JAMMU, Apr 9: Advance registration for the annual Amarnath Yatra will commence from April 15 across 554 designated bank branches nationwide, with the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board issuing comprehensive guidelines to streamline the process for pilgrims.
Officials said the registration and issuance of yatra permits will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to a fixed daily quota for each route at every designated branch.
As per the guidelines, only pilgrims aged between 13 and 70 years will be eligible to register. Women with more than six weeks of pregnancy will not be permitted to undertake the pilgrimage, even if they possess the mandatory Compulsory Health Certificate (CHC).
For the 2026 yatra, the registration process will be carried out in real time through Aadhaar-based biometric eKYC authentication, with permits being generated online via the official portal of the Shrine Board. A fallback mechanism has also been предусмотрed, allowing manual data entry with webcam-based photo capture in case of technical issues.
Pilgrims will be required to submit a valid CHC issued on or after April 8, 2026, by an authorised doctor or medical institution, along with a fee of ₹150 per permit. The Shrine Board has released a list of authorised medical institutions across 37 states and Union Territories to facilitate this requirement.
The designated bank branches will verify the authenticity of the health certificate before issuing the system-generated permit, which will clearly mention the selected route—Baltal or Pahalgam—as well as the date on which the pilgrim is permitted to cross the access control gates at Domel or Chandanwari.
Registration for a particular yatra date will close seven days in advance, officials said, adding that banks have been directed to set up help desks, ensure staff training, and undertake awareness measures for smooth conduct of the process.
The Shrine Board has advised pilgrims to ensure accurate Aadhaar and mobile details during registration and to strictly follow all prescribed procedures to ensure a safe and hassle-free pilgrimage.
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