Immigration services will now be offered solely online, Senior Immigration Officer Ahmed Nadeem has told Haveeru.

Services such as extending visas, renewing work permit cards, and paying deposit money will now have to be done online. He added, however, that people would still be able to visit the office for collection of passports and the payment of visa fees.

Nadeem told Haveeru that this change in policy would reduce waiting times and increase the speed of service provision.

He also stated his belief that the new system would greatly reduce instances of fraud in the immigration process.

It is estimated that the number of immigrants in the Maldives will equal the local population by 2018.