The Parliament has rejected a proposed amendment to the Act on Becoming a Resident of a Maldivian Island that sought to eliminate the current requirement of five years of continuous residence for changing one's registered island.
The bill was sponsored by Galolhu North MP Mohamed Ibrahim (Kudoo) from the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). According to the bill, it's purpose was to remove legal hurdles, modernize the residency framework to align with current socio-economic conditions, and streamline the process for citizens.
The bill failed to pass, receiving only 12 votes in favor. Fifty-nine members of the People’s National Congress (PNC)-led supermajority voted to reject the bill. During the floor debate, PNC members characterized the amendment as being submitted with "ulterior motives."
New bill to abolish five-year residency to register to an island
A new bill proposes abolishing the five-year residency requirement for changing one's registered island in the Maldives. Under the amendment, individuals who own land or housing can apply for residency immediately upon providing proof of ownership. This change aims to modernize the legal framework and simplify the process for citizens.
The proposed legislation stipulated that any individual who acquires legal ownership or the legal right to reside in a property—whether through inheritance, land division, purchase, gift, court ruling, or government housing schemes—would have the right to apply for residency on that island.
