The Ministry of Religious Affairs has officially extended the deadline of biometric verification for the pilgrims who were unable to complete their biometrics till the initial deadline. The Hajj biometrics last date in Pakistan is February 17 for the applicants who are willing to complete the process in order to avoid rejection.
Why is Hajj biometrics important?
Biometric verification is the necessary requirement for the issuance of Hajj visa. It involves taking fingerprints, capturing pictures, and identity verification by the Saudi systems. Without biometric verification, pilgrims will not get the Hajj visa, and the pilgrims will not be allowed to travel for Hajj. The pilgrims over 80 years of age can travel without biometric verification in some cases, but this should be verified by the Hajj operator or by any official channel.
Pakistan Hajj 2026 latest news:
According to the latest news, the officials have made some key recent developments, which are mentioned below:
- It is necessary for pilgrims to have the Saudi visa. The pilgrims must complete the process before the extended deadline; otherwise, they will not be issued the Hajj visas.
- The Ministry of Religious Affairs has officially announced that all the preparations for Hajj 2026 from Pakistan are complete, and 179,000 people are expected to perform Hajj this year under all the government and private schemes.
- Looking back to the problems last year, Pakistan has controlled the private Hajj operators and reduced the private quota.
- The Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced that it is necessary for the pilgrims to take the training that they have introduced, which will prepare them for rituals, logistics, and other travel requirements.
Where to complete the Hajj biometrics in Pakistan?
There are certain methods for the completion of biometric verification:
- Mobile app: The pilgrims can complete the biometric verification by using a mobile phone through the ‘ Saudi Visa Bio’ app.
- In-person verification: The pilgrims can also complete this process by visiting the nearest Saudi Tasheer centers, where they will charge some fees for verification. There are six Tasheer centers located in different cities of Pakistan.
After the completion of verification, the pilgrims must save the confirmation email provided for future reference.
Hajj 2026 visa requirements Pakistan:
Here are some Hajj visa requirements for pilgrims from Pakistan:
- Biometric verification is required by Saudi Arabia for issuing Hajj visas. Without this, the visas can be rejected.
- Firstly, the deadline was set in the early dates of February 2026, but now Pakistan’s Hajj biometric deadline has been extended till 17th February, 2026.
- It is to be noted that no Hajj visa will be issued after the Hajj biometrics last date in Pakistan.
- Before the biometrics, you must submit accurate data to the Hajj scheme, including passport, correct name spelling, medical certificate, CNIC, passport-sized photos, phone numbers, and any additional information that is required by the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Pakistan. If any of the required documents are missing or are incorrect, there is a chance that your visa can be delayed or cancelled.
- The pilgrims must keep in mind the visa issuance timeline and make sure that all the documents are submitted before Saudi Arabia starts issuing visas.
- After completing the process, your visa will be issued by the Saudi authorities officially.
Hajj 2026 biometrics for overseas Pakistanis:
Overseas Pakistanis can complete the process of biometric verification using the ‘Saudi Visa Bio’ app by face or fingerprints or by visiting the nearest Saudi Tasheer Centre in their country. Overseas Pakistanis should start early and should not wait for the last minute and try to complete the biometrics before the visa application processing starts.
Therefore, to prevent last-minute hassle, it is recommended to complete this procedure, as it is convenient, safe, and reduces fraud.