Haj Pilgrimage Costs and Arrangements

The official body responsible for managing the Hajj pilgrimage for Indian citizens. They handle logistics, accommodation, and other critical aspects.

HCoI only deals directly with State/Union Territory Haj Committees (SHCs) for Hajj operations, not with individuals or private agencies.

Pilgrims must make payments through banks directly to HCoI, not to individuals or private agencies.

HCoI does not authorize individuals or private agencies to act on its behalf. Pilgrims should be wary of scams.

According to Indian Hajj policy, each individual can only perform Hajj through HCoI once in their lifetime.

Individuals who have previously performed Hajj through HCoI are not eligible to apply again.

Pilgrims aged 65 or above, including women without a male guardian (LWM), must be accompanied by a companion.

Repeaters are allowed for companions (mehram or non-mehram) of elderly pilgrims and LWMs (65 years or above) on payment of additional fees.

The total cost of a pilgrim's expenses in Saudi Arabia excluding airfare. This includes accommodation, transportation, visa fees, insurance and other miscellaneous costs.

The cost of staying in a hotel in Mecca.

The cost of staying in a hotel in Madinah.

The cost of transportation between the Azizia area and the Haram Sharif.

A mandatory fee charged by the Ministry of Hajj & Umrah Affairs for allocating accommodation.

A package service offered by Tawafa companies, providing accommodation, transportation, and other services. Includes various components like Ground Services Fee, Camp Fee, and Tawafa Company fees.

A mandatory fee payable by pilgrims to cover the costs of various services related to Hajj, such as visa processing, insurance, and airport fees.

Fees charged for services provided during Hajj, including visa, insurance, and electricity.

The official transportation service in Makkah, providing 24/7 service between accommodations outside the Markazia area and the Haram Sharif.

Limited space in Mina necessitates sharing large tents with other pilgrims for 5-6 days.

Saudi authorities manage and allocate tents in Mina, ensuring pilgrim safety and facilitating their movement.

Each pilgrim in Mina is assigned a small space (0.98 square meters) with a mattress. Beds are not provided, and sanitation facilities are limited.

The Hajj Committee has no control over arrangements made by the Saudi government in Mina.

Pilgrims staying in tents along the train route in Mina receive Metro Train tickets for transportation. Others receive bus transportation for travel between Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifa, and back to Mina.

In Arafat, pilgrims are provided with mattresses and air conditioners in tents. However, air conditioner performance may be suboptimal due to high usage and the harsh climate.

Due to space constraints in Mina, approximately one-fourth of the pilgrims may be assigned tents outside the traditional Mina boundaries, over which HCoI exercises no control.

Pilgrims must remain calm, respectful, and considerate of others and avoid any disputes or unruly behavior, especially towards Saudi Arabian security personnel, guards in Harmain Shareefain, police personnel, local officials, Moallim's staff, Building Haaris, officers, officials, doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, and staff of IHPO & State Haj Inspector.

It is mandatory for all Haj applicants to undergo a two-step medical screening process.

The first medical screening takes place at the application stage, where applicants must fill out their medical history, undergo an examination, and obtain a Medical Screening and Fitness Certificate from a government-approved doctor.

The second medical screening occurs at the embarkation stage, ensuring that only healthy pilgrims proceed on the Haj journey.

Pilgrims are advised to maintain a good level of physical fitness as Haj involves considerable walking, often in challenging climatic conditions. Special consideration is given to those aged 60 or above due to their higher vulnerability.

The Health Certificate issued to pilgrims should include information about mandatory vaccinations.

A digital medical health certificate will be issued to selected Haj pilgrims in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The Health Certificate issued to pilgrims by the medical officer should include information related to mandatory vaccinations.

The assigned travel dates for pilgrims are tentative and subject to seat availability, requiring pilgrims to be flexible and cooperate with authorities due to potential flight changes.

HCol holds the authority to cancel or adjust pilgrim travel plans by shifting them to alternative flights as needed.

Pilgrims must maintain appropriate behavior throughout their journey, both within their group and towards fellow pilgrims, officials, and Saudi authorities. Any misconduct can lead to serious consequences, including legal action and potential cancellation of the Hajj journey.

In cases where flights experience significant delays or cancellations, airlines bear the responsibility of providing necessary amenities to affected passengers, such as snacks, meals, temporary accommodations, etc., adhering to relevant laws and regulations.

Pilgrims are generally restricted to traveling on their assigned flights. Exceptions are possible only under unavoidable circumstances and require approval, subject to available seats and payment of additional fares.

Air tickets issued for Hajj travel through air charters are non-transferable, prohibiting any changes to return flight schedules, including cancellations, transfers, or modifications after initial allocation.

Securing an online reservation for Hajj travel is contingent upon settling all financial dues.

After flights are assigned, pilgrims have a ten-day window to confirm their Hajj journey through the 'Haj Suvidha App' by settling any outstanding payments. This step is crucial for securing the allocated seat. Failure to complete the confirmation within the deadline can result in the seat being forfeited.

If your luggage is lost, report it to the airline's lost baggage desk. File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and keep a copy for reference. You can also file a complaint with the airline and claim compensation, but you must wait for the last flight before doing so.

Carrying flammable items like kerosene, petrol, or stoves is strictly prohibited. You will face legal consequences if caught.

You cannot bring in certain medications, tobacco products, or recreational substances like Khash-Khash, Viagara, or Gutkha. These items are strictly banned.

Don't bring any political literature, photographs of a sensitive nature, or pornographic material. These items are prohibited and will be confiscated.

You cannot bring any kind of foodstuff, cooked or uncooked, into Saudi Arabia for Hajj. This includes oil, ghee, pickles, fish, sweetmeats, vegetables, fruit, and similar items.

It's important to be aware of the last date for making a claim for lost baggage, which is 10.09.2025. Don't miss the deadline!

You cannot carry Khash-Khash, Viagara-tablets, Sexual oil and cream, Synthetic Kapore, Cystone, Khammera, Gutkha, Khaini, Gul, Peppermint or narcotics in any form into the KSA. These items are banned and may result in legal action, even arrest.

You can only carry personal baggage and are not allowed to bring additional food items, regardless of their packaging or whether they're for personal use.