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Reviewed November 2023

As the Hajj season approaches in 2024, pilgrims are diligently preparing themselves for the upcoming pilgrimage. To be able to partake in this sacred journey, fulfilling certain health-related requirements is imperative for every pilgrim.

Keep reading to know what these requirements are and how you can become eligible for Hajj in 2024.

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Hajj 2024 vaccination requirements

As the official guidelines have yet to be released, please note that some of these requirements and rules were observed during this year’s Hajj season and may not apply to Hajj 2024.

According to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, pilgrims must receive their vaccinations at least 10 days before the start of the Hajj season in order to be eligible to perform the Hajj rituals. It is mandatory for pilgrims to complete all required vaccinations before a Hajj permit can be issued.

COVID-19 vaccine

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced that all pilgrims must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with any of the approved vaccines and a dose of a COVID-19 booster. Below is the list of the COVID-19 vaccines approved by Saudi Arabia:

Pfizer/BioNTech. 2 doses
Oxford/AstraZeneca: 2 doses
Janssen. 1 dose
Moderna. 2 doses
Sinopharm. 2 doses
Sinovac. 2 doses
Covaxin. 2 doses
Sputnik V. 2 doses
Nuvaxovid. 2 doses
Covovax. 2 doses

Source: Approved Vaccines (moh.gov.sa)

Yellow fever vaccine

According to the International Health Regulations 2005, pilgrims arriving from countries or areas at risk of yellow fever must present a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate showing that the person was vaccinated at least ten days and ten years before arrival border.

In the case of the absence of such a certificate, the pilgrim will be placed under strict surveillance for six days from the date of vaccination or the last date of potential exposure to infection, whichever is earlier.

Here’s the list of the yellow fever risk countries:

Africa

Angola
Benin
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Congo
Cote d’Ivoire
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Liberia
Mali
Mauritania
Niger
Nigeria
Senegal
Sierra Leone
South Sudan
Sudan
Togo
Visitors arriving for Umrah, Hajj, or seasonal work must submit a vaccination certificate from Uganda

Central and South America

Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
French Guiana
Guyana
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
Venezuela

Meningococcal Meningitis vaccine

Hajj pilgrims need to submit a vaccination certificate against meningitis with the quadrivalent (ACYW135) vaccine issued no more than three years and no less than ten days before arrival in Saudi Arabia.

Polio vaccine

All pilgrims from polio-endemic countries and re-established transmission countries need proof of polio vaccination at least six weeks before departure to apply for an entry visa for Saudi Arabia. They must have received one dose of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), regardless of their age and vaccination status.

In addition, pilgrims from such countries under the age of 15 will also receive one dose of OPV at border points on arrival in Saudi Arabia.

Below is the list of polio-endemic countries:

Afghanistan
DR Congo
Madagascar
Malawi
Mozambique
Pakistan
Republic of the Congo
Yemen

Flu shot

The Saudi Ministry of Health recommends that international pilgrims be vaccinated against seasonal influenza before arrival in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly those at increased risk of severe influenza diseases. This includes pregnant women, children under five years, the elderly, and individuals with underlying health conditions such as HIV/AIDS, asthma, and chronic heart or lung diseases.

Seasonal influenza vaccination, however, is mandatory for local pilgrims, particularly those at risk described above, and all healthcare workers on the Hajj premises. They have to complete all the required vaccinations no less than 10 days before the beginning of the Hajj season.