Pakistan has moved to a multi-year framework for managing the pilgrimage, approving its first ever four-year Hajj policy covering the 2027 through 2030 seasons. The federal cabinet cleared the Hajj Policy and Plan 2027-2030 on 7 July 2026, ending the long-standing practice of issuing a fresh policy every single year. Registration under the new system opened on 22 June 2026 and continues on a rolling basis.
According to reporting by Radio Pakistan and Arab News, more than 250,000 people registered within the first 15 days. The Ministry of Religious Affairs is maintaining a priority waiting list, so intending pilgrims register once and then choose a preferred Hajj year within the four-year window rather than reapplying each season.
What the four-year framework changes
The reform is designed to remove the compressed planning cycle that came from renegotiating contracts, quotas and procedures every twelve months. Under the previous system, every Pakistani applicant had to apply afresh each year. Now a single registration keeps an applicant on the waiting list for consideration in 2027, 2028, 2029 or 2030.
The cabinet also approved a Shariah-compliant Hajj savings scheme, intended to let aspiring pilgrims build up funds gradually rather than raising a large lump sum shortly before departure. The policy further introduces full digitisation of payments and complaints, mandatory pre-departure training for pilgrims, and Takaful insurance arrangements. A dedicated emergency response mechanism is directed at pilgrims who face accidents, illness or urgent situations during the journey.
Registration and passport rules
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has clarified that registration requires only a valid CNIC or NICOP for overseas Pakistanis. A passport is not needed at the registration stage. The Federal Minister for Religious Affairs stated directly that intending pilgrims can register without submitting passport details, correcting an assumption that circulated when the window first opened.
A valid Pakistani passport becomes mandatory later, at the paid booking stage, and must remain valid until at least 16 November 2027. Registration is handled exclusively through the official portals at mora.gov.pk and hajjinfo.org, and no registration fee applies. The ministry has stressed that it does not authorise any travel agent to collect registration forms or payments on its behalf.
Reforms for private operators
The cabinet separately approved a Private Hajj Policy 2027-2030 that replaces the fixed-quota allocation for private operators with a performance and compliance-based framework. Every licensed operator must now secure a minimum of 2,000 pilgrim bookings. Operators who fall short are marked inactive and forfeit half of their security deposit, with their pilgrims transferred to compliant companies through a digital system.
All bookings move through a new Private Hajj Management Portal linked to the national database authority and the State Bank of Pakistan. Cash and manual bookings are no longer permitted, and operators can no longer hold pilgrims' money, which instead routes through the government-linked system directly to service providers in Saudi Arabia. Licences now run for three years rather than being renewed annually, and the buying and selling of Hajj quotas between operators is banned outright. The measures respond directly to the 2025 crisis in which licensed operator failures left tens of thousands of pilgrims unable to travel.
Dates and costs
The Day of Arafah for Hajj 2027 is expected to fall on 15 May 2027, with Eid al-Adha on 16 May, subject to confirmation by Saudi Arabia's moon sighting committee. That is nearly two weeks earlier than Hajj 2026, which shortens the administrative window for medical clearance, visa issuance and flight scheduling. The official 2027 government package cost has not yet been announced; the 2026 government scheme cost around Rs 1.15 million to Rs 1.2 million, and officials have signalled an effort to keep costs stable.
Practical tips for pilgrims
Register early even without a passport. Registration at mora.gov.pk needs only a CNIC and takes a few minutes; an early position strengthens your standing on the priority waiting list. Check your passport expiry now. It must be valid to at least 16 November 2027 before the booking stage, and renewals can take several weeks. Confirm your name matches exactly between CNIC and passport to avoid delays. Never pay any operator before the formal policy notification. Any operator collecting money in advance is acting without authorisation. Verify all licensed operators through the official portal.