Hajj Policy 2025: Important changes, and everything to know about it

Out of the total Hajj pilgrims quota allocated to India, 70 percent is to be handled through the Hajj Committee of India. In contrast the remaining 30 percent will be allocated to private Hajj group organisers, according to the GOI’s Hajj Policy for 2025.

This year, the HCoI was allotted 80 percent while the private group got hold of the rest 20 percent. While the order of priority was of 70 plus applicants, females travelling without mahram (LWM) and the general category, in 2025 the new Hajj policy has prioritised 65 plus applicants followed by LWM and general category.

According to the new policy, “It is decided that considering the arduous nature of the Hajj Pilgrimage, a companion is a must for those belonging to 65 plus age and want to go for the pilgrimage and no lone member above the age of 65 would be registered under general category.”

In the 2024 policy there was a continuation of terms in the 2023 policy that a companion is must for 70 plus age travellers whereas the new 2025 policy terms the pilgrims of and above 65 age would be registered under the reserved category.

The policy states, “In case of LWM pilgrims aged 45 and above, a female companion of the age 45 to 60 is a must. For non LWM pilgrims, one companion is allowed and should be an immediate relation, specifically Husband / Wife / Brother / Son / Daughter / Son in Law / Daughter in Law / Grandson / GrandDaughter / Nephew / Niece. No other relation would be allowed to travel as a companion.”

The age of Mahram and companions accompanying pilgrims aged 65 and above must be 18 to 60 years of age. However, companions accompanying LWM pilgrims should be aged as mentioned before, that is, from 45 to 60 years.

Also Read | Pakistani National Arrested in Complex Plot to Assassinate Donald Trump

The HCoI have launched the Hajj Suvidha application during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage period to leverage the IT towards providing greater convenience to the Indian citizens planning to travel to the KSA for the pilgrimage. The particular travellers would get access to training content, accommodation, flight details, baggage allowance and other services like grievance redressal, emergency helpline (SOS), language translation and other required services.

The Govt of India and Govt of KSA sign the Hajj Agreement every year in which the number of seats are incorporated. This year, in 2024, a number of 1,75,025 pilgrims were given access to the pilgrimage.