The Ministry of Religious Affairs is set to begin advance registration for Hajj 2026 within the next four to five days, making it mandatory for all intending pilgrims -- under both government and private Hajj schemes -- to register in advance.

According to sources in the ministry, this step is part of a new pre-planning strategy to ensure better arrangements for Pakistani pilgrims in coordination with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which has already signaled the need for early preparations.

Under the new policy, applicants will be required to deposit a specific token amount along with their registration forms. This token money will later be adjusted in the total cost of the Hajj package. Only those who complete the registration process will be considered eligible for Hajj 2026.

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The Hajj registration will be facilitated through designated banks across the country, and an official advertisement inviting applications is expected to be published within the next two to three days.

Officials say that after the initial registration, pilgrims will have the option to choose between government and private Hajj schemes. Additionally, those who opted for private Hajj this year will also be required to register if they plan to perform Hajj in 2026.

The registration data will be shared with the Saudi government, which will use it to determine Pakistan's official Hajj quota.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has urged all prospective pilgrims to begin preparing for the holy journey and stay updated through official announcements.