Holy Land soon opening for Pilgrimage and visits

A letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to all National Spiritual Assemblies on 29 October 2021 announces that pilgrimages will restart on 17 January 2022. Brief visits to the Bahá’í World Centre will be allowed from 1-26 December 2021, and then again from 8 January 2022 onward.

Dear Bahá’í Friends,

In the letter dated 8 July 2021 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, the hope was expressed that brief visitors would before long be invited to the Holy Land and that the new pilgrimage season would begin in January 2022. In this regard, the House of Justice has asked us to convey the following.

Although the world-wide coronavirus pandemic continues to be a source of considerable concern, the increasing availability of effective vaccines and testing in many parts of the world means that it is now possible for immunized individuals to travel to and gain entry to the Holy Land. Furthermore, the health regulations currently in place in Israel are not expected to have an impact on the free movement of visitors and the scheduled activities of pilgrims. Accordingly, the House of Justice is happy to once again welcome pilgrims to the Holy Land starting from Monday, 17 January 2022.

Before then, however, the friends will be able to pay brief visits to the Bahá’í World Centre in the period from Wednesday, 1 December 2021 to sunset on Sunday, 26 December 2021 and then from Saturday, 8 January 2022 onward; that is, from after the end of the Centenary Commemoration of the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá up until the arrival of participants for the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors and Auxiliary Board Members and again, indefinitely, after the close of the Conference.

Information regarding immunization requirements and any future changes to conditions and restrictions will be available on the pilgrimage website at pilgrimage.bwc.org and will be communicated to pilgrims and visitors who may be affected. In addition, friends are strongly advised to monitor the entry requirements of the government of Israel and the travel advisories issued by authorities in their own countries.

Be assured of the prayers of the House of Justice at the Sacred Threshold that the friends of God will, once again, have the possibility of visiting the Holy Shrines.

With loving Bahá’í greetings,
Department of the Secretariat