#1 Applying for Pakistani Passport

Overseas Pakistanis are eligible for a Pakistani Passport

Any one with a Pakistani Origin can get a Pakistani Passport.
First step is to apply for a National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP)
Second is to apply for a Machine Readable Passport (MRP).
We elucidate the steps to apply for each below.

  • You can apply for NICOP here.
    Follow the directions listed, provide the documents required.

    1) Register and create an account here.

    2) Follow the steps as indicated.

    3) Ensure your Photo is taken with proper lighting and has correct dimensions indicated on the site.

    4) Apply for expedited process and shipment to receive your NICOP within 2-3 weeks.

    5) Keep checking the status of your application. Sometimes there are issues that arise in the application and they need your input for it.

    Incase an issue arises, please call their department at:
    +92 51 111 786 100

    You will have to call them on Pakistani working hours (note the time difference)

    Before launching a complaint, please ensure that you have the following :

    • Your application Tracking id

    • Your Citizen Number

    • Your Contact number


    6) Keep track of the application even after its completed until your NICOP is published and shipped.
    Usually they ship it via DHL or FEDEX, and you receive a tracking number of the said service.

  • You are someone who:

    1) never had a Pakistani Passport-this is the type of Passport you will be applying by default. This process may take up to SIX (6) months.

    2) had an old expired Pakistani Passport, but were born OUTSIDE of Pakistan. Your passport is not machine readable, and it was expired decades ago.
    Your process will take up to FOUR(4) months to renew. This is because Directorate General Immigration and Passports (DGIP) of Pakistan needs to verify your personal information via your country of Birth.

    3) had an old expired Pakistani Passport, and were born IN Pakistan. Your Passport renewal can be done through a consulate, and the process can take less than 14 days, depending on the volume of renewal.

    4) has an expired MRP. You can renew your passport online here.
    Create an account, provide your biometrics and required documentation. Some people tend to have problems with their finger prints, it s a good practice to put pencil carbon on finger tips and put the impressions on the paper, then scan and upload the document on the online portal.

    You can also renew your passport via a consulate.

    This process is fast, and you can receive your new passport directly from Islamabad within 14 days. They DHL/FEDEX you the passport, its a secure service, that requires your signature at the time of drop-off.

    Consulate information:

    If you live in Chicago, Los Angeles, Washingotn DC, Houston or New York City (and surrounding areas of each)
    You can head over to the Pakistani consulate. Here are the consulates in each state.

    NOTE:
    Read the required documents on the following sites, each consulates requirements may vary to a degree.

    CALL and CONFIRM the list of required documents BEFORE heading towards the consulate.

    Washington D.C (Embassy)

    Houston

    New York

    Los Angeles

    Chicago

    Some consulates require an appointment, some can do walk-ins. It is best to call and confirm if they’re accepting walk-ins for the day.

# 2 Picking a Hajj agency

Picking a Hajj Agency can be frightening!

We’ve all heard the horror stories—scammers posing as Hajj agents, guides disappearing at critical moments, or arriving to find that what you booked is far from what was promised. These fears can weigh heavily on our minds. However, the reality is that premium Hajj agencies in Pakistan have been delivering exceptional services for decades. From personal experience and the testimonials of countless others in your position, we’ve seen how these agencies consistently go above and beyond expectations. Many have found that choosing the Pakistan Hajj route over Nusuk was a decision they’ll forever be grateful for, as the services were extraordinary, and the experience exceeded their imagination.

We have gathered packages from a few Pakistani agencies for Hajj 2025, with the contact information of their agents.

View Hajj Packages HERE

We recommend Al Khair Hajj Group, TMG (Travel Mate Hajj Group), Universal Brothers, Universal Express and Short EZ Hajj for luxurious Hajj experience.

  • Ask them for their list of packages.

    Gather packages from several trusted agencies.

    Look at the structure of the Packages.

    See what works for you.

    Do you want to take Madinah first?
    Or do you want to start your journey in Madinah first?

    Do you like Shifting Packages?
    Or Non Shifting Packages.

    Dig in, and ask more questions of the agencies, ask more detail.

  • The agencies we have suggested have been tried and tested.

    You can ask the agent to provide contact information of those who have travelled with them in the past. You may think they might just provide a random number within their agency? No ask them for a few contact info, for those who have gone from your country.

    So ask to talk to their past US customers, if you reside in the US.

    And talk to them in detail.

    At a certain point you have to trust.
    Perform istikhara, and move on to booking!

  • When you have selected a package, talk it out with the agent. They might assign another person on their team to take your details and walk you through the itinerary of the package.

    Ask them to give you that in writing.

    Ask for hotel names, ask for their locations, ask for their building location in Azizia (if your package includes that).

    Ask about details of the Mina camp, and its location from the Jamarat.

    Ask about their setup in Arafat and in Mina.

    Once you have those details, the agent will walk you through the payment process.

    Note: Most agencies require payment upto 45 to 60 days before Hajj!

    You can choose to pay half at first and then full later on, but respect their deadlines.

    This is is the SAME process as it was in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and other countries pre covid and pre nusuk.

  • Most agencies require complete payment atleast 45 to 60 days before Hajj.

    The earlier you do, the better.

    Some agencies have bank accounts in the United States. Some have it directly in Pakistan.

    It is OK to wiretransfer to Pakistan. With Nusuk, one payment method is also wire transferring money to Saudi Bank. Its the same trust that you have to show.

    Ask your agency for receipt.

#3 Picking a Hajj Package

There is so much variety, so many options, I dont know which one to pick?

You need to understand your own needs and your priorities.
Are you travelling alone? Are you travelling with elderly parents? Are you travelling with your spouse?
Do you have special needs? Your budget?

Lets break down things to consider:

  • Figure out a cost effective package for yourself.

    Most premium/luxury packages start off with 8,000 $ and go up to 25,000 $

    There are also economical packages that range from $5000 to $9000.

    See where you can save money,
    Can you choose to stay in Azizia during days of Hajj? That cuts down cost.

    Having a stay in apartment buildings in Azizia vs Having a 3 or a 5 start Hotel in Azizia is also something to think about. Apartment buildings cost less. And their proximity to Mina camps as well.

  • How long can you take off of work? !4 days? 21 days? 10 days?

    Does that work for all the family members?

    • Non Shifting: Non-shifting packages provide Hujjaj with the advantage of a designated, singular accommodation in Makkah both before and after they complete the essential rituals associated with Hajj at the Sacred Mashair sites. This arrangement significantly simplifies the experience for Hujja, as it eliminates the hassle of relocating or changing accommodations during their stay in the holy city of Makkah with the added benefit of they luggage remaining in their hotel rooms. Summary: you retain your hotel DURING the days of hajj and have access to it during the days of hajj and after with your luggage remaining in your hotel.

    • Shifting: Shifting Packages offer Hujjaj hotels BEFORE the Days of Hajj, however ONCE the days of Hajj start and the Hujjaj move to Mina camps, they will have their belongings moved to hotel in aziziyah as they no longer have access to their original hotels in Mecca(hence the shift). Though your luggage does need to repacked and sent over to the next accommodations, you will may easier access to it during the days of Hajj depending on how far your hotel in aziziyah is to your mina camps. Summary: You check out of your mecca hotel when the day of hajj begins, and you will have access to a azizya accommodations while in mina, and all your luggage will be transferred there.

    • Aziziyah only: The lease expensive packages will have all your hotel stay in an area called Aziziyah. Though this area is too far to walk to Masjid Al-Haram, it is usually very near to your Camps in Mina. Review each package details for how the Operator plans to get you from the aziziyah hotel to the Haram for the Hajj Manasik(rituals)-Usually its by Bus but you need to make sure that is the case.

    Most Expensive.

    During days of Hajj, when you have to be in Mina camp for 6 days, transport to the hotel and back can be tricky with the traffic. Even though its just 4 miles away, it can take up to 3 hours sometimes one way.

    Most of Hajj related activites for Pakistani agencies happens in Azizia


    It is very convenient to have an accommodation in Mina.

    If you are taking a Shiting package,
    Please check in with your agency if it is a Hotel or a apartment building. For a Luxury package, it should be a Hotel.
    And ask for its exact location on google maps. Map out the distance to Mina.

    • Double Occupancy: Indicates 2 people per room in the hotel. this is ideal for a couple to remain together during while they are in their hotels. however it increased the cost significantly(by about 1,400 dollars) compared to the Triple occupancy. not all packages offer this option.

    • Triple Occupancy: Indicates 3 people per room in the hotel. ideal for a family of 3 who wish to remain together while they are in their hotels. Or it can be for an individual who chooses to be with two other random Hujjaj(same gender) but not to be as crowded as a quad occupancy room. this option usually costs about 1,400 dollars USD more then the quad occupancy

    • Quad Occupancy: indicates 4 people in a room. this is ideal for any family of 4 who want to stay together, or it can be an individual who wants to minimize the cost of hajj by sharing the room with three other random Hujjaj(same gender) in the same room. Choosing this option will lower the overall cost of hajj

  • Pakistan Mina Camp A camps are very luxurious.

    There are located close to the Jamarat (10-15 minutes walk)
    The way back can be about 40 minutes of walk due to the nature of the flow of the crowd.

    You can check out an example from Alkhair here

    There can be differences in the Mina camp setup between different agencies but the amenities will be the same.

    Fully airconditioned and Buffet provided. Agencies can have pricate washrooms.

    Talk out the details with the agents.

    Maktab/Camp B

    It is also closer to Jamarat but about 15-20 minutes walk to them, and about an hour walk back.

    Can be airconditioned or can just have a cooler fan, which is sometimes not enough in the temperatures reaching 115 F / 50 C

    Boxed meals mostyl.

    I will not recommend Camp C and Camp D.
    Govt Packages do Camp D, and they dont have beds, barely have any electrictiy in the camps. Please avoid.

  • You can choose to book flights by yourself OR let your Hajj agency book your flight.

    Ask your agency of when you can arrive and try to book in that time rather than what time suits you. It is better for you to join the group if theyre flying througb a layover lets say in Dubai. Its better to join them in Dubai, than to arrive 2 days later in Saudi. This creates unnecessary anxiety about airport pickup. Sometimes agencies are unable to pick indviduals or families due to lot of traffic. Imagine 50 different families arriving at different times. The agency can NOT handle 50 different scenarios (some can) but it is better if you join the group when they arrive, and travel from the airport to your hotel together.

    You will need someone from your agency to check into your hotel in Makkah or Madinah. So arriving before your group can also cause issues.

    Talk it out with your agency.

    If you do choose to buy your own flight, let your agency know the exact time. Lay out a plan for pick up and check in to the agency.

#4 Booked! Now what?

I have booked my package now what do I do?

MABROOK!



Now its time to prepare for the journey of a lifetime. The more effort you put in for the preparation, the more you will reap at Hajj and in its reward. So dont take it lightly!

  • Hajj is one of the core Pillars of deen. It requires utmost dedication.

    Please learn about its components and its spiritual dimensions.

    We have prepared a selected courses that give you 360 degree of Hajj and prepare you 100% so youre not only ready to do your own Hajj but youll be a source of guidance to those in your group.

    Head over to our Courses section HERE.

  • One can not just get on a plane and land in Makkah to perform Hajj without ANY physical preparation.

    Hajj is NOT like Umrah. One may think they have performed 5 Umrahs in 3 days and so Hajj will be easy. No.

    We urge everyone to walk 3-5 miles every day or every other day (decide your own cadence), starting IMMEDIATELY after Ramadan, till a week before you leave for Hajj.

    You will be walking regardless of how luxurious your package is. This stands true for the most expensive package via Nusuk as well.

    You can try walking with your bagpack that you will be carrying for Hajj, and in the sandals/slippers you will be wearing during Hajj.

  • We have a extensive packing guide HERE

    Please note, you do NOT have to buy everything.

    Have comfortable shoes/slippers. Comfortable Ihram. and a LOT of Liquid IV or something similar.

    With temperatures rising up to 115 F,

    DEHYDRATION is REAL.

    HEAT EXHAUSTION is REAL.

    People pass out and even die due to dehydration. Protect yourself by drinking lots of water with liquid IV

Benefits of going through the Pakistani Route instead of Nusuk?

  • Convenience: Travel agents handle every aspect of the process, saving you the hassle of spending hours navigating a computer system riddled with potential glitches.

  • Reliability: The agencies we recommend are highly dependable, with over two decades of experience leading Hajj services from Pakistan.

  • Superior Accommodations: The accommodations provided by these agencies are on par with, or even surpass, the highest tiers offered by Nusuk Hajj.

  • Cost-Effective: These packages are significantly more affordable compared to similar offerings from Nusuk Hajj.

  • Guaranteed Hajj Spot: Barring any major unforeseen issues, your place for Hajj is virtually assured.

Frequently Asked Questions

I have a NICOP. Do I need a Pakistani passport to go for Hajj via a Pakistani agency?

Yes. A Hajj visa is issued on a passport. If you are applying through a Pakistani agency, you will need a Hajj visa on your Pakistani passport. It is not possible to get a Hajj visa on a NICOP (National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis).

How do dual passports work? Will having a US and Pakistani passport cause any issues?

No, it will not cause any trouble. Many US citizens are dual passport holders (e.g., US-Canada, UK-US, Mexican-US). Both the United States and Pakistan allow dual citizenship, and the process is entirely legal and straightforward.

Traveling on dual passports is common, and airport and airline staff handle this daily. You simply present both passports. For example:

  • When leaving the US, the immigration officer will stamp your US passport.

  • On arrival in Saudi Arabia, you present your Pakistani passport since your Hajj visa is issued on it.

This seamless process ensures a smooth journey.

Are these agencies reliable? I'm concerned about transferring large sums of money.

Yes, they are reliable. While it’s natural to feel anxious about transferring funds internationally, thousands of Pakistanis from the US perform Hajj via Pakistani agencies every year. It is a standard and well-established process. We will provide a list of trusted agencies at the end of this guide. Always ensure to request and retain a receipt once your funds are received.

Do I need to travel to Pakistan to join my group for Hajj?

No. You can join your group at a layover point such as Dubai, Qatar, or Istanbul, or meet them directly in Saudi Arabia.

We recommend joining your group at a layover point to ensure a smooth arrival together in Saudi Arabia. If you choose to travel to Saudi Arabia independently:

  • Ensure your documentation (visa, passport, immunizations) is complete.

  • Communicate your arrival details to your agency in advance.

Note that if you arrive separately, the agency may not provide airport pickup, so you’ll need to arrange transportation. However, for groups arriving together from the US, agencies often arrange transportation (e.g., buses) to accommodate travelers.

How is the quality of service and packages?

Pakistani premium Hajj agencies, such as Al Khair, Short Easy Hajj, TMG, and Universal Brothers, provide exceptional services. Their reputation is so strong that prominent US-based agencies like Dar us Salam Travels and Adam Travels have partnered with them in the past.

Key highlights:

  • 5-star accommodations in Makkah and Madinah.

  • Comfortable housing in Azizia (details below).

  • Camps in Mina are very close to the Jamarat (10-minute walk to Jamarat, slightly longer on the way back).

  • Coordinators are highly organized and proactive, handling all logistics to ensure your Hajj experience is smooth and stress-free.

Will everyone in my group be from Pakistan?

No. Most agencies group Overseas Pakistanis together. Your group will likely include Pakistanis from the US, UK, Canada, UAE, and Australia. In fact, you might find yourself wondering where the Pakistan-based travelers are—they are usually grouped separately.

What is Azizia? Why should I stay there?

Azizia is a suburb of Makkah located close to Mina. During Hajj, most of your time is spent in Mina rather than the Haram, making Azizia a convenient choice.

Benefits of staying in Azizia:

  • Proximity to Mina allows for easy travel back and forth.

  • Agencies arrange transportation between Azizia and the Haram, so you can visit the Haram when needed without hassle.

Staying in Azizia offers both convenience and comfort during the Hajj journey.