Pakistani authorities have pushed back the deadline for Umrah pilgrims departing from Karachi to obtain digitally verified vaccination certificates, granting travellers and airport staff additional time to adjust to a new electronic system. The extension, announced on 14 September 2026, moves the mandatory start date to 25 September, according to Border Health Services (BHS) Pakistan.

Under the change, manual vaccination certificates remain valid until the new deadline. Officials at Jinnah International Airport had requested the delay, citing the operational challenges of rolling out the digital platform without sufficient notice.

What the new system involves

The digital certification programme links vaccination records with Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), allowing certificates to be verified electronically rather than on paper. Karachi is set to become the first Pakistani airport to adopt the integrated system before it is expanded to other international airports and land border crossings.

Dr Syed Murtaza Shah Bukhari, focal person for Border Health Services Pakistan, told Arab News that the deadline had been extended and that manual certificates would continue to be accepted in the interim. The new system was originally due to become compulsory for passengers leaving Karachi after 14 September.

Importantly, the department stressed that the change affects only how vaccination status is certified, not the vaccination requirements themselves. Existing rules continue to depend on a traveller's destination, route, and category of travel. Saudi Arabia requires Umrah pilgrims to meet vaccination requirements that vary according to the pilgrim's country of origin and assessed health risk.

Why the delay was requested

The airport administration outlined its concerns in a formal letter to the Airport Health Officer. Acting Chief Operating Officer Muhammad Qasim wrote that implementing the directive without adequate preparation, operational alignment, and multi-agency coordination posed serious operational risks at the airport. He said the additional time would allow authorities to finalise a practical, passenger-friendly strategy in coordination with all stakeholders.

Qasim also noted a practical bottleneck: only one dispensary was available at the airport to issue digital vaccination cards, a constraint that could have caused delays for departing pilgrims had the system taken effect immediately.

Border Health Services confirmed that current certification procedures will remain in place at other Pakistani airports until the digital system is progressively introduced there. This means pilgrims travelling from cities other than Karachi are not immediately affected by the change.

What this means for pilgrims

For the roughly two-week window until 25 September, Umrah pilgrims flying from Karachi can continue to travel using their existing manual vaccination certificates. After that date, they will be expected to hold a digitally verifiable certificate linked to their NADRA records.

The move reflects a broader trend across the Umrah ecosystem toward digital verification and streamlined processing. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has increasingly required bookings and documentation to be handled through official digital channels such as the Nusuk platform, and health authorities in sending countries are aligning their own systems accordingly.

Practical tips for pilgrims departing from Karachi

  • Check your departure date. If you are travelling before 25 September, a valid manual vaccination certificate is still accepted. If travelling after, confirm your certificate is registered in the digital system.
  • Keep your NADRA details current. Because the new system links to NADRA records, ensure your identity information is accurate and up to date before you travel.
  • Arrive early at the airport. With limited dispensary capacity for digital cards, allow extra time in case verification takes longer than expected.
  • Confirm country-specific requirements. Vaccination rules depend on your route and category of travel, so verify the current requirements with your travel agent or the relevant health authority.
  • Retain a paper backup. Even after the digital system takes effect, carrying a physical copy of your certificate can help avoid delays if electronic verification is unavailable.

Pilgrims are advised to stay in contact with their licensed travel operators, who typically receive updates on evolving documentation requirements ahead of departure.