Hajj Ministry Urges Pilgrims to Guard Passports for Smooth Return

The 2026 Hajj pilgrimage has entered the return phase. Indonesia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) is reminding all Indonesian pilgrims returning home to take the utmost care of their passports during the repatriation stage. A passport is a critically important travel document and a primary requirement for the process of returning pilgrims from Saudi Arabia to Indonesia. Kemenhaj Spokesperson Ichsan Marsha stated that pilgrims need to pay special attention to their travel documents and belongings to ensure a smooth return process. “We urge all pilgrims to guard their passports carefully and not to lose them. Keep passports in a safe place, easily accessible, and always under supervision. Losing a passport can hamper the return process and require additional administrative handling,” Ichsan Marsha said in a press release on Thursday (4/6/2026). If a passport is lost, pilgrims are asked to immediately report it to the group leader or Hajj officers so it can be promptly addressed according to applicable procedures. Up to the second day of the return phase, 44 flight groups (kloter) comprising a total of 17,445 pilgrims and officers have been dispatched from Saudi Arabia to Indonesia. Of that number, 38 flight groups, or 15,086 pilgrims and officers, have arrived in the country.