Fast Track Now Available for Hajj Pilgrims Departing from Makassar

The Saudi Arabian government has added fast track services through the Mecca Route at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar (UPG) to facilitate prospective Hajj pilgrims in passing immigration checks when departing for the Holy Land. “This year, the Mecca Route has been added in Makassar. Hopefully, it can smooth the departure of our Hajj pilgrims who will perform worship in the Holy Land this year,” said the Minister of Immigration and Socialisation, Agus Andrianto, during a meeting with Hajj Ministry officials in Jakarta on Wednesday. The implementation of this fast track system enables all immigration verification processes, such as passport checks, biometrics, and visa stamps, to be conducted earlier at the embarkation point or in Indonesia. With this process, pilgrims arriving in Saudi Arabia can directly board buses to their accommodation without undergoing immigration checks at the airport. The fast track at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG) adds to the Mecca Route services previously available at Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang (CGK), Adi Soemarmo Airport in Solo (SOC), and Juanda Airport in Surabaya (SUB). “Its usage may exceed 65 percent (of Hajj participants), and hopefully, departures will go smoothly,” Agus stated. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, said that preparations for the Hajj pilgrimage are fully ready, awaiting the initial departure process on 22 April 2026. The Hajj Minister assured that visas for prospective pilgrims have been issued and Nusuk Cards have arrived in Indonesia. These Nusuk Cards will be distributed to prospective pilgrims at their respective embarkation points. “Preparations, alhamdulillah, if not 100 percent, are nearly 100 percent. All visas have been issued, all Nusuk Cards are in Indonesia, although one cooperative is still facing issues. On 21 April, pilgrims enter the dormitories, and on 22 April, departures to Saudi begin,” the Hajj Minister said.