Politics · Indonesia · 2 days ago
Indonesia to Use Population Data to Verify Hajj Pilgrims
Indonesia’s interior, Hajj and health ministries have signed a joint circular to digitize services for Hajj pilgrims.
The plan uses population records held by the Interior Ministry’s civil registration agency to verify people preparing to travel.
Those records include biometric details such as facial recognition, fingerprints and iris scans.
Indonesia has many people seeking to perform Hajj, while the number of places available is limited, creating long waiting lists.
Interior Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian said the queues can create opportunities for brokers, attempts to move ahead in line and the use of another person’s identity.
The circular also calls on local civil registration and health offices to coordinate with regional Hajj offices, since pilgrims must meet health requirements.
The ministries say the changes are intended to make services more orderly and reduce fraud and related disputes.
Indonesia will use population data to verify prospective Hajj pilgrims under a joint circular signed by Interior Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian.
The measure involves the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Ministry of Health.
Officials say the digital verification is intended to improve services and prevent fraud, including attempts to jump the waiting list using another person’s identity.
The population data includes biometric information such as face, fingerprint and iris data.
Local population and health offices are expected to coordinate with regional Hajj and Umrah offices, including on health requirements.
- Who
- Interior Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian signed the circular with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Ministry of Health.
- What
- The circular sets out digital Hajj services based on population data, including identity verification for prospective pilgrims.
- When
- October 9, 2026.
- Where
- The signing took place at the Ministry of Home Affairs’ central office in Jakarta.
- Why
- The measure is intended to improve Hajj services, verify pilgrims’ identities and prevent fraud linked to limited quotas and long waiting lists.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
We have agreed, the three of us, to support better-quality Hajj and Umrah services.
We have agreed with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to use Dukcapil data to verify all prospective Hajj pilgrims.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Signer
- Muhammad Tito Karnavian
- Date
- October 9, 2026
- Location
- Sasana Bhakti Praja Building, Ministry of Home Affairs central office, Jakarta
- Participating institutions
- Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Ministry of Health
- Biometric data
- Face, fingerprint and iris information
Sources
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