Islamabad: The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on Monday announced an extension for the biometric verification deadline for Hajj 2026. Pilgrims can now complete the process through the Saudi Visa Bio App until February 17, 2026.
The ministry stated that pilgrims can complete verification from home, avoiding unnecessary travel and delays. Biometric verification is mandatory for Hajj visa issuance. However, pilgrims above 80 years of age are exempted from this requirement.
In addition, verification can also be done at Saudi Tasheer Centres located in six major cities. Pilgrims are advised to keep confirmation receipts or emails from these centres for record-keeping purposes.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia began issuing Hajj 2026 (1447 AH) visas on February 8. Pakistani authorities have formally requested Saudi Arabia to increase the Hajj quota to 230,000. This request aims to allow more citizens to perform the pilgrimage in line with the country’s population.
Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said that over 38,000 pilgrims from Islamabad will travel under the Route to Makkah project. Currently, this service is available only in Islamabad and Karachi, but efforts are being made to expand it to Lahore.
The minister confirmed that the government has finalized all arrangements for Hajj 2026, following guidance from the Saudi authorities. He also noted that Saudi Arabia allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims for Pakistan. Out of this, about 118,000 seats are reserved under the government scheme, while the remaining seats are allocated to private tour operators.
In other news read more about Hajj Alert: Pakistani Pilgrims Told to Finish Biometric Verification by Tomorrow
Authorities urged all intending pilgrims to complete their biometric verification on time to avoid delays in receiving their Hajj visas. Completing this process is essential for participating in the annual pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam.
