Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA) - The Class I Immigration Office of the Immigration Checkpoint (TPI) of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport has foiled the attempted departure of 264 non-procedural Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
TPI Head at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Immigration Office, Jerry Prima, stated on Thursday that preventing the departures of non-procedural Hajj pilgrims was a commitment to always fulfilling immigration duties and functions to provide protection to Indonesian citizens abroad.
"This is also a form of protection for Indonesian citizens abroad. Those who are trying to depart for Hajj non-procedurally will be secured. In this year's Hajj season, we have stopped a total of 264 people," he remarked.
His team is also focusing on inspecting the banned list for foreign nationals and Indonesian citizens, as well as ensuring they have valid passports and visas for the destination country.
Additionally, Prima stated that immigration is optimizing immigration checks by using autogate machines. With this method, passengers can complete immigration checks or clearance independently using the autogate machine, reducing reliance on manual immigration check counters.
The Saudi Arabian government has also implemented an electronic visa policy to tighten overseas travel, especially for the 2025 Hajj Season. Thus, visas are no longer physically attached to prospective Hajj pilgrims' or passengers' passports.
"The Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Jeddah has issued a notification regarding the instructions of the civil aviation authority in Saudi Arabia (GACA Circular) regarding the arrival of passengers at Jeddah airport during the operational Hajj season," Prima remarked.
Hajj pilgrims departing without an official Hajj visa are subject to deportation, heavy fines, imprisonment, and potential blacklisting, which could result in a 10-year ban from reentering Saudi Arabia.
Jeddah KJRI has also urged the public to use only licensed Hajj organizers. According to KJRI Hajj Consul Nasrullah Jasam, overstaying visas (Umrah or visit visas) can result in severe penalties. Travel agencies that fail to report pilgrims who overstay may be fined up to SAR 100 thousand (nearly US$24 thousand).
