India's Hajj 2027 registration is now open, and the window is closing fast. The Hajj Committee of India (HCOI) began accepting applications on June 22, 2026, and has set July 20, 2026 as the final deadline for prospective pilgrims to apply. According to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, no extensions will be granted, and the entire process is being conducted online through the official portal at hajcommittee.gov.in and the Hajj Suvidha mobile application.

Quota, eligibility and the digital draw

The Ministry of Minority Affairs announced the Hajj Policy 2027 on June 22, following a Hajj review meeting chaired by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on June 18. The quota split between the Hajj Committee and private tour operators remains unchanged at 70:30. That allocates 122,518 seats to the Committee and 52,507 to private operators, mirroring last year's total of 175,025. The government has said it will seek to increase the overall quota through negotiations with Saudi authorities.

Because demand routinely exceeds supply, selection is decided by a Qurrah, a digital random draw. Officials have indicated the draw will be held in the last week of July 2026, with results delivered by SMS and email. Applicants who are selected must be ready to pay an advance deposit soon after, so the Committee has urged families to arrange their finances in advance.

Key eligibility conditions include:

  • Applicants must be Indian citizens aged 18 or older.
  • Women aged 45 and above may apply without a Mahram under the "Ladies without Mahram" category.
  • Those who performed Hajj through HCOI in the previous five years are generally not eligible.
  • A medical fitness certificate is compulsory, and chronic conditions must be declared upfront.
  • Passports should remain valid well beyond the pilgrimage period.

Priority in the draw is given to first-time pilgrims and applicants aged 70 and above.

Technology and comfort upgrades

The Ministry says Hajj Policy 2027 builds on reforms introduced during Hajj 2026. These include hotel-style accommodation in Makkah, high-speed train travel between Makkah and Madinah on the Haramain railway, sofa-cum-beds in Mina, and the popular 20-day Short Hajj Package, which will now add Kolkata as an embarkation point.

A major focus this year is technology. The Ministry is introducing artificial intelligence across the pilgrim journey, including AI-assisted application and document verification, demand modelling for flight allocation, and real-time grievance tracking. A conversational AI assistant is planned to offer round-the-clock support in Hindi, Urdu and major regional languages, guiding pilgrims through applications, payments, flights, accommodation and emergencies. The Ministry says integration with Saudi Arabia's Nusuk platform is envisaged to align Indian and Saudi systems.

The policy also strengthens on-ground support by improving the State Hajj Inspector ratio from one inspector for every 150 pilgrims to one for every 135. Medical screening will be aligned with Saudi guidelines, meaning individuals with serious chronic conditions may not be cleared to travel, a measure officials frame as protecting pilgrim safety in the demanding conditions of Hajj.

India's Hajj Mission was recognised with two Labbaytum Awards by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in the "Best Hajj Coordination and Communication" category for Hajj 2026, the first time the country received the distinction.

Practical tips for applicants

With the deadline days away, pilgrims should act now rather than wait. Do not leave the application to July 19, when portal traffic peaks and uploads often fail. Prepare scanned copies of your passport, a recent passport-size photograph, Aadhaar with a linked mobile number, and bank details before starting. Ensure your name matches exactly across your passport and Aadhaar, as mismatches are a leading cause of rejection. Apply once only, since a second attempt cancels the first, and keep the acknowledgement slip with your application ID for status tracking. Above all, arrange the advance payment in advance so a successful draw is not lost to a missed deposit.