Most undocumented expatriates in the Maldives are using the second chance offered by the government to legalise, Maldives Immigration has said.
The administration aims to solve the long-standing issue of undocumented migrants effectively and has been working closely with enforcement agencies to resolve the challenge. To support these efforts, a designated task force has been established, comprising members from enforcement agencies and various government ministries.
The task force has been conducting a series of raids and surprise inspections to identify undocumented expatriates across the country.
In addition to deporting undocumented migrants, the government is also offering pathways for undocumented individuals to regularise their status.
Speaking to PSM News, Chief Immigration Officer Ahmed Mujthaba said that immigrants who are not paying their regular fees, those who are in the process of changing employers and those who have not completed the regularisation programme have been identified during the operation.
Such expatriates are given an additional opportunity to legalise, he said. According to Mujthaba, when Immigration officers revisit the expat accommodation blocks, most of them have been found to have seized the second chance and completed the legalisation.
“We are rechecking people given a second chance. And I have to say it’s a huge success. Almost all the places we have given a second chance to have used it. Things like limiting the number of people in the accommodation blocks and the standards have been met. This programme has been very successful,” he said.
Maldives Immigration has intensified efforts to crackdown on undocumented expatriates as it aims to solve the longstanding issue within three years.