To qualify, a travel agency or Islamic association must present to the Consulate the following:

1. Copies of the “Accommodation Contracts” for pilgrims’ stay in Makkah al-Mukarramah and al-Madinah al-Munawwarah.

2. Contracts with the appropriate Tawaf, guidance, and transportation authorities in the Kingdom.

3. A letter from the Ministry of Hajj in Saudi Arabia confirming that the travel agent or the Islamic association has duly completed all requirements to qualify to assist pilgrims.  

These arrangements are introduced by the Kingdom to make sure each pilgrim receives all services in a timely and satisfactory manner. The Kingdom will look into only those complaints that arise between the American travel agencies or Islamic associations and any Saudi entity such as Saudi travel agencies, hotels, transportation authorities, Tawaf and guidance organizations, on the basis that those entities have entered into contracts in Saudi Arabia under Saudi laws. In case of any complaint by an individual pilgrim, he or she should file it against the American travel agency or Islamic organization in accordance with the local American laws and their contracts. The Kingdom will not look into any complaints between the local travel agencies or Islamic organizations and individual pilgrims.

Please follow the instructions to obtain Hajj visas. All pilgrims must submit the following to apply for a Hajj visa:

1. Passport. A passport with a validity of at least six (6) months.

2. Photo Copy of Green Card. Non-US citizens should submit to the Consular Section of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia a copy of their U.S. Green Card. Foreign students must present a letter from their universities.

3. Moroccan Citizens. Moroccan citizens who are residents of the United States, wishing to perform Hajj, must get a certificate from their Embassy in the U.S. or a Moroccan Consulate.

4. Round Trip Ticket. A non-refundable round trip ticket with a confirmed reservation to and out of Saudi Arabia. Please take the following deadlines into consideration before making your reservations. The last dates for pilgrims:

The rules and regulations of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia forbid any pilgrim from staying in the Kingdom after the completion of pilgrimage. All pilgrims should abide by this rule in order to avoid being subjected to penalties.

5. Photos. One photo (passport size) for each pilgrim should be submitted with the visa application form. Pilgrims are advised to carry with them to Saudi Arabia ten (10) small size (1" x 1") photos for use with I.D. cards to be issued to them in Saudi Arabia.

6. Visa Application Form. Pilgrims may submit original or legible photocopies of the Visa Application Forms.

7. Pilgrim's Arrival Card. Upon issuance of the visa, each pilgrim will be provided with an arrival card. Please read it carefully, and fill in all required information.

8. Bank Drafts. There is no fee for the Hajj Visa. However, each pilgrim should submit with his application two (2) certified bank drafts payable to the order of "THE UNIFIED AGENTS OFFICE" in the amount of $158.40 and $116.00. Children between the ages of seven (7) and fifteen (15) years pay only half of the above amounts. Children under the age of seven (7) enter gratis.

a.The certified bank drafts must bear the name of the person performing the Hajj, his nationality, passport number, place and date of issue. These drafts shall be given by the pilgrim to the Unified Agents Office upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.

b.The first draft, in the amount of SR 594.00 [U.S. $158.40], is a fee for various services offered by different pilgrims' establishments and Zamzam-water agents, and the residency in Mina and `Arafat during the Hajj days. The second draft in the amount of SR 435.00 [U.S. $116.00] represents the fares for transportation.

9. Meningitis vaccination certificate. Each pilgrim must submit a vaccination certificate to the Consular Section of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. All pilgrims must carry these certificates to Saudi Arabia for inspection by the Saudi Arabian Passport Authority. Children from the age of two (2) and above must take a dose of the A/C vaccine and those between the ages of three (3) months and two (2) years must take two doses of the A vaccine, which requires an interval of three months between each dose.

10. Mahram. All ladies are required to travel for Hajj with a Mahram. Proof of the relationship of the Mahram must be submitted. The accompanying Mahram will not be allowed to leave the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on his own unless she is accompanied by him.

As an exception to paragraph (10) above, a lady over the age of forty five (45) can travel without a Mahram with an organized group. She must, however, submit a no objection letter from her husband, son or brother, authorizing her to travel for Hajj with the named group. Such letter should be notarized by a notary public.

All Pilgrims are reminded of the following important information:

1. Pilgrims must carry with them a sufficient amount of money to cover all their expenses. This amount can be in the form of travelers' checks or international bank drafts and must be sufficient to pay for his expenses in Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah.

2. No food products are allowed to be imported in the Kingdom by pilgrims.

3. Upon arrival, pilgrims shall hand in their passports to the custody of "The Unified Agent's Office" representatives to enable the latter to complete all the formalities of travel to Makkah and Madinah.

4. To help the authorities in providing a clean environment for all pilgrims to perform their holy duties, each pilgrim is requested to avoid littering the grounds of the Two Holy Shrines and must use designated locations for such purposes.

5. In case a pilgrim should lose his passport, he should immediately report the loss to the office appointed upon his arrival to take care of him during the Hajj. He must obtain a certificate from the office of the Unified Agents, in which the loss of the passport is mentioned. A pilgrim will not be allowed to depart from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia without this certificate.

6. HAJJ VISAS ARE NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT.

The laws and regulations of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia require that all pilgrims entering the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Hajj comply with and respect the laws, moral values and customs of Saudi Arabia. It is forbidden to smuggle any prohibited item such as alcohol, drugs, narcotics, pornographic material, audio or videotapes, or films. Sectarian, political or religious gatherings are forbidden. Any type of illegal drugs and narcotics for personal use or distribution is punishable by DEATH.