Indonesia Receives an Additional 8,000 Hajj Quota in 2023

Indonesia has secured an additional 8,000 Hajj pilgrimage quotas for the 2023 departure. The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) stated that this additional quota has been integrated into the e-Hajj system, the Saudi Arabian visa application.

Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, the Minister of Religious Affairs, said that they are still awaiting official correspondence from Saudi Arabia and will soon discuss it with the House of Representatives (DPR).

"The additional quota, confirmed today, has been entered into the e-Hajj system; the number is 8,000 pilgrims. We are waiting for an official letter from Saudi Arabia. We will also discuss this with the DPR soon," Yaqut said in his official statement on Sunday (7/5/2023).

In total, Indonesia received 221,000 Hajj pilgrimage quotas in 2023. This comprises 203,320 regular Hajj pilgrims and 17,680 special Hajj pilgrims.

Kemenag confirmed that they have completed the payment process from April 11th to May 5th, 2023. However, 14,356 pilgrims have yet to complete the payment or confirmation of the 1444 H Hajj Pilgrimage Trip Cost (Bipih), so the process has been extended until May 12th, 2023.

(Read also: [Payment of 2023 Regular Hajj Costs Opens Today; Here's the Cost Breakdown per Province](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2023/04/11/pelunasan-biaya-haji-reguler-2023-dibuka-mulai-hari-ini-berikut-besaran-biaya-per-provinsi))

Several stages must be completed in the Hajj pilgrimage departure process, starting from the quota determination.

Yaqut mentioned that Kemenag must hold a working meeting with Commission VIII of the DPR to discuss the utilization and financing of the additional quota.

"The agreement with the DPR will then be used as the basis for issuing a Presidential Decree on the additional quota. After that, a Ministerial Decree on the Hajj Payment Guidelines for the Additional Quota must be issued," said Yaqut.

Simultaneously, Yaqut continued, Kemenag will immediately verify the data of pilgrims entitled to depart and then announce those eligible to make payments. The next stage is the payment period.

"Along with the payment, Kemenag will process the pilgrims' documents, from passports to adjusting service contracts with service providers in Saudi Arabia, so that visas for additional quota pilgrims can also be issued," said Yaqut.

Flight contracts will also be adjusted with the additional quota, including the arrangement of flight clusters and schedules.

Director General of Hajj and Umrah Organization, Hilman Latief, added that the available time is quite limited, as the first batch of Hajj pilgrims will begin flying to Saudi Arabia on May 24th, 2023.

However, he said, his team will work hard to ensure that the additional quota is maximally absorbed so that more Indonesian pilgrims can perform Hajj this year.

(Read also: [Hajj Fund Balance Increases, but its Benefit Value Decreases in 2022](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2023/01/24/saldo-dana-haji-naik-tapi-nilai-manfaatnya-turun-pada-2022))