India Introduces 20-Day Hajj Package, Tightens Health Rules for 2027 Pilgrimage
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The Haj Committee of India (HCoI) has unveiled a new 20-day Short Hajj Package for up to 10,000 pilgrims while introducing stricter health eligibility requirements that bar individuals with serious medical conditions from participating in the 2027 Hajj pilgrimage.
The new guidelines, issued for Hajj 2027 (1448 Hijri), mark one of the most significant policy updates in recent years, combining greater travel flexibility with tighter measures aimed at safeguarding pilgrims’ health during the physically demanding pilgrimage.
Under the Short Hajj Package, selected pilgrims will spend approximately 20 days in Saudi Arabia, compared with the standard 35 to 45-day stay.
The package will operate from eight embarkation points including, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Cochin, Kolkata and Ahmedabad and will accommodate a maximum of 10,000 pilgrims.
India Introduces 20-Day Hajj Package, Tightens Health Rules for 2027 Pilgrimage
Applicants must indicate their preference when submitting their Hajj Application Form. If applications exceed the available slots, the HCoI will conduct a separate computerized draw of lots, known as Qurrah, to determine successful applicants.
Authorities will automatically transfer pilgrims who are not selected for the short-duration package but qualify under the main Hajj selection process to the regular Hajj package.
Alongside the new travel option, the committee has strengthened medical screening requirements by disqualifying applicants suffering from six categories of serious health conditions.
These include kidney failure requiring dialysis, heart failure with symptoms during minimal physical activity, chronic lung disease requiring oxygen support, advanced liver cirrhosis, severe neurological or psychiatric disorders, dementia, active infectious diseases, high-risk pregnancies and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive treatment.
The guidelines also introduce a two-stage medical screening process for all selected pilgrims and require additional health assessments for applicants aged 60 years and above.
Every successful pilgrim must obtain a digital medical fitness certificate and receive all vaccinations mandated by Saudi Arabia and India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare before departure.
The Haj Committee said it introduced the measures to enhance pilgrims’ safety and provide more flexible travel options as preparations for the 2027 Hajj begin under updated Saudi regulations and strengthened health protocols.
