In a significant relief for aspiring Hajj pilgrims, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has announced that expired passports can now be used for Hajj registration. The ministry’s Hajj-1 section issued an official circular on Tuesday, October 7, easing the passport validity requirement to simplify the 2026 Hajj registration process. However, the ministry clarified that pilgrims or Hajj agencies must update the renewed passport details in the system before visa processing begins; otherwise, the visa will not be issued. This decision aims to ensure that no eligible pilgrim faces registration hurdles due to expired passports. According to the Saudi government’s Hajj roadmap, registration for the 2026 Hajj will officially close on October 12, 2025. The move has been widely welcomed by Hajj agencies and prospective pilgrims across the country for reducing bureaucratic complications and time constraints in completing registration formalities.