The Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG) has given updated health requirements and guidelines for Ghanaians intending to perform Hajj in 2026 (1447H), following directives from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

According to the PAOG Medical Team, strict compliance with the new health measures is mandatory and forms a key prerequisite for the issuance of a Hajj visa. The updated guidelines are aimed at safeguarding public health and ensuring that pilgrims are physically fit to undertake the rigorous religious rites of Hajj.

In a statement issued on Monday, December 15, 2025, the Medical Team emphasised that only pilgrims certified as medically fit will be allowed to travel. Persons suffering from major organ failure, such as kidney failure requiring dialysis, advanced heart failure, chronic lung disease needing oxygen support, or advanced liver cirrhosis, have been declared ineligible.

The restrictions also apply to individuals with severe neurological or psychiatric disorders, elderly persons with dementia, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive treatment, and those with active infectious diseases, including pulmonary tuberculosis and viral haemorrhagic fevers.

Pregnant women in the last three months of pregnancy, as well as those with high-risk pregnancies at any stage, are also barred from undertaking the pilgrimage.

The PAOG further announced that all intending pilgrims must present valid certificates for mandatory immunisations, including meningococcal meningitis, yellow fever, polio, and COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccination requirement is particularly emphasised for persons aged 65 years and above and individuals with chronic medical conditions. The most recent COVID-19 vaccine dose must have been administered between 2021 and 2025.

In addition to vaccinations, prospective pilgrims will be required to undergo comprehensive medical screening at accredited health facilities to confirm their fitness for the journey. Medical examinations conducted at unapproved centres will not be accepted. Only pilgrims who meet all health requirements will be issued a Medical Fitness Certificate, a critical document for Hajj visa processing.

Saudi authorities, the statement noted, will conduct health screenings at all ports of entry into the Kingdom. Pilgrims who fail to comply with the stipulated requirements risk being denied entry, isolated, or subjected to further medical assessment.

The Medical Team also urged intending pilgrims to pay their Hajj fares within the stipulated timelines. Early payment, the PAOG explained, will allow sufficient time for medical examinations, vaccination schedules, and the preparation of required health documentation, helping to avoid last-minute delays in visa processing.

Dr Abdul Samed Tanko, Medical Director and Member of the Hajj Board, called on all prospective pilgrims to cooperate fully with the guidelines to ensure a safe and successful Hajj.

“We urge strict adherence to all health requirements to protect pilgrims and the wider public. Early preparation and compliance will make the process smoother for everyone,” he said.

The PAOG concluded by appealing to pilgrims to take the guidance seriously, noting that additional emergency health measures may be enforced by Saudi authorities in the event of disease outbreaks.