A COVID-19 vaccination certificate is not mandatory for Haj and international travel, as stated by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that COVID-19 is no longer considered a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Health authorities in Pakistan have lifted all COVID-19 travel-related restrictions and directed commercial banks not to require COVID-19 vaccination certificates for Haj applications. The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Islamabad clarified that the World Health Organization (WHO) no longer considers COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and has eased international travel restrictions, eliminating the need for proof of vaccination.
Previously, banks accepting Haj applications were demanding COVID-19 vaccination certificates, but the NCOC emphasized that this requirement is no longer applicable for international travel. The NCOC cited guidelines issued for international travel and Haj pilgrims, stating that the mandatory COVID-19 vaccine certificate upon arrival in Pakistan and the need for a negative PCR report for inbound passengers have been abolished. Additionally, the 2% screening for COVID-19 of passengers from the UK, Gulf, and other countries has been lifted.
The NCOC official emphasized the implementation of syndromic surveillance for all arriving passengers and reinforced infection prevention and control practices at points of entry. These policy changes are effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice, with any decisions related to COVID-19 vaccination for selected individuals contingent on directives from Saudi authorities after the Haj balloting process.
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