ISLAMABAD/RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has withdrawn its earlier decision to impose a minimum age limit of 15 years for Hajj pilgrims, restoring the previous policy that allows children aged 12 and above to perform the pilgrimage.
According to a statement issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority, the restriction on pilgrims under 15 years has been lifted, and previously rejected visas under the short-lived policy will now be reprocessed.
The PCAA confirmed that the earlier eligibility criteria have been reinstated, under which children aged 12 or above can travel for Hajj.
A spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs also verified that the Saudi government has taken back its decision regarding the age restriction. The Pakistan Hajj Mission has issued a notification in line with the updated Saudi directives.
As per the revised instructions, pilgrims aged 12 and above will now be allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia, maintaining the earlier policy framework.
It is worth noting that only hours earlier, authorities had announced a ban on children under 15 from traveling for Hajj, effective May 3, 2026, with visas of underage pilgrims declared invalid. However, the decision was swiftly reversed, bringing relief to affected families.
