The Ministry of Religious Affairs has made the submission of a COVID-19 vaccination certificate mandatory for Hajj 2025 applicants aged over 65.

Without the COVID-19 vaccination certificate, the ministry asserted that the pilgrims would not be allowed to perform Hajj.

Applicants are conditionally permitted to submit their Hajj applications, provided they submit a Saudi Arabia-approved COVID-19 vaccination certificate to the designated banks by February 10, 2025.

This new requirement comes as the Hajj application process witnesses an unprecedented response. A total of 4,774 applications were submitted within the first two days of the 2025 Hajj registration, compared to 1,300 applications in the same period last year.

Under the government Hajj scheme, 4,734 applications have been received so far, while 40 applications have been submitted under the sponsorship scheme.

The sharp rise in applications reflects the growing interest in the pilgrimage despite the newly imposed health requirements. Officials urge prospective pilgrims to ensure timely compliance with the updated regulations to avoid any disruptions.

The Director-General of Passports has announced the launch of special counters for Hajj pilgrims, which will allow them to obtain their passports within 24 hours.

DG passport, Mustafa Jamal Qazi, revealed that these special desks will be established at passport offices across Pakistan, including regional offices and passport offices globally.

This service will prioritize Hajj applicants, ensuring that their passports are delivered within 24 hours.

Karachi residents who wish to apply for Hajj 2025 but have an expired or unmade passport can visit one of the city’s passport offices from 9 am to 5 pm.

The passport fees vary based on the processing type, with regular passports costing around Rs 3,000, and urgent passports priced at Rs 5,000.