Government Efforts to Distribute Nusuk Cards to Hajj Pilgrims in Indonesia

The Indonesian Minister of Hajj and Umrah, M Irfan Yusuf, is endeavouring to ensure that the Nusuk Card, the official identity for Hajj pilgrims, is distributed in Indonesia. “We hope that this Nusuk Card can be distributed and activated to pilgrims while they are still at the embarkation points in Indonesia,” said Gus Irfan during a press conference at the Office of the Presidential Staff, Jakarta, on Wednesday (15/4). He described this as an evaluation of last year’s Hajj implementation, where there were obstacles because the Nusuk Cards were only distributed after pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia. Gus Irfan noted that even some pilgrims did not receive the Nusuk Card last year. “As a result, entering the Masjidil Haram was somewhat difficult,” he stated. He mentioned that the Nusuk Cards have now arrived in Indonesia and are held by the syarikah, namely syarikah Duyuful Bait and syarikah Masyariq. “But as of this morning, the syarikah from Duyuful Bait has reported that the Nusuk Cards arrived in Indonesia last Saturday but have not yet been released from Customs. We will try to assist the syarikah in releasing the Nusuk Cards from Customs,” he said. The 2026 Hajj season will soon begin. Departures for Hajj 2026 will start with pilgrims gathering at the dormitories on 21 April. The following day, on 22 April, the first wave will depart from Indonesia to Madinah and then proceed to Makkah. The second wave will depart from Indonesia to Jeddah on 7 May before continuing to Makkah. All pilgrims are targeted to be in the Holy Land by 21 May 2026. The peak of the Hajj rituals will be held on 25 May, beginning with movement to Arafah and wuquf on 26 May. The series of rituals will continue with overnight stays (mabit) in Muzdalifah and Mina, as well as the stoning of the Jamarat. Meanwhile, the repatriation phase will begin on 1 June 2026, marked by the return of the first wave from Makkah via Jeddah to the homeland, scheduled to arrive in Indonesia on the same day. Subsequent repatriations will be carried out in stages until the end of June, including the movement of pilgrims from Makkah to Madinah for the second wave.