Indonesia to Draft Technical Regulations for Independent Umrah

October 27, 2025 | 04:49 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) have agreed to legalize the implementation of independent Umrah to provide legal clarity and protection for Indonesian pilgrims.

The provision is included in the revised Law on the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah, passed in August 2025.

“Independent Umrah is inevitable since Saudi Arabia has already opened broader access for pilgrims to perform Umrah on their own,” Dahnil said at the DPR complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday, October 27, 2025.

“The House and the government have agreed that independent Umrah is legal, and we will ensure protection for those who choose it.”

The new law formally recognizes independent Umrah in Article 86, Paragraph (1) letter b of Law No. 14 of 2025 on the Implementation of Hajj and Umrah.

However, detailed technical guidelines for its implementation have yet to be issued.

The law provides general protections for Umrah pilgrims, including accommodation, food, transportation, and insurance; however, these protections do not apply to independent pilgrims and officials.

Article 96, Paragraph (5) letters d and e state that these guarantees apply only to pilgrims registered through licensed organizers or the government.

Independent Umrah Regulations

Article 86 of the new law stipulates that Umrah can be performed through:
a. Licensed Umrah travel organizers;
b. Independently; or
c. Through the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Meanwhile, Article 87A outlines the requirements for independent Umrah pilgrims, including:

• Being Muslim;

• Holding a passport valid for at least six months;

• Possessing a return flight ticket to Saudi Arabia;

• Having a health certificate from a doctor; and

• Holding a visa and proof of purchasing service packages from authorized providers through the Ministry’s information system.

Dahnil confirmed that the Ministry will soon issue a ministerial regulation to further govern the implementation of independent Umrah. “Yes, there will definitely be a ministerial regulation. It will be determined by the Minister,” he said.

He explained that the policy aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which has already introduced a more open system for individual pilgrims.

“The legalization of independent Umrah reflects the rapid transformation of the Umrah economy,” Dahnil said in a video statement received by Tempo on Saturday, October 25, 2025.

“Indonesia must harmonize its regulations with those of Saudi Arabia. That is why, through the revision of the law with the DPR, we have formally legalized independent Umrah.”

Before the revision, many Indonesians had already performed Umrah independently under Saudi Arabia’s open policy, even though such practice was not previously accommodated by Indonesian law.

Editor’s Choice: The Pros and Cons of Indonesia's Independent Umrah Policy

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