As Indonesia begins its 2026 Hajj embarkations, Immigration Minister Agus Andrianto and Coordinating Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra urged Muslims to avoid illegal Hajj routes to prevent scams and ensure safety, following recent detentions and Saudi penalties.
Tangerang, Banten – Following Saudi Arabia's announcement of steep fines, deportation, and entry bans for illegal Hajj pilgrims—as covered in prior reports—Immigration and Corrections Minister Agus Andrianto on April 22 warned Indonesians against non-procedural or illegal Hajj attempts, particularly scams involving fake Hajj-plus visas from rogue travel agents.
"If you don't have a Hajj visa, better not. Rather than becoming victims, our duty is to protect citizens," Agus said during a Tangerang briefing. He highlighted government efforts to shorten the official Hajj waiting list to a maximum of 26 years, down from 40.
This comes after Soekarno-Hatta immigration officials detained 13 Indonesians on April 18-19 suspected of using work visas for Jeddah to perform unauthorized Hajj, as previously reported. Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra echoed the call in Jakarta: "Unofficial Hajj harms oneself." He cautioned against risky routes via visa-free neighboring countries, noting that Hajj is fully government-managed, unlike private Umrah.
With official embarkations launching from 11 points on April 22, authorities emphasize verified visas and Nusuk cards to guarantee safe pilgrimages.
