The Haj Committee of India (HCoI) has opened a special registration window offering 500 additional seats for the Haj 2027 season under the Mehram category, giving women a fresh opportunity to travel with male relatives who were already selected in the main draw. According to Rising Kashmir, the window opened on September 23 and closes on October 7, 2026, with applications accepted only through the official Haj Committee of India portal.
Who Can Apply Under the Mehram Category
The Mehram category is reserved for female pilgrims whose male companion, or Mehram, has already secured a place for Haj 2027 but who were unable to apply alongside him during the main window. Officials say this typically happens when a woman's passport was not ready in time or when other legitimate circumstances prevented a joint application.
To qualify, applicants must hold a valid machine-readable Indian passport that remains valid at least until December 31, 2027. The Committee has stated that applicants "must not have performed Haj earlier through the Haj Committee of India, Haj Group Organisers (HGOs), or any other means." Women who are already enrolled for Haj 2027 are not eligible to apply again through this route.
There are firm limits on how the seats can be used. Each application, known as a cover, may include a maximum of five pilgrims, and only one female is permitted per cover. If the number of applicants exceeds the 500 available seats, allocation will be decided through the Digital Random Selection system known as Qurrah.
Documents and the Application Steps
Applicants are required to upload a set of supporting documents when they register. According to Rising Kashmir, these include passport photograph and identification pages, proof of address, and documentation that verifies the relationship between the applicant and her selected Mehram.
The Committee has stressed that the application must be completed only on the official Haj Committee of India website within the September 23 to October 7 window. Pilgrims are advised to review every entry carefully before submission, as errors in passport details or relationship documents can lead to rejection.
How the Mehram Round Fits India's Haj 2027 Plan
The special window sits within India's broader Haj 2027 framework. The country's Haj Policy 2027 allocates a total of 175,025 pilgrim seats, split on a 70:30 basis between the Haj Committee of India, which receives 122,518 seats, and private tour operators, who share 52,507 seats. The main application window for the season ran from June 22 to July 20, 2026.
India has retained several pilgrim services introduced in recent seasons, including sofa-cum-beds in Mina, high-speed train travel between Makkah and Madinah, hotel-style accommodation in Makkah, and a 20-day Short Haj Package. The Women Without Mehram category, which allows women aged 45 and above to travel in groups of four or more without a male guardian, continues to operate separately from the Mehram round.
Medical screening remains a central requirement. Applicants must undergo health checks in line with Saudi medical guidelines, with additional scrutiny for those with chronic conditions before travel is authorised.
Practical Tips for Applicants
Women hoping to join a selected Mehram should act quickly, as the window is short and no extension has been indicated. Confirm that your passport is machine-readable and valid through at least December 31, 2027 before you begin. Keep clear digital copies of your passport pages, a recent photograph, proof of address, and a document proving your relationship to your Mehram ready before logging in. Apply only through the official Haj Committee of India website and avoid unofficial agents promising guaranteed seats. Finally, remember that selection may fall to the Qurrah draw if applications exceed 500, so submit early and accurately rather than waiting until the final day.