The Home Ministry has amended its regulations to prohibit individuals entering the Maldives on business or special visas from converting to a work visa. The move aims to curb the misuse of business visas by those seeking to expedite the work permit process.
In an announcement issued today, the Ministry clarified that business visas are intended for foreign professionals visiting for short-term commercial purposes. However, the Ministry noted that some businesses have been utilizing these visas as a shortcut to bring in employees before switching their status to a work visa once inside the country.
To prevent this practice, the new policy stipulates that any individual who enters the Maldives on a business or special visa will be barred from applying for a work visa through the "Expat System."
The Ministry has advised those seeking further information to contact their hotline at 1485 or email xpat@home.gov.mv.
The government has recently intensified efforts to address undocumented migration and visa misuse through "Operation Kurangi," a large-scale initiative to collect biometric data on all foreign workers in the Maldives. According to government figures, the operation has successfully documented 98 percent of the expatriate workforce.
In addition to these measures, the government is actively deporting undocumented migrants and those found in violation of immigration agreements. Immigration authorities have also adopted a policy of immediate deportation for any foreign national suspected of involvement in criminal activity.
