The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has unveiled the official health requirements and medical fitness guidelines for pilgrims intending to perform the 2026 Hajj, 1447 AH.

The comprehensive circular, released through the Saudi Ministry of Health, outlines mandatory health conditions, vaccination requirements, and disease control measures aimed at ensuring a safe and healthy pilgrimage.

According to the circular, all participating countries — including Nigeria — are expected to certify that their citizens are medically fit and free from health conditions that could endanger their wellbeing or that of others during the pilgrimage.

The Kingdom stressed that pilgrims with certain chronic, mental, or infectious diseases would not be allowed to perform Hajj.

Reacting to the development, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, urged all intending Nigerian pilgrims to familiarize themselves with the Saudi health requirements and to complete their medical examinations and vaccinations well ahead of the 2026 Hajj season.

NAHCON’s Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, Fatima Sanda-Usara, in a statement, assured that the Commission, in collaboration with State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and licensed tour operators, will enforce compliance to avoid travel disruptions at entry points into the Kingdom.Best vacation packages

The Commission advised intending pilgrims to maintain good health practices, obtain authentic vaccination certificates, and consult authorized health facilities for screenings to ensure seamless participation in the spiritual exercise.

Meanwhile, the circular lists several medical conditions that automatically disqualify a person from performing Hajj. These include:

Major organ failure (heart, lungs, liver, or kidneys)
Neurological or psychiatric disorders affecting cognition or causing severe motor disabilities
Senility with dementia
High-risk pregnancy at any stage
Cancer patients currently undergoing chemotherapy, biological, or radiological treatment
Active infectious diseases of public health significance such as tuberculosis and hemorrhagic fevers
Countries must issue medical certificates confirming that pilgrims are free from these conditions before their departure to the Kingdom.

Mandatory Vaccination Guidelines
Saudi health authorities also emphasized strict vaccination protocols as a prerequisite for entry into the Kingdom. The required vaccines include those against COVID-19, meningitis, polio, and yellow fever.

COVID-19:
All pilgrims and Hajj workers must present proof of full vaccination with vaccines approved by Saudi Arabia. The most recent dose must have been administered between 2021 and 2025, and at least two weeks before travel.
Meningococcal Meningitis (ACWY):
Every pilgrim must receive the quadrivalent ACWY vaccine against meningitis not more than five years and not less than ten days before arriving in Saudi Arabia.
Polio:
Given the global surveillance on poliovirus, Nigerian pilgrims are required to take an additional dose of the Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV) or the Oral Polio Vaccine (bOPV/novel OPV2) at least four weeks prior to travel. Proof of vaccination must be documented on the International Certificate of Vaccination (Yellow Card).
Yellow Fever:
All travelers aged nine months and above must present a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate upon entry into Saudi Arabia.
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To enforce compliance, Saudi authorities will conduct comprehensive health screenings at all ports of entry. Pilgrims failing to meet the health requirements may be denied entry, isolated, or subjected to further medical evaluation.

“No pilgrim suffering from the listed diseases will be allowed to travel, and health certificates will be thoroughly verified before and upon arrival in the Kingdom,” the circular stated.

The ministry also noted that additional preventive measures may be introduced if new global outbreaks or public health emergencies occur before or during the Hajj, in coordination with the World Health Organization, WHO.Best vacation packages

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