A Hajj offer is genuine only if it leads to an official Hajj visa and permit, through the Haj Committee of India or a private package operated by a Haj Group Organiser registered with the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Walk away from any offer of Hajj on a visit, tourist or Umrah visa, any "guaranteed" visa, anyone selling a Haj Committee seat, and any demand for cash today. A genuine private offer comes as a written quote showing the all-in price with GST and TCS, the hotels and their distance from the Haram, the Mina camp category, the number of nights, what is included and the refund terms.
Reviewed by our team — always confirm current official rules.
- Hajj needs an official Hajj visa and permit. In the 2026 season Saudi Arabia fined anyone performing or attempting Hajj without a permit up to SAR 20,000, including visit-visa holders found in Makkah in the Hajj period.
- People who arranged visas for, transported or sheltered pilgrims without permits faced fines of up to SAR 100,000, multiplied by the number of people involved.
- The Haj Committee of India works only through the State Haj Committees and does not authorise any private person or agency to act for it. Nobody can sell you a Committee seat.
- Private Hajj must be operated by a Haj Group Organiser registered with the Ministry of Minority Affairs. You may book through a travel company, but ask in writing which registered organiser operates the package.
- No one can honestly promise a Hajj visa: Saudi Arabia issues them. Pressure to pay everything today, in cash, is a warning sign.
- Pay only by traceable bank transfer, with a receipt for every payment.
In this Guide
Before anything else, ask: "Which registered Haj Group Organiser operates this package, and can you put that and the full quote in writing?" A genuine seller can answer both. Someone selling an illegal "Hajj" cannot.
No permit, no Hajj
Hajj is allowed only with an official Hajj visa and permit. A visit visa, family visit visa, tourist visa or Umrah visa does not allow Hajj, whatever an agent says.
For the 2026 season, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Interior announced fines of up to SAR 20,000 for anyone performing or attempting Hajj without a permit. The same fine applied to holders of any kind of visit visa found in Makkah or the holy sites from 1 Dhul Qadah to 14 Dhul Hijjah. Residents and overstayers who broke the rules faced deportation and a 10-year ban on entering the Kingdom.
The people who help also pay. Anyone who applied for a visit visa for a violator, or transported or sheltered them, faced fines of up to SAR 100,000, multiplied by the number of people involved. Relatives in Saudi Arabia who offer to "drive you in" are taking that risk too.
The 2027 penalties will be announced closer to the season. Check them again before you travel.
Nobody can sell you a Haj Committee seat
The Haj Committee of India's 2027 window closed on 24 July 2026 and the draw was held on 30 July 2026. Seats that free up go to pilgrims on the official waiting list, in the order the guidelines set.
The Committee's guidelines say it coordinates only with the State Haj Committees and does not authorise any private individual, agency or association to act for it. It warns pilgrims not to pay anyone claiming to be linked to it, and asks them to report such demands to its Chief Executive Officer.
If someone offers to "add your name" or "take over" a cancelled seat for a fee, it isn't a real seat. Check anything like this with your State Haj Committee.
Private Hajj: ask who operates it
For Hajj 2027 the Ministry of Minority Affairs expects India's quota to stay at 1,75,025 seats, shared 70:30 between the Haj Committee and private Haj Group Organisers. Private packages must be operated by an organiser registered with the Ministry.
Many travel companies, including Marhaba Haji, book private Hajj through registered organisers. That is normal. What matters is that the package itself is operated by a registered organiser, so ask for that in writing before you pay.
The Ministry's policy also says organisers found dealing in cash are debarred, and it treats written agreements with pilgrims as an important tool for transparency. Paying by bank transfer, with a receipt each time, protects you if anything goes wrong.
What a genuine written quote shows
Two Hajj packages with the same headline price can be very different trips. A written, all-in quote is how you compare them. It should show the base price, GST and TCS and the all-in total for your room sharing; each hotel's name and walking distance from the Haram; whether the package is shifting or non-shifting, and the number of nights; the Mina camp category and any upgrade cost; what is included and what isn't, such as Qurbani, Madinah, meals and transport; and the payment schedule and refund terms.
If a detail matters to you and it's only been promised on the phone, ask for it to be added to the quote. What is written down is what you can compare, and what you can hold the seller to.
If you think you've already been cheated
Stop paying. Keep every message, receipt, bank record and the seller's details.
If the person claimed to act for the Haj Committee, report it to the Haj Committee of India as its guidelines ask. For online or payment fraud in India, report it on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) or call the 1930 helpline, and inform your bank quickly.
If you are already in Saudi Arabia and see people organising Hajj without permits, the Ministry of Interior asked the public in 2026 to report it on 911 in Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern region, and 999 elsewhere.
This guide is educational and based on official sources as of 31 October 2026. Rules and penalties change each season, so please re-check them before relying on this.
Indicative hotels, private transport and ziyarat: ₹1,23,356 – ₹1,66,894This is a planning estimate, not a firm quote. Excludes flights and visa. Open the full calculator or build your trip.
Official sources to confirm current rules
| Warning sign | Why it matters | What a genuine offer shows instead |
|---|---|---|
| "Hajj on a visit visa" or "stay on after Umrah" | Illegal: Hajj needs an official Hajj permit, and pilgrims caught without one are fined and sent home | An official Hajj visa and permit, through the Haj Committee or a registered Haj Group Organiser |
| A "guaranteed" or "100% sure" visa | Saudi Arabia issues Hajj visas; nobody can honestly promise one | A written quote that says what happens to your money if the visa isn't issued |
| "Cash only, pay today" | No trace of your payment; the Ministry debars organisers found dealing in cash | A payment schedule, bank transfer and a receipt for each payment |
| "I can add you to the Committee list" | The Haj Committee works only through State Haj Committees and authorises no private agents | Committee pilgrims are confirmed only by the draw or the official waiting list |
| "5-star near Haram", "camp details later" | You can't compare it or hold anyone to it | Each hotel's name and walking distance, the Mina camp category and the number of nights, in writing |
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
01Can I perform Hajj on a visit visa if I have relatives in Saudi Arabia?
02Can I stay on after Umrah to perform Hajj?
03Someone says they can get me a Haj Committee seat. Is it real?
04Can a travel company promise my Hajj visa?
05How should I pay for a private Hajj package?
Marhaba Pilgrimage Editorial Desk
Verified GuidanceVerified Pilgrimage Logistics & Hospitality Specialists
Written and reviewed by Marhaba Haji ground coordinators who arrange customized Umrah journeys for pilgrims of every nationality, from India, the Gulf, the UK and beyond.
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