2026 Hajj: Nigerian Pilgrims Face Stringent Conditions As Saudi Arabia Outlines Visa Requirements

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has issued a firm reminder to all participating countries regarding the critical deadlines for Hajj 2026, emphasising that February 8, 2026, remained the final date for submitting pilgrims’ data and forming groups on the Nusuk Masar registration platform.

This crucial step is essential for visa issuance, with March 20 set as the ultimate deadline for visa processing.

The reiteration came during a virtual meeting, “Official Schedule of Operations,” held on February 4, 2026, with representatives from Hajj-participating nations.

Mr. Abdallah Awad Alshehri, Director of International Cooperation, highlighted several mandatory requirements that must be fulfilled for satisfactory Hajj visa processing.

Alshehri, who anchored the meeting, emphasised mandatory requirements that must be met before any pilgrims’ grouping would be considered satisfactory for processing of the Hajj visa. The requirements include payment of consolidated guarantee for all pilgrims, identifying, processing and payment of Hadaya contracts for all pilgrims requiring it on Nusuk Masar portal.

In brief, all pilgrims who chose to perform Hajj under the categories known as Tumattu’I and Qiran must be indicated and subsequently payment for their sacrificial animals (under the rite known as Hadaya) must be done through the Nusuk Masar except those who choose the option of fasting instead of sacrifice. Hence, the number of those who chose to perform the 2026 Hajj under the three categories Ifrad, Tumattu’I, and Qiran must clearly be identified with those choosing the fasting instead of Hadaya clearly specified and registered on the Nusuk Masar.

The third requirement for visa issuance is concluding medical service contract on Nusuk Masar. This contract is to be signed with an accredited medical service provider domiciled in Saudi Arabia.

Finally, among the requirements is the newly mandated backup accommodation contract in Makkah for 1% of every country’s pilgrims’ quota. By implication, a country with 40,000 pilgrims will have to book an extra hotel for approximately 400 pilgrims that will not be used for accommodation but as a buffer in case of unforeseen circumstances. This accommodation must be booked on the Nusuk Masar before visa issuance would be possible.

All pilgrims and officials yet to have their passports captured for Hajj 2026 risked missing the year’s Hajj if they were not captured by February 8, 2026.

A statement signed by the Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Hajiya Fatima Sanda Usara, on Thursday in Abuja, said the Saudi Arabian delegation in Nigeria had stressed that implementation of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) on the pilgrims’ passenger sharing formula of 50/50 between Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Nigeria will be enforced fully in 2027.

For 2026 Hajj, the Kingdom agreed to maintain the concessionary 40/60 formula.

Other discussions centred on improving the Umrah visa experience and curtailing visa violations and overstay in Saudi Arabia.

NAHCON had requested for names of Tour Operator companies with a history of absconders for enforcement of sanctions. Consequently, Tour Operators were advised to devise means of ensuring their pilgrims travel and return within their visa validity period.