Official Visa for Hajj Pilgrims

Prospective members of the 1445 Hijri Hajj pilgrimage are encouraged to use the official route with a visa from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

KOMPAS/ILHAM KHOIRI

Hajj pilgrims perform tawaf around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Saturday (16/7/2022) evening Saudi Arabia time or Sunday morning Indonesian time. Some pilgrims perform tawaf wada or farewell because they will return to their respective countries after completing the entire Hajj series.

The Minister of Hajj and Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Tawfiq Al Rabiah, was reminded about the use of official Hajj visas when received by the Indonesian Minister of Religion, Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, in Jakarta, Tuesday (30/4/2024). It is stated that pilgrims who can carry out the Hajj pilgrimage are pilgrims who have an official hajj visa from the Government of Saudi Arabia. Saudi clerics' fatwa does not allow non-procedural visas to carry out the Hajj (Kompas, 30 April 2024).

This appeal was conveyed to anticipate the possibility of people trying to get through to the hajj departure without going through the official quota route managed by the Indonesian Ministry of Religion. They might take a gap in the queue for the pilgrimage list, which is quite long, even reaching dozens of years. This "market" is vulnerable to being played by unscrupulous Hajj and Umrah travel agents to make a profit.

"Naughty" bureaucrats sometimes offer the opportunity to go on Hajj using a worker visa (umal), tourism visa (ziarah), or transit visa. Prospective pilgrims are sent to Saudi Arabia with non-hajj visas, enter Mecca ahead of Wukuf, then participate in the Hajj secretly. This is dangerous for prospective pilgrims because they are not registered as members of the official Hajj congregation either in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or in Indonesia.

If detected upon arrival at the airport, such prospective pilgrims will be detained by the local immigration, unable to enter Mecca, and may even be subject to sanctions such as deportation and blacklisting. If they manage to make it to Mecca, these unlicensed hajj pilgrims will not receive any form of service during their worship. If an accident occurs, such as getting lost, falling sick, or encountering other problems, they will find it difficult to obtain proper protection. The pilgrims become victims.

Outside of the Ministry of Religion's official Hajj quota, both the regular route and the special route (ONH plus), there are actually opportunities for Hajj via the mujamalah visa. This visa was given specifically as a form of invitation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to guests from a number of countries to carry out worship in the Holy Land. However, the number of furoda (independent) pilgrimages is limited, tends to be uncertain, and travel is often tight before Wukuf. This route is often sold by travel agents at high prices. This is also outside the Hajj quota managed by the Indonesian Ministry of Religion.

Referring to the schedule of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Indonesia, the departure of Hajj pilgrims for the year 1445 Hijri to Saudi Arabia will begin in mid-May 2024. Standing at Arafah as the peak of the Hajj will be held in mid-June. The pilgrims are scheduled to begin returning to their homeland at the end of June 2024.

Various preparations are being carried out. Prospective Hajj pilgrims have undergone Hajj guidance training in their respective cities/regions, while Hajj officers have matured various services for the pilgrims. There are also ongoing preparations for plane tickets, transportation, and accommodation during their stay in Mecca and Medina.

In the 1445 Hijriah/2024 Hajj season, Indonesia has a quota of sending 241,000 congregation members, consisting of 213,320 regular congregation members and 27,680 special congregation members. Starting this year, every member of the congregation will receive a smart card or an official Hajj departure card from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This card also serves as official data collection on pilgrims who come from all over the world to the Holy Land.

Also read: Take the Hajj-Umrah Package Wisely

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