Hajj Waiting List in Bandung Reaches 27 Years: Child Registered at Age 12 to Depart at What Age?
The waiting time for Hajj departure in Bandung is increasingly lengthy. The Bandung Office of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) revealed that the current waiting period has reached 27 years.
“The latest estimate is around 27 years, and this is relatively uniform across Indonesia,” said the Head of the Bandung Kemenhaj Office, Andi M Arief, in Bandung on Wednesday (1/4).
The surge in the queue is evident from the growing number of prospective pilgrims. To date, the number of regular Hajj candidates from Bandung on the waiting list has exceeded 45,000 people.
Andi explained that the queue determination system is no longer solely based on the Muslim population, but uses a waiting list mechanism in each region.
“If previously based on the Muslim population, now it uses a waiting list system in each province and regency/city. For Bandung City itself, the number is 1,679 prospective pilgrims,” he said.
With limited quotas compared to the number of registrants, the queue grows longer each year. This situation encourages the public to register early to avoid falling further behind in the queue.
“Therefore, Andi urges the public not to hesitate to register for Hajj from an early age, given that the Hajj waiting period in Bandung has reached 27 years.”
He added that the registration system is now open throughout the year and allows prospective pilgrims to register from a young age.
“Now registration for Hajj is open all year, and for those under 17 years old with their parents’ ID,” said Andi M Arief.
The length of the queue is illustrated by a simulation of departure age. According to Andi, someone registered at age 12 would only have the opportunity to depart decades later.
“With such conditions, a person registering for Hajj at age 12 is estimated to be able to depart for Hajj at age 39.”
For the registration process, the public can visit the Ministry of Religious Affairs office to complete the requirements, before making the initial payment at the Hajj fee-receiving bank.
“He added that the public or parents can directly register their children by visiting the Ministry of Religious Affairs office to obtain the requirements, before making the payment at the bank that serves Hajj pilgrimage deposits.”
After that, prospective pilgrims will receive validation and a portion number to determine their position in the queue.
“After the prospective pilgrim receives validation, they then come to the Bandung Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Office to get the portion,” he said.
The lengthy waiting list underscores that performing the Hajj is now not only about financial readiness, but also about readiness for increasingly long waiting times.