44 Hajj FAQ for USA and Canada

This FAQ covers Hajj as a whole. For deeper answers on specific parts of the process we link to the guides that cover them: the Nusuk Hajj FAQ for registration and documents, and our Hajj 2027 page for what we do as a US organizer. If you’re planning Umrah rather than Hajj, our Umrah FAQ for US and Canadian travelers is the right page.

Eligibility, Nusuk and Booking

Can I go to Hajj from the USA or Canada?

Yes. Both countries are on the list of serviced countries for Nusuk Hajj, the program the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah runs for countries without an official Hajj mission. Nusuk says applicants “must be citizens or permanent residents” of a served country, and that temporary visas, such as student visas, are not accepted. The list is published each season, so check it when 2027 registration details are announced.

Is Nusuk the only way to book Hajj?

For pilgrims from serviced countries, yes. Nusuk states that it “is the only approved platform for providing Hajj packages” to these countries, and that “packages or visas cannot be booked or obtained from any external platform or entity”. A US organizer like us helps you through the process and travels with the group, but the package itself is bought on Nusuk, not from us. Our explainer on who really runs Nusuk Hajj packages sets out who does what.

Does registering on Nusuk mean I am accepted?

No. Nusuk says plainly that registration “does not guarantee automatic acceptance”. Places are allocated first come, first served, and are confirmed only when you complete the purchase and payment of a package on the platform.

Has Hajj 2027 registration opened?

As of 10 October 2026, hajj.nusuk.sa still shows the 1447 season (“10 steps closer to 1447 Hajj”), and its FAQ says the release date for packages “will be announced later”. You can create an account and complete verification now, but no 2027 packages, prices or booking dates have been published. Our guide to when Nusuk Hajj packages become available follows the release, and the Nusuk registration guide takes you through the account step by step.

What is the minimum age, and can children come?

Nusuk says Hajj “can be performed by those aged 15 and older”, and that infant tickets are not supported on the platform.

Can I register my family together?

Yes. One account holder can add up to seven family members, who must all live in the same country. That person, the family supervisor, deposits the money and buys packages for everyone.

How do I pay, and do I pay an agency?

You pay inside Nusuk, from your own e-wallet, which you fund by Visa or Mastercard credit card or by bank transfer to an IBAN the platform assigns to you. Nusuk says payments “cannot be made through any external platform or entity”. The Nusuk package price is never paid to us. Our guide to the Nusuk e-wallet and Hajj payments covers deposits, refunds and family accounts in detail.

What do the package categories mean?

For the 1447 season Nusuk published six: Luxury, Premium and Standard, each with or without shifting, defined by hotel star rating and minimum stay. The category does not fix your Mina camp, which is chosen per package. Our guide to Nusuk Hajj package categories, camps and hotels explains each one.

How much does Hajj cost from the US?

The binding price is the one on the Nusuk listing, and 2027 prices have not been published. Our Hajj cost guide for the USA and Canada breaks down the components so you can plan a range.

Dates, Visas and Health

When is Hajj 2027?

Expected in mid-May 2027. On the Umm al-Qura calendar, Eid al-Adha (10 Dhul Hijjah 1448) is expected on Sunday 16 May 2027, which would put the Day of Arafah on Saturday 15 May. Islamic dates depend on the moon sighting and can move by a day, and the Saudi authorities announce the final dates. Our month-by-month Hajj timeline from the USA works backwards from those dates.

Can I perform Hajj on a tourist visa or an Umrah visa?

No. Hajj requires a Hajj visa, which is issued through your Nusuk package. Saudi Arabia’s tourist eVisa covers Umrah but not Hajj, and the multiple-entry Umrah visa launched in July 2026 is, in the Saudi Press Agency’s words, not activated “during the Hajj season, from the first of Dhu Al-Qi’dah to the 13th of Dhu Al-Hijjah”. Our comparison of Saudi visa types covers the differences.

How long must my passport be valid?

Nusuk says your passport “must be valid for at least six months upon entering Saudi Arabia”. If you’re renewing, you can register with your current passport, but you must update the details before booking a package. Changing your name or passport details sends the application back for verification.

Which vaccines are required?

The Saudi Ministry of Health’s most recent Hajj requirements (for 1447/2026) require a meningococcal ACYW vaccine: a conjugate vaccine received within the last five years, or a polysaccharide vaccine within the last three years, in both cases at least 10 days before arrival. If the vaccine type is not stated on the certificate, it is treated as valid for three years only. The 1448 document hasn’t been published yet, so check it before you travel, and ask your doctor about the other vaccines the Ministry lists or recommends.

Can a woman perform Hajj without a mahram?

Administratively, yes: Nusuk’s FAQ states that “women are allowed to perform Hajj rituals without a Mahram.” The religious question is separate, and the schools of law answer it differently, so ask a scholar about your own situation.

Can Hajj be performed on behalf of someone else?

Yes, for someone who has died or who is permanently unable to travel, under conditions the scholars set out. See our Hajj Badal page.

Ihram and the Miqat

How does one enter ihram?

Before ihram, pilgrims usually trim their nails, remove underarm and pubic hair, and trim the hair and beard if needed. Performing ghusl (a full bath) is recommended; if that isn’t possible, wudu is done. It is sunnah to apply unscented oil and perfume to the body before putting on the ihram, which for men is two white unstitched sheets, the izar and the rida. Women wear ordinary modest clothing.

The schools differ on what makes the ihram begin. According to the Hanafi school, both the intention (niyyah) and the recitation of the Talbiyah are needed. In the Shafi’i school the intention alone is required and the Talbiyah is sunnah. Our ihram rules guide covers clothing and restrictions for men and women in detail.

What is a miqat, and where do I enter ihram?

A miqat is one of the boundary points around Makkah that a pilgrim must not cross without being in ihram. Coming from the US you cross one by air, usually before landing in Jeddah, or enter ihram at Dhul-Hulayfah if you travel to Makkah from Madinah. Someone who passes the miqat without ihram is generally required either to go back to it or to offer a sacrifice in compensation; the details differ between schools. Our guide to the miqat on flights from the USA explains where and when it happens.

What is forbidden in ihram?

• Using perfume or scented products, including scented soap and makeup.
• Cutting or shaving hair, pulling out body hair, and trimming nails.
• For men: wearing stitched, fitted clothing such as shirts and trousers, covering the head, and wearing shoes that cover the ankles.
• Hunting land animals, helping a hunter, and harming wildlife.

How does one leave ihram?

Men shave the head completely or trim the hair by at least a fingertip’s length. Women trim a small amount from the ends of their hair, about 1 to 2 centimeters. In Hajj this happens on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, after the stoning of Jamrat al-Aqabah (and, for Tamattu and Qiran pilgrims, the sacrifice).

The Rites: Pillars, Obligations and Types

What are the pillars of Hajj?

The pillars (arkan) are the acts without which Hajj is not valid. The schools count them differently. In the Hanafi school the pillars are standing at Arafat and Tawaf al-Ifadah (also called Tawaf al-Ziyarah), with ihram as a precondition. The Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali schools count ihram and the Sa’i between Safa and Marwah among the pillars as well, and the Shafi’i school adds shaving or trimming the hair. All agree that missing the standing at Arafat on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah means the Hajj is missed.

What are the obligatory acts (wajib)?

Acts that are obligatory but not pillars are commonly listed as staying at Muzdalifah after Arafat, stoning the Jamarat in Mina on the set days, shaving or trimming, and the farewell Tawaf, with the Sa’i among them in the Hanafi school. Missing one of these is generally made up for with a sacrifice rather than invalidating the Hajj. The lists differ in detail between the schools, so learn your own school’s list with your imam.

What are the different types of Hajj?

Three: Ifrad (Hajj only), Tamattu (Umrah, then a break from ihram, then Hajj, with two separate ihrams) and Qiran (Umrah and Hajj in one ihram). Our comparison of the types of Hajj: Tamattu, Qiran and Ifrad explains them side by side, including the Hady sacrifice.

What happens on each day of Hajj?

In outline, as Nusuk’s own guide sets it out: on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah pilgrims go to Mina; on the 9th they stand at Arafat until sunset, then move to Muzdalifah for the night; on the 10th they stone Jamrat al-Aqabah, offer the sacrifice, shave or trim, and perform Tawaf al-Ifadah; on the 11th, 12th and optionally 13th they stone the three Jamarat in Mina; and before leaving Makkah they perform the farewell Tawaf.

How is Hajj different from Umrah?

Umrah can be performed at any time of year and takes a few hours; Hajj takes place on set days in Dhul Hijjah, includes Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina, and is obligatory once in a lifetime for those able to make it. Our Hajj vs Umrah comparison goes into detail.

Before You Leave Home

What should I settle before I travel?

Scholars have long advised pilgrims to set their affairs in order first: paying off debts or arranging them clearly, returning anything held in trust, writing a will, and seeking forgiveness from family and others they may have wronged. Many pilgrims also arrange for the care of dependants while they are away.

How can I prepare spiritually?

Learn what each rite means before you go, not only the steps, so you spend the days in Mina and Arafat in worship rather than working out what comes next. Hajj teaches patience and humility in crowds, heat and long waits, and those lessons are meant to stay with you after you come home.

How can I prepare physically?

Expect to walk a great deal, often in heat. Nusuk’s figures give the distance from one of the two Mina camps to the Jamarat as about 4 km. Start walking regularly months before departure, and talk to your doctor about any condition that heat or exertion could affect.

Nusuk rules and wording were read on hajj.nusuk.sa (home page, Help & Support FAQ, serviced countries, Hajj journey and package categories) on 10 October 2026, while the platform was still showing the 1447 season; rules for 1448 (2027) may change. Hajj 2027 dates are expected dates on the Umm al-Qura calendar and depend on the moon sighting and official Saudi announcement. Vaccine requirements are from the Saudi Ministry of Health’s 1447H (2026) Hajj document and CDC guidance; confirm the 1448 requirements before travel. Religious points are described as commonly taught by the schools of law and are not rulings; ask a qualified scholar for your own case. Last reviewed: October 2026.

Sources: Nusuk Hajj, Help & Support FAQ · Nusuk Hajj, serviced countries · Nusuk Hajj, the Hajj journey · Nusuk Hajj, packages and categories · Saudi Press Agency, multiple-entry Umrah visa · Saudi Ministry of Health, Hajj health requirements 1447H · CDC, travelers’ health: Saudi Arabia · Umm al-Qura calendar tables