Hajj and Umrah 1444H (2023) - Update 1

16 May 2023

Hajj is an annual Islamic religious pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Hajj 1444H (2023) will take place between 26 June to 1 July 2023.

• All pilgrims from Europe (including UK), the Americas, Australia and New Zealand wishing to perform Hajj must make a request through the official Ministry of Hajj Nusuk Hajj platform.
• Further information on eligibility and the application process can be found in the Nusuk FAQ section.

Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of the year.

• All British nationals living outside of Saudi Arabia can apply to perform Umrah through the official Ministry of Hajj app. Links to download the app can be found at www.nusuk.sa under the 'Apply for Visa' tab.

Official Health Requirements

The Ministry of Health (MoH) of Saudi Arabia have published the official health requirements, which includes a list of required vaccinations for both Hajj and Umrah during 1444H (2023).

• see the health requirements and recommendations for Hajj 1444H (2023)
• see the health requirements and recommendations for Umrah 1444H (2023)

These regulations detail both required and recommended vaccines for international pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah.

• Please see the Hajj and Umrah page for details of how to best prepare yourself and your family if you are attending Hajj pilgrimage.
• If you think it possible you may need vaccines or boosters, or you are not sure, you should arrange a travel health risk assessment at least 6 to 8 weeks before you travel. If your trip is sooner, remember it is never too late to seek advice.

Further information for those preparing to travel for Hajj 1444H (2023) is available from:

• FCDO: Foreign Travel Advice Saudi Arabia
• KSA MoH: Pilgrims Health
• CBHUK: HAJJ 2023 – Guidance for British Pilgrims

Resources

See the information leaflet below for information on how you can manage travel-associated risks during Hajj to protect yourself, your family and the wider community.

• Advice for those travelling to Hajj (English)
• Advice for those travelling to Hajj (Arabic)
• Advice for those travelling to Hajj (Bengali)
• Advice for those travelling to Hajj (Urdu)

After Hajj

If you have flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough and/or shortness of breath within 14 days of returning from Hajj, call your GP by phone or call NHS24 on 111 (out of hours) as soon as possible and make sure that you mention your recent travel. These symptoms may indicate respiratory infections, including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV).