Hajj from Turkey: how the national system works
Turks get Hajj places through Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Hajj and Umrah Services, against a quota of 37,770. Registration, timeline, costs, health documents, embassy and flights, checked against official and national sources.
How Hajj registration works in Turkey
Turkey's national quota is administered almost entirely by Diyanet, which runs a well-known electronic lottery (kura) each year because applicants far outnumber available slots. Citizens register through Diyanet's e-Devlet online system during an announced window, and the lottery result determines who is offered a place; a smaller share of the quota is set aside for private licensed travel agencies (A Grubu) working under Diyanet's authorization, at a higher price and without the lottery. Selected pilgrims pay Diyanet's published package price in installments, and Diyanet also runs a first-time-pilgrim priority rule so citizens who have already performed Hajj through the program are deprioritized in the ballot in some years. 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.
Turkey's places are allocated by Diyanet's notarised lottery (kura). For 2026, 1,799,835 registered candidates competed for 84,942 places. Final registration for Hajj 2027 ran on e-Devlet from 30 July to 18 August 2026, with unfilled places offered in lottery order from 24 August to 1 September. Diyanet holds 60 percent of the quota and licensed Hajj and Umrah agencies 40 percent.
Step by step
- Register with Presidency of Religious Affairs 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 Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Hajj and Umrah Services; 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 Turkey
Diyanet publishes an official package price in Turkish lira each year, covering flights, accommodation and Saudi services; private A Grubu agency packages cost more depending on hotel tier. Because lira-denominated prices have moved sharply with inflation and Diyanet has periodically revised how it prices the Saudi-side portion, we don't quote a fixed figure here, check Diyanet's current Hajj 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 Turkey, and whether meals and internal transport are bundled. See Hajj budgeting and shifting versus non-shifting packages.
Umrah from Turkey while you wait
Turkish passport holders were added to the Saudi eVisa list in October 2023, so you can apply yourself on the official portal or Nusuk and perform Umrah on the eVisa outside the Hajj season. Saudia flies nonstop from Istanbul and Ankara, with seasonal flights from Antalya, Izmir and Adana, and Turkish Airlines also serves Jeddah and Madinah.
Vaccines and health documents for Hajj and Umrah from Turkey
These are the Saudi Ministry of Health requirements for Umrah travellers in the 1447 H (2026) edition, read for Turkey 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 Turkey |
|---|---|
| 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 Turkey in the 1447 H list. Keep routine immunisation up to date. |
| Yellow fever | Not required for travellers arriving from Turkey. 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 Turkey
The Saudi Embassy in Turkey is in Ankara, with a consular post in Istanbul (Consulate-General). You do not need to visit them for a tourist eVisa or an Umrah visa: both are issued online. The embassy matters for passport problems, document attestation, and visa categories that are not electronic. Opening hours and services are on each mission's page at mofa.gov.sa.
Flying to Jeddah or Madinah from Turkey
Saudia lists scheduled passenger flights from Istanbul and Ankara, plus seasonal or pilgrimage-season flights from Antalya, Izmir and Adana. 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. Turkey 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 only through Diyanet's e-Devlet portal during the announced window
- Understand that selection is by lottery, applying doesn't guarantee a place that year
- First-time applicants are generally prioritized over repeat pilgrims in the ballot
- Private A Grubu agency packages skip the lottery but cost significantly more
- Watch Diyanet's own fraud warnings about unofficial 'guaranteed Hajj' brokers
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 Turks register for Hajj on Nusuk directly?
No. Turkey is not on the Nusuk direct list; Hajj places come through Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), Hajj and Umrah Services.
What is Turkey's Hajj quota?
37,770 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 Turkey?
Diyanet publishes an official package price in Turkish lira each year, covering flights, accommodation and Saudi services; private A Grubu agency packages cost more depending on hotel tier. Because lira-denominated prices have moved sharply with inflation and Diyanet has periodically revised how it prices the Saudi-side portion, we don't quote a fixed figure here, check Diyanet's current Hajj 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 Turks need for Hajj?
Meningococcal ACYW. The health table on this page gives the Saudi Ministry of Health rule for Turkey; the Hajj circular is issued separately each season.
Can Turks do Umrah while waiting?
Yes. Turks can get the Saudi tourist eVisa themselves and perform Umrah outside the Hajj season.
Sources
- https://diyanet.gov.tr/tr-tr/Kurumsal/Detay/38113
- https://sahinogluturizm.com.tr/en/blog/hajj-umrah-guide/hac-kura-sonuclari-kesin-kayit-rehberi
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_Saudi_Arabia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Saudia_destinations
- https://thehajj.guide/news/hajj-2026-quotas-by-country-who-sends-the-most-pilgrims-92d2dd
- https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2637600
- https://hajj.nusuk.sa/ServicedCountries
- https://haj.gov.sa/en/FAQ
- 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