"We are discussing plans to make this program reciprocal, allowing Indonesian immigration officers to conduct immigration checks for Hajj pilgrims at Saudi airports before they return to Indonesia," said Minister of Immigration and Corrections Agus Andrianto in a statement issued on Friday.
The Makkah Route is a collaboration between Indonesian and Saudi immigration authorities to facilitate the immigration process for Hajj pilgrims. Currently, it only operates for departures from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia.
Andrianto said the Makkah Route is intended to help Indonesian Hajj pilgrims focus on worship upon arrival in the Holy Land, as passport and visa checks are completed before departure.
He explained that the program is a pre-departure immigration service, in which Saudi immigration officers conduct checks directly at Indonesian embarkation airports.
"We aim to provide immigration services that are responsive to public needs," he affirmed.
Acting Director General of Immigration Yuldi Yusman expressed hope that the Makkah Route could eventually be implemented at all Hajj embarkation points, in collaboration with Saudi authorities.
Currently, the program is in place at three major embarkation points: Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten; Juanda Airport in Surabaya, East Java; and Adi Soemarmo Airport in Boyolali, Central Java.
This year, Yusman reported, the Makkah Route facilitated immigration services for 97,221 Indonesian Hajj pilgrims.
"In 2025, the number of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims totals 221,000. So far, 44 percent have been served by the Makkah Route," he noted.
He added that this year’s implementation of the program went smoothly and was well-received by pilgrims, particularly the elderly and those with special needs.
Related news: Indonesia-Saudi immigration program served 97,221 Hajj pilgrims
Related news: Indonesia thwarts departure of 264 non-procedural Hajj pilgrims
Translator: Fath Putra M, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Anton Santoso
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
