By Fatima Sanda Usara
* Says all requirements must be completed on Nusuk Masar for visa issuance
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has reiterated February 8, 2026, as the final deadline for submitting pilgrims’ data and forming groups on the Nusuk Masar registration platform, a requirement that will enable the issuance of Hajj visas, while March 20 remains the last date for visa processing.
The emphasis was made during a virtual meeting with Hajj-participating countries, tagged Official Schedule of Operations, held on February 4, 2026, to restate key requirements ahead of the commencement of the visa processing phase.
The meeting, which was anchored by Mr. Abdallah Awad Alshehri, Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, focused on mandatory conditions that must be met before any pilgrims’ grouping can be considered eligible for Hajj visa issuance on the Nusuk Masar platform.
According to Alshehri, the visa processing phase will begin in four days, on February 8, and no country or operator will be allowed to proceed unless all stipulated requirements are fully completed on Nusuk Masar.
He listed the requirements to include payment of the consolidated guarantee for all pilgrims, as well as the identification, processing and payment of Hadaya contracts for pilgrims who are required to perform sacrificial rites.
The ministry explained that pilgrims performing Hajj under the Tamattu’ and Qiran categories must be clearly indicated on the platform, with payment for their sacrificial animals completed through Nusuk Masar, except for those who opt to observe fasting in lieu of sacrifice.
Consequently, pilgrims under the three Hajj categories, Ifrad, Tamattu’ and Qiran, must be distinctly captured, with those choosing fasting instead of Hadaya clearly specified on the portal.
Another mandatory requirement for visa issuance is the conclusion of a medical services contract on Nusuk Masar. The contract must be signed with an accredited medical service provider based in Saudi Arabia.
The ministry also introduced a newly mandated backup accommodation contract in Makkah, requiring countries to reserve additional accommodation equivalent to one per cent of their total pilgrims’ quota. This buffer accommodation, which will not be used except in emergencies, must be booked on Nusuk Masar before visa issuance can commence. For instance, a country with 40,000 pilgrims will be required to reserve accommodation for about 400 additional pilgrims.
The Saudi authorities warned that pilgrims and officials whose passports are not captured on Nusuk Masar by February 8 risk missing the 2026 Hajj exercise.
In a related development, the Saudi Arabian delegation in Nigeria disclosed that full implementation of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) passenger-sharing formula of 50:50 between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will take effect from the 2027 Hajj.
However, for the 2026 Hajj, Saudi Arabia has agreed to retain the existing concessionary ratio of 40:60.
Discussions at the meeting also focused on improving the Umrah visa process and curbing visa violations and overstays. Nigeria’s Hajj authority requested a list of tour operators with a history of absconding pilgrims to enable enforcement of sanctions.
Tour operators were consequently advised to put measures in place to ensure their pilgrims travel to and return from Saudi Arabia strictly within the validity period of their visas.
* Fatima Sanda Usara is the Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations, NAHCON
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