including local supervisors who accompany each caravan throughout the journey.
The Supreme Commission runs an electronic lottery across all governorates, including the Kurdistan Region, with exceptions for older applicants and those who have repeatedly missed out; Iraq's annual quota has ranged from 34,000 to 40,000 in recent years. For 2026 the Commission scrapped its 50,000-dinar lottery fee and refunded it, and Kurdistan Region pilgrims travelled by land like the rest of Iraq's contingent.
Step by step
- Register with Supreme Commission for Hajj and Umrah 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 Supreme Commission for Hajj and Umrah (Iraq); 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 Iraq
Iraq's Endowment offices publish an official package price each year in Iraqi dinars, and private licensed offices offer higher-cost alternatives; the exact figure changes annually with Saudi service costs and currency movements. We don't quote a fixed number here, check the relevant Endowment office's current announcement or our calculator. 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 Iraq, and whether meals and internal transport are bundled. See Hajj budgeting and shifting versus non-shifting packages.
Umrah from Iraq while you wait
Iraq is not on the Saudi eVisa list; Iraqis apply through a licensed Umrah company with a Nusuk booking, and land travel via Arar is common. Saudia flies nonstop from Baghdad and Erbil, and there are Saudi consulates-general in Basra and Erbil.
Vaccines and health documents for Hajj and Umrah from Iraq
These are the Saudi Ministry of Health requirements for Umrah travellers in the 1447 H (2026) edition, read for Iraq 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 Iraq |
|---|---|
| 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 Iraq in the 1447 H list. Keep routine immunisation up to date. |
| Yellow fever | Not required for travellers arriving from Iraq. 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 Iraq
The Saudi Embassy in Iraq is in Baghdad, with consular posts in Basra (Consulate-General) and Erbil (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 Iraq
Saudia lists scheduled passenger flights from Baghdad and Erbil. 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. Iraq 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
- Register with the Sunni or Shia Endowment office relevant to you, or a licensed private travel office
- Ask your Endowment office about that year's selection method (queue vs. lottery)
- Confirm your caravan's group supervisor and itinerary before final payment
- Complete medical and vaccination requirements ahead of the deadline
- Verify any private office's license with the Endowment authority before paying
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 Iraqis register for Hajj on Nusuk directly?
No. Iraq is not on the Nusuk direct list; Hajj places come through Supreme Commission for Hajj and Umrah (Iraq).
What is Iraq's Hajj quota?
34,000 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 Iraq?
Iraq's Endowment offices publish an official package price each year in Iraqi dinars, and private licensed offices offer higher-cost alternatives; the exact figure changes annually with Saudi service costs and currency movements. We don't quote a fixed number here, check the relevant Endowment office's current announcement or our calculator. 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. Use the cost calculator for a planning range.
Which vaccines do Iraqis need for Hajj?
Meningococcal ACYW. The health table on this page gives the Saudi Ministry of Health rule for Iraq; the Hajj circular is issued separately each season.
Can Iraqis do Umrah while waiting?
Yes, through a licensed Umrah operator with a Nusuk booking; Umrah has no quota.
Sources
- https://en.964media.com/49612/
- https://en.964media.com/46913/
- https://en.964media.com/34068/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Saudia_destinations
- https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/hajj-quota-by-country
- https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2637600
- https://hajj.nusuk.sa/ServicedCountries
- https://haj.gov.sa/en/FAQ
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Saudi_Arabia
- https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/HealthAwareness/Pilgrims-Health/Documents/Health-Regulations-Umrah-EN.pdf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_diplomatic_missions_of_Saudi_Arabia