Indonesia Tightens Hajj and Umrah Travel Regulations with Bank Guarantee Requirements

Indonesia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is implementing new regulations to strengthen oversight of hajj and umrah travel agencies. The regulatory framework, formalized through ministerial decree, mandates that all travel agencies operating in the hajj and umrah sector must register within the government licensing system, obtain official recommendations from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah before receiving operational permits, and provide financial guarantees in the form of bank guarantees during the licensing process.

According to Dr Dani Pramudya, Head of Special Hajj Supervision at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the new regulations are designed to strengthen protection for pilgrims while preventing fraud cases involving travel agencies. The bank guarantee scheme ensures that travel companies remain financially responsible to pilgrims if problems arise during the organization of religious travel. "We want to ensure that if there are problems, travel agencies can still be held responsible to pilgrims," Pramudya stated during an interview in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on June 15, 2026.

The implementation process involves regional offices of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which will conduct feasibility assessments of travel companies before licenses are issued. This decentralized approach aims to ensure that only travel agencies meeting strict qualification standards can operate. The government hopes that these measures will effectively filter out travel agencies that do not meet requirements and provide pilgrims with greater protection against fraudulent practices.