The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced the commencement of the licensing and slot allocation process for duly registered travel agencies intending to participate in the 2026 Hajj operations.
In a statement signed by the Commission’s management, NAHCON invited interested travel agencies to submit their applications through its Hajj Licensing portal ; stos.nigeriahajjcom.gov.ng , upon payment of a non-refundable application fee of ₦300,000. Applicants are also required to make a refundable security deposit of ₦50 million in line with Section 16 (4) of the NAHCON Act, 2006.
To qualify, applicants must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) with a minimum share capital of ₦30 million, hold valid IATA approval with accredited staff, and must have operated Umrah or Hajj services under NAHCON’s licence for a specified minimum period. Agencies and their directors must also be free of any criminal convictions or unresolved complaints with regulatory authorities in Nigeria or Saudi Arabia.
Successful applicants will be required to pay a ₦1 million licensing fee for the 2026 Hajj, submit details of their proposed Hajj packages with reputable guarantors, provide evidence of confirmed flight bookings with approved carriers, and secure accommodation in Makkah and Madinah that meets NAHCON’s standards.
Applicants must upload key documents online, including audited accounts for the last three years, tax clearance certificates, VAT remittances, and evidence of past slot utilization. Travel agencies are also required to update their corporate records with NAHCON if there are any changes in company structure, staff, or office address.
NAHCON emphasized that all applications must be submitted no later than September 15, 2025, while inspection of proposed accommodations must be completed by December 2, 2025. The Commission also warned that the deadline for booking Masha’ir camps is January 4, 2026.
The Commission cautioned applicants that allocation of slots would depend on availability and past performance, noting that any travel agency with unresolved complaints, outstanding debts, or records of pilgrims absconding in Saudi Arabia will be disqualified.
“All applications will be subjected to further scrutiny, and only those fully compliant with the Commission’s guidelines will be considered,” the statement read.
