The Ministry of Minority Affairs of the Government of India announced the Haj Policy 2025 in August 2024. The following points are a part of the full Haj policy, which have been drafted after detailed consultations and accounting for the norms and regulations as communicated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, that hosts the Haj Pilgrimage.

• Those who have performed the Haj once through the HCoI, will not be eligible for applying through the HCoI. They can apply through the HGOs.
• Mandatory for Pilgrims aged 65 and above (including Ladies Without Mehram above 65 yrs) to be accompanied by companions. Repeaters will be allowed from time to time on payment of additional charges.
• Age of 'Mehram' and companions accomanying pilgrims aged 65 and above must be between 18-60 years, however companions accompanying LWM above 65 years must be between 45-60 years of age.
• Lady or Pilgrim above 65 accompanied by repeater Mehram or companion must give undertaking that no other first time Mehram or companion is available in the family.
• Advisory on functionality of Haj Suvidha App will be provided by the HCoI. Haj Suvidha App provides access to training content, accomodation, baggage, flights, helpline, grievance, feedback, language translation and other information related to the pilgrimage.
• Haj Application Forms are available to be filled online on https://hajcommittee.gov.in/ (can be used on Mobile too)
• All Muslims of sound mind and body can perform the Haj, except:
  • Those without machine readable passport.
  • Repeaters cannot perform Haj through HCoI except as companion/Mehram as per above.
  • Persons submitting false information - shall be de-boarded and banned.
  • Those with severe health conditions such as terminal cancer, advances respiratory, kidney or liver disease, TB or senility.
  • Ladies not accompanied by Sharia Mehram.
  • Ladies in advanced stages of Pregnancy.
  • Persons against whom international travel is prohibited.
  • Minors (below 18) without Consent of Parent/Legal Guardian.
• Ladies above 45 travelling without Mehram can perform Haj in groups of Four.
• Cover Size shall be between 1-5 (Adults plus 2 Infants). Infant means below age of 2. Air Fare will be 10% for Infant.
• Composition of Cover - Only Family Members and Blood Relatives.
• Accomodation will be allocated Genderwise.
• If Head of Cover cancels, he/she should nominate.
• Those above 65 get priority. But if applicants exceed quota for above 65, then lots are drawn.
• Undertaking on age and "Once in a Life Time through HCoI" is required.
• Priority: Above 65 > LWM between 45-65 > General.
• For non-LWM pilgrims of the age of 65 or above, companion is should be immediate relative namely Husband/Wife/Brother/Sister/Son/Daughter/Son-in-law/Daughter-in- law, Grandson/Grand Daughter and Nephew/Niece.
  • The age of the companion must be below 60 years on the date specified by HCoI.
• If husband and wife are travelling in a cover under reserved category and both are aged 65 or above, they will be allowed two companions, who will be blood relation of the pilgrims.
• Division of Haj Seats:
  • Stage 1: Out of the total seats allocated to India, 70% of the quota will be allocated to the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) and 30% will be given to the Haj Group Organisers (HGO).
  • Stage 2: quota for State Haj Inspectors (SHIs) in the ratio of 1 SHI for 150 pilgrims shall be subtracted from the overall Haj quota. The remaining seats shall be distributed across all the States and Union Territories in proportion to their Muslim population.
  • Stage 3: Distribution to States and UTs shall be through qurra (draw of lots). If there are surplus seats then...
  • Stage 4: Surplus seats shall be used for upto 500 for Mehrams, if there is still surplus then 2,000 seats to J&K, remaining for LWM groups. In States or UTs where there is a marginal increase of applications by 5%, max 500 eats will be provided from surplus.
  • Stage 5: Remainder to States and UTs in proportion to applications.
• Cancellation/Refund:
  • Full refund only in case of death or serious ailment.
  • Penalties in case of any other reason of cancellation.
  • Refuns within One Month.
• Payments: All selected will be provided unique bank reference number. Deposit to be made with SBI.
• Accommodation:
  • As per Saudi Regulations, accommodation has to be arranged for the pilgrims in advance through the Consulate General of India, Jeddah. The detailed KSA regulations with respect to accommodation would be communicated by HCoI.
  • Pilgrims who want and are entitled to stay in Rubat will be allowed to stay in Rubat, subject to KSA norms, and no charges for their accommodation will be levied by HCoI, or if charges are levied, they will be refunded to those
    pilgrims who use Rubat facility.
• Medical and Health Check
  • Medical Screening and Fitness Certificate mandatory for every Applicant.
  • Every selected pilgrim shall obtain a Health and Training (HAT) Card and Haj Guide from the State Haj Committee/Union Territory Haj Committee upon submission of pay-in-slip forthe advance Haj amount.
  • Pilgrims must get themselves inoculated against meningitis and obtain a vaccination certificate on the Health and Training (HAT) Card before proceeding to the Embarkation Point.
  • The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA), in collaboration with MoHFW, will ensure timely availability of all vaccines for Haj pilgrims.
  • Oral Polio Vaccine to all pilgrims six weeks before the start of the Haj journey.
• Embarkation Points: Two Preferences should be given from the following:

1. Srinagar
2. Gaya
3. Guwahati
4. Indore
5. Bhopal
6. Aurangabad
7. Jaipur
8. Nagpur
9. Delhi
10. Mumbai
11. Kolkata
12. Bengaluru

13. Hyderabad
14. Cochin
15. Chennai
16. Ahmedabad
17. Lucknow
18. Kannur
19. Vijayawada
20. Calicut

• The duration of stay of pilgrims may be up to 40-45 days and may vary as per schedule provided by the airlines and approved by General Authority of Civil Aviation, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• In case of death, due to natural causes or accident during the Haj period, burial rituals may be performed as per prevailing practice in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Adahi (Qurbani) is permitted only through entities authorised by KSA for the same. Pilgrims should not fall prey to fraudsters in the name of Qurbani.
• Persons with Special Needs:
  • The persons with benchmark disability/disabilities who cannot travel alone, as certified by the medical authorities, applying for Haj must be accompanied by an able-bodied person during all stages of the Haj journey.
  • He/ She should be the blood relative/ spouse ofsuch a person.