Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Data Submission Deadline For Hajj Pilgrims

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 8th, 2026, remains 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 20th as the final deadline for processing.

The reiteration came during a virtual meeting, “Official Schedule of Operations,” held on February 4th, 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.

Mr Abdallah Awad Alshehri, the Director of the Department of International Cooperation in the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, who anchored the meeting, emphasised the mandatory requirements that must be met before any pilgrims’ grouping would be considered satisfactory for the processing of the Hajj visa. The requirements include paying the consolidated guarantee for all pilgrims and, on the Nusuk Masar portal, identifying, processing, and paying Hadaya contracts for all pilgrims who require them.

In brief, all pilgrims who choose 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 made through the Nusuk Masar, except for those who choose the option of fasting instead of sacrifice. Hence, the number of those who choose to perform the 2026 Hajj under the three categories, Ifrad, Tumattu’I, and Qiran, must be clearly identified with those choosing the fasting instead of Hadaya, and must be clearly specified and registered on the Nusuk Masar.

The third requirement for visa issuance is the conclusion of a medical service contract with 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 is possible.

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

Hajiya Fatima Sanda Usara, Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in a statement released on yesterday 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 the 2026 Hajj, the Kingdom agreed to maintain the concessionary 40/60 formula.

Other discussions had centred on improving the Umrah visa experience and curtailing visa violations and overstays in Saudi Arabia. NAHCON had requested the names of Tour Operator companies with a history of absconding to facilitate the enforcement of sanctions. Consequently, Tour Operators were advised to devise means to ensure their pilgrims travel and return within the validity period of their visas.