Strict action will be taken against doctors who issue fitness certificates to ineligible pilgrims
Saudi Arabia has imposed strict medical conditions for Hajj 2026, barring a wide range of seriously ill pilgrims from performing the annual pilgrimage and introducing a deportation policy for those who arrive in an unfit condition.
According to the Saudi Ministry of Religious Affairs, any pilgrim found medically unfit will be sent back to their home country, and the cost of repatriation will be borne by the pilgrim. The authorities also warned that action will be taken against doctors who issue fitness certificates to ineligible pilgrims.
The Saudi Ministry of Health has issued detailed medical guidelines setting out conditions that disqualify applicants from Hajj.
The ministry said that individuals with kidney diseases, including those on dialysis, will not be permitted to perform Hajj in 2026. It added that heart patients who are unable to endure physical exertion are also barred.
Pilgrims suffering from chronic lung or liver diseases, severe neurological or psychiatric conditions, weak memory, significant disabilities, or dementia will also be prohibited.
Restrictions have additionally been placed on the elderly suffering from severe age-related illnesses, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Pregnant women and those diagnosed with whooping cough, tuberculosis or viral haemorrhagic fevers are also disallowed from travelling for Hajj. Cancer patients have likewise been declared ineligible under the new guidelines.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs said medical officers will have the authority to stop unfit individuals from travelling before departure. Saudi monitoring teams will verify the authenticity of fitness certificates, ensuring that only pilgrims meeting essential health standards proceed to the holy sites.
