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sonz · **Re: Hajj FAQ Index -** 12-25-2005

Q. How does one arrange to go for Hajj?

A.

If one wants to travel for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj), can one just get on the plane and go? Unfortunately it's not that simple.

In recent years, the annual pilgrimage has drawn crowds of nearly 3 million people. The logistics of providing housing, transportation, sanitation, food, etc. for such large numbers of people require a great deal of coordination. The government of Saudi Arabia has therefore instituted policies and procedures that potential pilgrims must follow in order to ensure a safe and spiritual pilgrimage experience for all. These policies and procedures include:

* All potential pilgrims must apply for a Hajj visa through a qualified travel agent in their home country. Here is a list of authorized agents in the United States.
* All foreign travel agents must be pre-approved by the Ministry of Hajj and have a partnership contract with a local (Saudi) Hajj provider.
* All qualified travel agents and their Saudi partners are responsible for providing their Hajj group with travel documents, transportation and housing throughout the Hajj experience.
* Quotas have been placed on the number of pilgrims from each country, and in some cases on the number of times any one individual can perform the pilgrimage within a certain number of years.
* In order to obtain a Hajj visa, a pilgrim must apply through a qualified travel agent to their country’s Saudi Embassy.

The visa application must include:
o a passport valid for the next 6 months
o 2 visa photographs
o A completed visa application
o Roundtrip airline ticket
o Proof of vaccination against meningitis and ACYW 135
o Proof of relationship for accompanying mahram for ladies
o Fee for pilgrimage services; check with local embassy for current fees
o Proof of legal residence for those who are not citizens of the country from which they are applying
o Islamic certificate, notarized by an Islamic Center, for those who have converted to Islam
* Pilgrims must leave Saudi Arabia by the 10th of Muharram, about a month after the completion of Hajj.

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sonz LI Oldskool Status: Offline Posts: 1,484 Reputation: 1576 Rep Power: 23 Join Date: May 2005 Gender: Way of Life: Muslim	Re: Hajj FAQ Index - 12-25-2005 Q. How does one arrange to go for Hajj? A. If one wants to travel for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj), can one just get on the plane and go? Unfortunately it's not that simple. In recent years, the annual pilgrimage has drawn crowds of nearly 3 million people. The logistics of providing housing, transportation, sanitation, food, etc. for such large numbers of people require a great deal of coordination. The government of Saudi Arabia has therefore instituted policies and procedures that potential pilgrims must follow in order to ensure a safe and spiritual pilgrimage experience for all. These policies and procedures include: * All potential pilgrims must apply for a Hajj visa through a qualified travel agent in their home country. Here is a list of authorized agents in the United States. * All foreign travel agents must be pre-approved by the Ministry of Hajj and have a partnership contract with a local (Saudi) Hajj provider. * All qualified travel agents and their Saudi partners are responsible for providing their Hajj group with travel documents, transportation and housing throughout the Hajj experience. * Quotas have been placed on the number of pilgrims from each country, and in some cases on the number of times any one individual can perform the pilgrimage within a certain number of years. * In order to obtain a Hajj visa, a pilgrim must apply through a qualified travel agent to their country’s Saudi Embassy. The visa application must include: o a passport valid for the next 6 months o 2 visa photographs o A completed visa application o Roundtrip airline ticket o Proof of vaccination against meningitis and ACYW 135 o Proof of relationship for accompanying mahram for ladies o Fee for pilgrimage services; check with local embassy for current fees o Proof of legal residence for those who are not citizens of the country from which they are applying o Islamic certificate, notarized by an Islamic Center, for those who have converted to Islam * Pilgrims must leave Saudi Arabia by the 10th of Muharram, about a month after the completion of Hajj.