Immigration Department


Migrant worker mandate transferred to economic ministry
The immigration department will stop granting work permits and issuing quotas in March.
13 Feb 2019, 9:00 AM


Maldives immigration threatens foreign media with ‘punitive measures’
Foreign journalists are required to submit details of previous employment, travel history, qualifications, bank account details and a police certificate to get a work or business visa.
29 Aug 2018, 9:00 AM


Almost 100 expats detained for screening
28 Sep 2017, 9:00 AM


Carnival cafés closed after raid for undocumented workers
Four cafés at the carnival area in Malé remain closed after 50 expatriate staff were taken into custody Tuesday morning in a joint operation conducted by the police and the immigration department.
28 Dec 2016, 9:00 AM


Immigration revokes passport of MDP chairperson, ex-vice president’s associates
“We have shared this information with other countries. Hence, if they travel using this passport, they will face problems at the point of entry and immigration will not be responsible for any inconvenience or loss they may have to face,” said Hassan Khaleel, the department’s media official.
22 Sep 2016, 9:00 AM


Mystery deepens over convicted ex-MP’s departure from Singapore
The immigration depart has claimed that MP Ahmed Nazim’s passport is in its possession despite reports of the former ruling party lawmaker fleeing from Singapore to the United Kingdom last week.
13 Apr 2016, 9:00 AM


Two foreigners arrested on human trafficking charges
The pair are accused of illegally “recruiting” migrant workers to bring to the Maldives. They were apprehended yesterday from Addu City and Vilimalé in joint operations conducted by the immigration department and the police.
05 Jan 2016, 9:00 AM


International Migrants Day march in Malé called off
A walk to mark the International Migrants Day was cancelled on Friday following alleged interference by the police.
20 Dec 2015, 9:00 AM


Maldives deports German TV crew for “filming without permit”
A four-member TV crew from German public broadcaster ARD has been deported over alleged violations of visa regulations. The immigration department said in a statement that filming on a tourist visa was against the law and visa regulations.
16 Dec 2015, 9:00 AM


Maldives to deport foreign cashiers
Migrant workers found working as cashiers will be deported immediately, the department of immigration has warned. A “special raid operation” has been launched in Malé today to identify expatriate cashiers.
06 Aug 2015, 9:00 AM


More than 124,000 migrant workers in the Maldives
03 Jun 2015, 5:36 PM


Over 1,900 illegal expatriates deported
17 May 2015, 7:45 PM


Maldives bans migrant worker protests, threatens to cancel visas
25 Mar 2015, 8:56 PM
Immigration department suspends exit permit regulations indefinitely
06 Nov 2014, 3:41 PM
Immigration department fines 25 businesses for hiring illegal migrant workers
10 Sep 2014, 1:16 PM
Immigration ceases issuing quotas for foreign farmers, tailors, and barbers
12 Aug 2014, 10:14 AM
No intention to “displease” Russia with Seleznyov expulsion, says home minister
20 Jul 2014, 9:06 PM
Immigration Department to temporarily suspend services
15 Apr 2014, 8:00 AM
Anti-trafficking measures praised by US, whilst doubts persist within government
09 Jan 2014, 6:51 PM
No legal authority for ACC to prevent signing of Nexbis contract, Supreme Court rules
16 Sep 2013, 5:46 PM