Undocumented expats to get further chance to regularize stay

Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology has announced that a further opportunity will be granted to undocumented expatriates to regularize their stay. 

Speaking in a programme on State TV, State Minister of Homeland Security and Technology Abdul Majeed Ibrahim said that a wide regularization and legalization programme will be commenced soon. 

This programme would offer the chance for those living and working illegally in the country to attain legal status, he said. 

He appealed to expatriates living under such conditions to make use of this opportunity. 

Majeed said that the previous programmes conducted by the ministry had brought to light that large numbers of expatriates resides in the country with illegal status. He said that this is due in part to the negligence of employers. 

The new programme would offer six months within which such expatriates can complete their registration. 

Majeed reiterated that this government places high priority on finding a permanent solution to the issue of expatriates living and working illegally in the country. 

The 'Kuran'gi' programme, under which fingerprints and ID photos of expatriates were collected, was conducted over a year. Employers were granted an additional month as well within which to comply with the programme. 

Majeed revealed that within this period, information had been collected of over 160,000 expatriates. 

The operation was aimed at achieving two targets, he said. One being collecting information on all expatriates working in the Maldives, and the other being to ensure that all are legalized. 

Majeed said that now the regulations are being enforced. Under this, those who failed to provide fingerprints and photos are being excluded from the Xpat portal. 

While this was the initial step taken to enforce regulations, further steps will be taken against those who fail to comply, Majeed said. 

He pointed out that the backlog of unpaid expat fees had been a significant challenge when this administration assumed power. At the time, close to MVR 1.7 billion had been owed. However, following steps taken by this administration, about MVR 1.2 billion of this has now been received, he said. 

The ministry, in collaboration with Immigration and Police, conducted a number of operations last year where expat accommodations and other areas where they frequented were searched. Many expats found undocumented during these operations were later deported.