A change in the state’s Department of Immigration and Emigration now requires visa documents pertaining to expatriates to be filed five days before their arrival in the Maldives.

In an announcement on Tuesday night, immigration officers said that the visa application along with details of the application and legitimate copies of necessary documents must be sent to the department via e-mail.

The announcement assured that any such documents sent through e-mail will be responded too promptly. Applicants will be told whether or not the documents have been approved.

Failure to provide any relevant documents will result in the immediate disapproval and termination of the application.

Once the application has been approved, the relevant payments need to be made to the immigration office at the Velanaa International Airport, at least an hour before the applicant’s arrival.