The Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced that applications are now open for the Hajj 2026 under the Private Hajj Scheme, giving thousands of hopeful pilgrims another chance to apply.

According to the ministry, 37,903 new pilgrims can now submit their applications this year. Meanwhile, 22,097 people who could not perform Hajj last year have already been re-registered and will be given priority this time.

Private Hajj operators must submit affidavits confirming the registration of these leftover pilgrims and are required to give them priority before accepting new applicants.

This year, the total quota for private Hajj operators is 60,000. Out of this, 22,097 slots are reserved for last year’s applicants, while 37,903 slots are available for new ones.

Earlier, the ministry had also completed the application process for the Government Hajj Scheme 2026. It received 118,060 applications from across Pakistan, marking the close of this year’s submission phase.

The entire process was completed in just 17 days, faster than previous years, with applications accepted both online and through banks on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants could choose either short or long Hajj trips based on their preferences.

The ministry has now stopped accepting new applications. The first instalment, about 50% of the total cost, has already been collected. The second instalment will be due on November 1, 2025.

Experts estimate that the total cost of performing Hajj under the government scheme will be between PKR 1.15 million and PKR 1.25 million, depending on the applicant’s city and trip duration.

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