Pakistan requires NADRA-linked vaccination proof for Hajj and Umrah departures from Sept. 14

Pakistan began requiring NADRA-linked digital vaccination proof from Hajj and Umrah pilgrims departing the country on Sept. 14.

NADRA verification for pilgrims at departure

Border Health Services told airlines in a Sept. 7 notice that from Sept. 14 only vaccination proof integrated with NADRA records would be accepted from passengers traveling for Hajj or Umrah, covering polio, meningitis, yellow fever and influenza. Travel agents said the directive left unclear whether it also covers other passengers flying abroad. Karachi airport moved its deadline for Umrah departures to Sept. 25 and kept manual certificates valid until then.

A separate polio rule already applies to everyone else leaving the country. Under World Health Organization recommendations for Pakistan, residents and visitors who stay four weeks or more, including foreign tourists and remote workers, need a polio dose between four weeks and 12 months before departure. Doses given at public health facilities and District Health Offices are logged in the National Immunization Management System (NIMS), and the certificate is issued through NADRA after biometric verification in the Pak ID app or at an e-Sahulat franchise, where the fee is paid. Travelers planning a stay can consult the Pakistan guide for entry and exit protocols.

Six-hour airport buffer for last-minute shots

Travelers who miss getting vaccinated before heading to the airport can still receive an on-site dose, but the process adds significant transit time. Airport vaccinations are restricted to designated counters at the Federal Government Civil Dispensary in international departure areas, including newly expanded facilities at Lahore Airport.

Passengers relying on terminal vaccination must arrive at least six hours before departure to complete the immunization, record their data in NIMS and generate the NADRA document before airline check-in closes. Getting the dose at a local clinic days before the flight and downloading the card in advance avoids the airport wait.

Correction, Oct. 9, 2026: An earlier version of this article said the NADRA-linked vaccination card was required for all international departures and cost Rs 100. When this article was published, the requirement covered Hajj and Umrah pilgrims under a Sept. 7 Border Health Services notice, and Karachi had moved its deadline to Sept. 25. The fee amount could not be confirmed on an official page and has been removed.