A week before the congregation's departure, Hajj visas reach 92 percent

This year, Indonesia's hajj quota consists of 221,000 members of the pilgrimage. In addition, Indonesia has been granted an additional quota of 20,000 members. Therefore, the total hajj quota for Indonesia is 241,000 members, consisting of 213,320 regular hajj pilgrims and 27,680 special hajj pilgrims.

Also read: Hajj Departures Must Use a Hajj Visa

Indonesian hajj pilgrims are divided into 554 flying groups (kloter), consisting of 294 flying kloters with Garuda Indonesia and 260 kloters with Saudia Airlines. Indonesian hajj pilgrims will begin entering the hajj embarkation dormitory on May 11, 2024, and are scheduled to fly to Saudi Arabia on May 12, 2024. On May 12, 22 kloters will head to the Holy Land.

According to Saiful, visualization begins with the input of data and documents from Hajj pilgrims by teams at the Ministry of Religious Affairs' district or city offices and provincial Ministry of Religious Affairs Regional Offices. Currently, the verified data received amounts to 223,474 members of the Hajj pilgrimage.

"So, the documents that we have processed exceed this year's Hajj quota. The percentage reaches 104.76% because it also includes pilgrims with reserved quotas. We process this to ensure that if there are any delays in departure, pilgrims with reserved status have already been issued visas," said Saiful.

"Out of 223,474 verified documents, we have applied for visas for 212,429 regular hajj pilgrims," said Saiful, adding that with breakthroughs in the visa application process, the entire quota of Indonesian hajj pilgrims can be fully accommodated.

Also read: Hajj, Expression of Diversity in Unity

The departure of Indonesian hajj pilgrims this year is divided into two waves. The first wave of departures is scheduled from May 12-23, 2024. Meanwhile, for the second wave, the departure of pilgrims will take place from May 24 to June 10, 2024.

A total of 195,917 visas for regular Hajj pilgrims were issued. We continue to accelerate so that visa issuance reaches 100 percent soon.

Hajj visas are regulated in Law Number 8 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of the Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimage (PIHU). Article 18 of the PIHU Law states that the Indonesian Hajj visa consists of the Indonesian quota Hajj visa and the mujamalah Hajj visa invited by the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Minister of Religious Affairs, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, stated during a press conference after meeting with Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq al-Rabiah, in Jakarta on Tuesday (30/4/2024), that the Indonesian Government will take strict action against all parties, including hajj travel agencies, who send pilgrims without official visas.

Also read: Departures for Hajj without an official visa will be dealt with strictly

Tawfiq al-Rabiah stated that the Saudi Arabian government continues to coordinate with the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs to ensure the implementation of Hajj procedures. The Saudi Arabian and Indonesian governments are working to regulate parties that promote departure for Hajj without a visa (Kompas.id, April 30, 2024).

Fast track service

Saiful Mujab, in a press release during the Inauguration of the Hajj Service Officials of Surabaya Embarkation 1445 H/2024 M at the Surabaya Hajj Dormitory on Friday (3/5/2024), stated that the number of Hajj pilgrims through Surabaya embarkation this year reached 106 groups, the highest among a total of 554 groups this year.

This year, Surabaya embarkation was the first to use the fast track service. According to Saiful, this service is an appreciation from the Saudi Arabian Government to Indonesia. Saudi provides three fast track services on the Mecca Route Haji 1445 H/2024 M, namely Djuanda Airport, Surabaya, Adi Soemarmo Solo, and Soekarno-Hatta Tangerang, Banten.

"Only Indonesia has three fast track services in the world for organizing the Hajj," said Saiful. With this service, when pilgrims disembark in Medina or Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, they can go directly to their accommodation, thus providing convenience and comfort to Indonesian Hajj pilgrims.