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Updated February 2023

Many pilgrims all over the world are looking forward to Hajj as the next Hajj peak season will return this year. The Saudi government has announced the lifting of the restrictions on Hajj pilgrim numbers, which means that in terms of volume, this year’s Hajj has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Below, we have gathered information concerning the Hajj permit. Read further to know more.

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Hajj 2023 news & updates

Saudi Arabia has recently announced that the minimum age for performing this year’s Hajj pilgrimage is 12 years old. The minimum age is established to compensate for the unlimited numbers of pilgrims from around the world for the upcoming Hajj season, reversing earlier restrictions prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the past two years.

What is a Hajj permit?

A Hajj permit is a document issued by the government of Saudi Arabia that allows pilgrims to perform the Hajj in the holy sites. The permit is typically required for all non-Saudi Arabian citizens and is only issued to individuals who meet certain criteria.

Going by last year’s rules, anyone attempting to perform the Hajj without a permit will face a fine of USD 2,665 or SAR 10,000. Violators may also potentially be deported and banned from future travel to Saudi Arabia.

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All pilgrims can obtain their Hajj permit through the Absher portal with these easy steps below:

go to the Absher portal
log in to the service
enter your civil registration number and date of birth, and select ‘Issuing Hajj Permits’
if everything is in order, you will have the option of downloading and printing your Hajj permit

There have also been talks of the Saudi authorities utilizing the Nusuk app to issue Hajj permits. However, nothing official has so far been confirmed.