Immigration mandates valid entry pass for new work permit holders arriving in Maldives
Under the updated requirements, a foreign national arriving in the Maldives with a new work permit will only be permitted entry if they are in possession of a valid ‘Entry Pass’ issued by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology.
Individuals seeking to enter the country on a newly issued work permit must hold a valid ‘Entry Pass’
Maldives Immigration has announced that individuals seeking to enter the country on a newly issued work permit must hold a valid ‘Entry Pass’.
Following the introduction of the e-Visa service, Immigration has outlined several key points directed at both employees and employers.
Under the updated requirements, a foreign national arriving in the Maldives with a new work permit will only be permitted entry if they are in possession of a valid ‘Entry Pass’ issued by the Ministry of Homeland Security and Technology.
Immigration stated that it is the responsibility of the employer, as registered in the Xpat Online system, to apply for a work visa for foreign nationals entering the Maldives with an Entry Pass within 15 days of their date of entry.
The authority further clarified that even if a foreign national working in the Maldives under a work permit holds a previously issued and still valid work visa in their passport, entry into the Maldives on that work visa will only be granted if the individual also holds a valid e-Visa.
Immigration also noted that, under the same conditions, permission to depart the Maldives using a previously issued work visa will only be granted to foreign nationals who possess a valid e-Visa.
In addition to this, Immigration emphasized that it is the responsibility of the employer registered in the Xpat Online system as the employer of a foreign national working in the Maldives under a work permit to ensure the validity of the individual’s e-Visa. This requirement applies because previously issued work visas are automatically converted into e-Visas within the system.
The e-Visa service in the Maldives was launched on November 10, with the Maldives becoming the first country in the region to introduce the service.
Immigration also noted that with the full digitalization of all visa-related services for foreign nationals residing in the Maldives and the introduction of the e-Visa system, changes to visa issuance services for foreign residents have been in effect since November 23.
