Starting tomorrow, Sunday, the Ministry of Interior will begin accepting applications for the 1447 AH / 2026 Hajj lottery season. Applications will be accepted until Tuesday, October 28, through police centers and departments across the country, via the General Administration of Administrative Affairs website on the Ministry of Interior portal, or through a dedicated voice service.

The ministry stated that the public lottery to select winning pilgrims will be conducted through the unified Egyptian Hajj portal according to a schedule to be announced later by the General Administration of Administrative Affairs, urging applicants to adhere to the specified conditions and instructions.

The Ministry confirmed that applications are open to all citizens provided the application is submitted in person, regardless of residence, either at police centers or through available electronic means, with a valid national ID card required at the time of application. Applications with expired ID cards will be automatically rejected.

The ministry emphasized the importance of choosing only one entity to apply for Hajj, whether through the Ministry of Interior lottery or programs of the Ministry of Tourism or Ministry of Social Solidarity, warning against submitting multiple applications or applying through more than one entity. It also noted that withdrawing from the Hajj opportunity after the application deadline is not allowed except in specific cases according to established regulations.

Among the basic conditions clarified by the ministry is that the applicant must never have performed Hajj before in their lifetime, and the same applies to any accompanying person, with an official declaration required. The minimum age for individual applicants is 21 years, while accompanying persons aged 18 and above are allowed only in cases of elderly or persons with special needs. Children under 12 years old are strictly prohibited from traveling.

The ministry requires that accompanying persons be relatives up to the fourth degree, with official proof of kinship. Failure to provide the required documents will result in cancellation of the accompanying person’s application or the entire application depending on the case, with no liability on the ministry.

Compliance with health conditions is essential for application acceptance. Persons suffering from chronic or serious diseases such as kidney failure, pulmonary fibrosis, advanced heart or liver diseases, Alzheimer’s, active cancer, or infectious diseases are prohibited from traveling. Pregnant women in late stages or with high-risk pregnancies are also prohibited.

Health regulations also require mandatory vaccinations, foremost among them the meningococcal vaccine with a quadrivalent dose, to be administered at least 10 days and no more than 5 years before travel, along with any other vaccinations that may be specified later by competent authorities.

The ministry noted that submitting an application electronically or via the voice service constitutes an official declaration by the citizen of having read and agreed to all conditions, bearing full responsibility for the accuracy of the data provided. Any errors or violations of regulations will lead to exclusion of the application without any liability on the ministry.

Regarding the possibility of transferring Hajj visas, the ministry stressed that transfers are not allowed except for children transferring to a parent, provided health and organizational conditions are met and necessary documents are submitted on time. Withdrawal from the transfer decision after the deadline will result in automatic cancellation of the application.

Among the facilitations offered by the Ministry of Interior is the allocation of 1% of Hajj visas to the oldest applicants in each security directorate, who will be directly included among the winners without entering the lottery, provided all conditions are met. Only one companion is allowed for elderly or persons with special needs, and the companion must be medically capable of providing care throughout the trip.

The ministry emphasized strict adherence to travel dates specified on the pilgrim’s ticket, noting it is not responsible for any delays or violations of approved departure schedules. It also clarified that applications are not considered final until the required fees are paid within the specified period.

The Ministry of Interior concluded its statement by affirming that the main goal of organizing the Hajj lottery process is to ensure the security and safety of citizens and enable them to perform Hajj rituals according to strict health and organizational regulations aligned with instructions from the Egyptian Ministry of Health and the relevant Saudi authorities, noting full coordination with all concerned parties to ensure a safe and organized Hajj season.