Haj application deadline extended to August 7; new short-stay option introduced

Hyderabad: The Haj Committee of India has extended the last date for submission of Haj 2025 applications to August 7, offering pilgrims an extra week beyond the original July 31 deadline.

Applications must be submitted online via www.hajcommittee.gov.in or the Haj Suvidha mobile app. Only Indian citizens with machine-readable passports issued by August 7, 2025, and valid through at least December 31, 2026, are eligible.

Applicants aged 65 and above will be given top priority, followed by women traveling without a male companion (Mehram). The general and waitlisted categories will be considered after that. If the number of applications exceeds the allotted quota limits, a computerized draw (Qurrah) will determine the final selection.

Those chosen must pay an advance of ₹1,52,300 by August 20, 2025, and submit the necessary documents to their State Haj Committee within the given deadline.

Vijayawada has been added as a new embarkation point, increasing the total to 18 across India.

A short-stay Haj option limited to approximately 20 days will be offered to up to 10,000 pilgrims, based on either a first-come or draw system. Additional charges may apply for this option.

The Haj Committee has advised applicants to review all guidelines thoroughly and apply only if fully ready, as withdrawal post-selection may invite financial penalties.