Applicants required to undergo obligatory medical tests at accredited testing centres
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Authorities in the Saudi holy city of Mecca have announced steps for workers engaged in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage season to obtain related health certificates and the validity duration of the mandatory document.
The Mecca Municipality has directed those workers to apply for the seasonal health certificates for the Hajj online via the Balady platform using the link: https://balady.gov.sa/ar.
The applicants are required to undergo obligatory medical tests at accredited labour testing centres, and pass a health education course.
These courses cover three main areas, namely food safety, shaving, and public health.
The seasonal health certificate expires on the 15th of the Islamic lunar month of Al Muharram, corresponding to July 10.
The municipality has urged all such workers to complete the requirements on time to ensure their participation in the upcoming Hajj season.
In mid-April, Saudi authorities started issuing online permits for residents, who will be engaged in the works linked to the Hajj season.
The Saudi General Directorate of Passports said it has begun receiving applications from such workers to obtain entry permits to Mecca through the Ministry of Interior’s electronic platform “Absher” and the “Muqeem” portal.
The applicants do not need to visit the offices of the passport departments to get the permits.
The directorate cited technical integration with a unified digital platform for issuing Hajj permits dubbed the “Tasareeh platform”.
Entry permits to Mecca are issued through the Muqeem portal to workers in establishments based in the city, holders of seasonal work visas, and those who have employment contracts with those establishments during the Hajj season.
As of April 29, holders of all types of visas, except those holding a Hajj visa, will not be allowed to enter or remain in Mecca.
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